University of New England

Student/Alumni Profiles

Students in the Department of Biological Sciences enjoy the campus’s coastal location, the opportunities for internships and research related to their career interests, the knowledgeable and friendly faculty, and the rigorous courses they need to prepare them for their careers or graduate school.

Below are some links to profiles of some of our students and alumni, who share their experiences as students in the biological sciences.

Kelly Willard '10, medical biology major: "UNE provided an amazing science background that I was looking for in my pursuit of a medical, physical therapy, or physician assistant graduate program.  Not only was the pre-med undergraduate track ideal, but UNE also has those three graduate programs within the University for further options down the road." Profile.

Andrea Pelotte '09, double major in medical biology and biochemistry: "The research that I am conducting with Dr. Amy Deveau for my Honors Thesis has been most important to my professional development.  We are synthesizing and characterizing opiate derivatives that may be utilized as a means to help people with opiate addiction." Profile

Danielle Woodall '09, a marine biology and chemistry double major: "I have always wanted to work with marine mammals, and MARC has given me that chance.  I also enjoy the small class size and the relationships I have with my professors.  Because of the small class size, I have had many opportunities that I would not have received at a larger university."  Profile

Emily Zimmermann '09, a marine biology major: "As a prospective student, I was invited to join the honors biology program, and it has proved to be very worthwhile. It has given me great research opportunities, allowing me to begin my own independent research project at the end of my sophomore year." Profile.

Amanda Colton '08, a marine biology and environmental science major: "For marine biology, the Marine Science Center allows students to have hands-on experience right from the beginning of freshman year." Profile 

Kerra Gearinger '08, a marine biology major, spent seven weeks with Stacey M. Keith '07 on a National Science Foundation-funded research cruise to the Antarctic Oct. 21 - Dec. 16, 2005. Profiles and blog.

Sarah Lyman '08, a marine biology and psychobiology double major: "The professors are always available for help too, which makes the classes manageable. This allows me to have enough free time to join clubs and organizations on campus. I am a member of the Activities Program Board (APB) and Hall Council. They have given me the opportunity to meet new people, get involved in some of the student governing on campus, plan the great events we have on campus and learn some leadership skills." Profile.

Stacey M. Keith '07, an aquarium and aquaculture major, spent seven weeks on a National Science Foundation-funded research cruise to the Antarctic Oct. 21 - Dec. 16, 2005. Profiles and blog.

Meredith Geraghty '06, a biological sciences and environmental sciences double major: "I like the small classes where teachers can engage students in discussion, and I like seeing people who I know in my classes. Another benefit of going to a small school is that there are a lot of opportunities to become involved in extra-curricular activities without feeling overwhelmed or unwelcome." Profile.

Glorya Laughton '06, aquaculture and aquarium sciences major: "I took an internship at Bigelow Labs in Boothbay Harbor, Maine over the summer before my junior year that really influenced on a deeper level my passion to study amoebae and protists and all tiny organisms. ... when it ended I didn't want to go. I wanted to stay and just keep working and learning more."  Profile.

Lindsay Murray-Miller '06,  a medical biology major, who is entering the UNE Doctor of Physical Therapy Program: "By far the most important project I did was an honors thesis. It taught me a ton about doing research but it also taught me a lot about myself and gave me the opportunity to really discover my strengths and weaknesses as a student. It also gave me a lot of opportunities outside of the classroom, including conference presentations, graduate school opportunities and elective credits." Profile

Matthew Somma '06, a medical biology major, who entered the UNE Doctor of Physical Therapy Program: "Everyone at the University was pleasant, polite, and always willing to help you with your studies.  While at UNE, I participated in club baseball, the martial arts club, worked as a rehabilitation aide at Maine Medical, and was the club sports representative on the Undergraduate Student Government." Profile

Kelsey Walton '06, a medical biology major: "Throughout my four years at UNE, I have only accumulated positive experiences within the biology and chemistry departments. ... Every professor I have had in the biology or chemistry department has been genuinely concerned with their quality of teaching and their students’ progress not just in their class but in life and school in general." Proflie

Ashley Below '05, a marine biology student, spent 24 days aboard a NSF research vessel on an expedition to the Antarctic to study the effects of increased ultraviolet light on the chemical composition of the principal species of Antarctic phytoplankton. Profile.

