Tag: faculty


Professor Receives Grant to Further Research on Forest Management

From the September 2017 Desktop News | For most of us, a walk through the woods is an opportunity to relax, exercise, and exhale. Dr. Christina Staudhammer, a professor of biological sciences, sees a different kind of opportunity. Staudhammer, who has a Ph.D. in forest biometrics from the University of British Columbia, works to apply and develop statistical models in forested ecosystems. Alongside colleagues from universities across the country, Staudhammer is working on a project focused on the effects forest management has […]

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UA Professor Receives Franklin Research Grant

From the September 2017 Desktop News | Dr. Chase Wrenn, an associate professor in the Department of Philosophy, is working to confront some of humanity’s most difficult-to-answer questions; namely, Wrenn is exploring the value of truth and why we care about it. In March and April of this year, Wrenn traveled to Scotland to the University of Edinburgh to join some of the world’s top scholars in conversations about truth. His trip was supported by the Franklin Research Grant from the American […]

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Anthropologist Selected As Leadership Fellow of the American Anthropological Association

From the September 2017 Desktop News | Dr. Lesley Jo Weaver, a medical anthropologist and professor in the Department of Anthropology, was selected as a fellow in the 2017-2018 American Anthropological Association Leadership Fellows program. The fellowship allows three up-and-coming anthropologists a chance to see the mechanics behind the scenes of the AAA, giving them a chance to become more familiar with the leadership and governing of the association. The AAA is the flagship professional association for anthropologists both domestically and internationally. […]

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Chesapeake Bay Pollution Extends to Early 19th Century, UA Study Confirms

Heather Black, a UA graduate, collects oyster shells in the Chesapeake Bay as part of the research project. (Photo Courtesy of Dr. C. Fred T. Andrus.)

From the July 2017 Desktop News | Humans began negatively impacting water quality in the Chesapeake Bay in the first half of the 19th century, according to a study of eastern oysters by researchers at The University of Alabama. The work, published in Scientific Reports, shows pollution’s effect appears a bit earlier than previously thought. The study shows that using oyster shells from archeological sites is an effective way to measure the environmental impacts of waste input on estuaries, particularly levels of nitrogen […]

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Ancient Clam Species Named for Emeritus Geology Professor

Dr. Paul Aharon

From the July 2017 Desktop News | A newly discovered species of an ancient chemosynthetic clam was named after Dr. Paul Aharon, professor emeritus of geological sciences at UA. Two European scientists classified the fossil clam as Archivesica aharoni in a scientific article recently published in the Journal of Paleontology. The paper was written by Dr. Steffen Kiel, senior curator at the Swedish Museum of Natural History, and Dr. Marco Taviani, research director at the Institute of Marine Sciences in Bologna, Italy. “The species honors Paul Aharon, long-lasting friend and […]

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Breaking Ground in Dance through Film

Rebecca Salzer wins Presidential Research Award

From the July 2017 Desktop News | Upon entering Rebecca Salzer’s office, the first thing one might notice is a blue glass trophy sitting on her table. While lovely to look at, it also boasts an accomplishment earned by only a few UA faculty members each year. Salzer, an assistant professor of dance, received the President’s Faculty Research Award at UA’s annual Faculty Research Day which is meant to showcase research done by faculty in all fields. “Winning the award was really wonderful,” Salzer said. “All of the other finalists are unbelievable. […]

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UA Professor Featured in TLC Show “Who Do You Think You Are?”

Dr. Lesley Gordon helps actor Noah Wyle learn about his family history on an episode of "Who Do You Think You Are?"

From the July 2017 Desktop News | “Who Do You Think You Are?” This is the question actor Noah Wyle, known for his role in “ER,” set out to answer with the help of Dr. Lesley J. Gordon, the Charles G. Summersell Chair of Southern History at UA.  This popular television series follows celebrities as they search for information on their genealogical history. During Wyle’s episode of “Who Do You Think You Are?,” which aired on TLC earlier this year, Gordon helped […]

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Professor Awarded for Work in Poland

Dr. Marysia Galbraith, left, receives the Bronislaw Malinowski Social Sciences Award

From the July 2017 Desktop News | Anthropology and New College professor Dr. Marysia Galbraith recently returned from a trip to Poland, where she was awarded the Bronislaw Malinowski Social Sciences Award by The Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences in America, or PIASA, at the organization’s annual conference. Galbraith was honored with the award for her book, Being and Becoming European in Poland: European Integration and Self-Identity. She started writing the book in 2011 after conducting 20 years of research, following […]

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To Combat Coral-Eating Pest, UA Researcher Helps Find What They Smell

Aggregation of crown-of-thorns starfish on the back of Keeper Reef.

From the June 2017 Desktop News | A University of Alabama researcher is part of a team that identified genes used to communicate by a starfish that preys upon coral reefs, a promising discovery that could lead to efforts to repel the aquatic pest from sensitive reefs. The findings, published in the journal Nature, are the first insight into what chemicals attract and repel the crown-of-thorns starfish and suggest a method of mitigating other marine nuisances. “This sea star is an absolutely huge […]

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Professor Receives Early Career Award for Psychopathy Research

Dr. Andrea Glenn

From the June 2017 Desktop News | Dr. Andrea Glenn, assistant professor of psychology, was recently awarded the Jevon S. Newman Early Career Award by the Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy. The award is given every two years to two recipients who “show promise and productivity in the formative years of their career and who have made a significant contribution to the understanding of psychopathy,” according to the society’s website. Glenn explained that people with psychopathy tend to be impulsive, irresponsible […]

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