Juniata Biologist Details Genomics Work on Campus in Talk
(Posted February 9, 2015)
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HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Vince Buonaccorsi, professor of biology at Juniata College, will give a talk, supported by several colleagues, on "The Genomics Leadership Initiative at Juniata College," at 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 18, in Neff Lecture Hall in the von Liebig Center for Science on the Juniata campus.
The lecture is free and open to the public. The talk is part of the college's Bookend Seminar Lecture Series, which features monthly lectures by Juniata faculty.
Buonaccorsi serves as program director for the college's Juniata Genomics Leadership Initiative, which is funded by $1.5 million in research grants from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and National Science Foundation. In his talk, he will outline the progress the college has made in training undergraduates to explore the science, as well as social, ethical and legal ramifications of genomic research.
"We will highlight faculty development activities, multidisciplinary efforts, student outcomes and opportunities for faculty to get involved," Buonaccorsi says.
In addition to providing an overview of Juniata's work, Buonaccorsi also will describe several of his current research projects. Other Juniata faculty, including Jill Keeney, professor of biology, Jim Roney, professor of Russian and Kim Roth, associate professor of math, also will speak about research projects and innovations in Juniata's curriculum that resulted from the HHMI grant.
"We will highlight faculty development activities, multidisciplinary efforts, student outcomes and opportunities for faculty to get involved."
Vince Buonaccorsi, professor of biology
Buonaccorsi, a resident of Huntingdon, Pa., earned his bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Notre Dame in 1993 and went on to earn a doctorate in marine science from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va. in 1998. He was promoted to full professor in 2013.
He joined Juniata's faculty in 2001 after working as a postdoctoral researcher at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, part of the National Marine Fisheries Service in San Diego, Calif. His research interests center on population genetics and genomics, including population structure, population dispersal, speciation, species identification, molecular evolution and Endangered Species Act issues. His graduate research focused on the population genetics of the blue marlin. His postdoctoral work has centered on Pacific coast rockfish. His teaching interests include, genetics, molecular ecology, ichthyology and biostatistics.
He has published articles in Molecular Ecology, Evolution, Conservation Genetics, Copeia, CBE-Life Science Education, The Journal of Teaching Statistics, California Fish and Game Journal, Journal of Wildlife Management, Journal of Heredity, Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, and Marine Biology.
He currently is program director for Juniata's $1 million grant from Howard Hughes Medical Institute, a $445K grant from the National Science Foundation, a $30K grant from NOAA, and is coordinator for the GCAT-SEEK research network. He has received other grants, awards, and subcontracts from the North Pacific Research Board, Oregon SeaGrant, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and National Academy of Sciences' National Research Council, and the Virginia Marine Recreational Commission.
Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.