Diana Drown '05, a medical biology senior/pre-PA major: " I am now in the Physician Assistant Master's Program here at UNE.  I feel that they prepared me very well for this difficult program.  Some people in my class struggle with the underlying biology, but UNE gave me the foundation for my PA classes in pharmacology, clinical medicine, etc." Profile.

Sarah Greene '05, a medical biology major: "As a UNE student, I was able to take advantage of a once in a lifetime opportunity to create and complete an internship in a research lab at L’Universite Catholique de Louvain Medical School in Brussels, Belgium.  With the help of my lab advisor in the College of Osteopathic Medicine, the staff in the Study Abroad office, and the professor of my internship course, I was able to coordinate and tailor my own internship experience to my interests in learning new lab techniques and traveling abroad. " Profile.

Jacqueline Stohl '05, a medical biology major, currently enrolled in UNE's Doctor of Physical Therapy Program: "The strong influence of science was exactly what I wanted in a college, and UNE provided just the right amount of liberal arts studies to make me a well rounded student." Profile.

Nathalie Dube '04, as an undergraduate medical biology major, conducted a year-long research project on diabetes and cardiomyopathy. Nathalie received a research grant from the American Physiological Society. Upon graduation, she entered UNE's College of Osteopathic Medicine in fall 2005. Profile.

Krissy Forman '04, a marine biology and environmental sciences double major, compared and analyzed data on deep ocean marine fauna from videotapes filmed by submersible remote-operated vehicles in two columns of water from off the coast of Japan. Profile.

Owen Lennon '04, medical biology major: "I liked the fact that UNE's medical biology program, from which I graduated in 2004, provided the core requirements for a number of health professions graduate programs. The guaranteed admission track into UNE's Doctor of Physical Therapy Program was also a big factor."  Profile.

Tina Marks '04, a biological sciences major, worked on a series of research projects assessing the effects of various antidepressants on learning and memory performance in different strains of mice. Tina received a research grant from the American Foundation of Pharmaceutical Education. Profile.

Melissa (MIssy) Stults 04, a marine biology and environmental science major, says "UNE allowed me to be much more than just a student. It allowed me to be a student athlete, a student leader, a friend and an innovator." Profile.

Katherine Williams ‘04, an environmental science and marine biology double major, interned at the Boston Aquarium and conducted research on a local marsh and at Harbor Branch Oceanographic in Ft. Pierce, Florida. Her research experience solidified her desire to be a field researcher and focused her attention towards ecology. Profile.

John Lowery Jr '03, a medical biology major, entered the UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine following graduation and is first student from our institution to enter a dual D.O./Ph.D. program with the UNECOM and the University of Maine Graduate School. Profile.

Zachary Trzaska '03, a medical biology major who is now a student at St. Matthews University School of Medicine, says "Looking back, I really enjoyed the professors and their eagerness to educate students. It seemed that every class that I had was taught by someone who was really involved in what they were teaching." Profile.

Anne Osborne ’02, a pre-physician assistant major, interned as a patient care technician with the York County Dialysis Center. Learning first-hand the immense demands of those in the medical field, Anne provided dialysis therapy, which included monitoring patients’ vital signs and progress on dialysis, patient education, and patient-care planning in a multi disciplinary setting. Profile.

Jonathan Duquette '01, a marine biology graduate, loved the campus's location on the Atlantic coast and now works at a job he loves with National Marine Fisheries Service at Woods Hole, Mass. Profile.

Kristopher Paolino ’01, a medical biology/biochemistry major, is a medical student at SUNY-Buffalo. Profile.

Ian Paquette '00, a medical biology/biochemistry major, went on to  Dartmouth Medical School and a residency in general surgery at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. Profile.

Kristina Muskiewicz ’99, a medical biology major, worked in a muscle stem cell lab at the Children’s Hospital in Boston following graduation. That job in turn led her to pursue a Ph.D. at Boston University. Profile.

Carey Mullen ’98, a dual marine biology and psychology major, enjoys her career as a marine mammal trainer at the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut. Profile.