Haruka Wada, assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, is scientifically proving the old adage, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

“We think we know stress or stressors because we feel them everyday, we talk about it everyday, but when it comes to the physiology of stress, there are a lot of unknowns, and this is partly because how we respond to stress depends on what we’re feeling that day,” said Wada. “The way you perceive a physical, physiological or psychological stress is also influenced by what you’re currently going through and previous exposure to a similar stressor, including during childhood.”

Her project, “Proteostasis to Allostasis: Integration of Cellular and Organismal-Level Stress Responses,” will critically evaluate how a stress response is regulated while improving scientists’ understanding of stress responses at both the organismal and cellular level. The study is made possible through a five-year, $1,018,132 CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation.

Scientists have long studied stress responses at the organismal level and cellular level separately, but the connection between the two levels is unknown. Wada will investigate how those levels link together, and how stress responses change with a previous exposure to a stressor and developmental conditions.

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“Drink Beer! Save a Species!” is the new mantra of the College of Sciences and Mathematics’ Alabama Natural Heritage Program, which has teamed up with Red Clay Brewery in Opelika to conserve native Alabama wildlife. Beginning Thursday, Feb. 23, one dollar of each pint sold of a new brew, Drymarchon Berliner Weisse, will benefit conservation efforts of COSAM scientists who are working to reintroduce the Eastern Indigo snake to the Alabama landscape.

The partnership will officially kickoff on Thursday, Feb. 23 at 6:30 p.m. at a special “Science Pub” event featuring guest scientist Jason Bond, professor and chair of the Department of Biological Sciences. Bond will give a presentation titled, “Do Spiders Really Have Superpowers?”

The Science Pub kickoff at Red Clay Brewery is sponsored by COSAM’s Office of Outreach. The event is family friendly and open to all ages. There is no cost to attend.

Leading the partnership effort to benefit the Eastern Indigo snake is David Steen, a faculty member in the Department of Biological Sciences and researcher with COSAM’s Alabama Natural Heritage Program. Steen is a conservation biologist and wildlife ecologist who is well known on Twitter @alongsidewild for his scientific outreach and willingness to provide snake identification services. He said he feels compelled to share his herpetological knowledge with the public in an effort to dispel the negative stigma associated with snakes.

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Davonya Person, instructor in the Department of Biological Sciences, passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 14, 2016 at the Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, N.Y.

Born in Buffalo, she graduated from West Seneca East High School. She received a bachelor’s degree from Tuskegee University and a master’s degree at Auburn University, where she was an anatomy and physiology instructor for 14 years.

She was the co-author of "Student Animal & Mammalian Physiology Handbook for the BIOPAC System." She also received several awards from Auburn University and was acknowledged in many science journals.

She was a devoted daughter and friend. She loved to read, cook and watch football, especially her beloved Auburn Tigers. She also loved her three cats.

Connie Faro is an OB/GYN at the Women’s Hospital of Texas. Faro works alongside her uncle and cousin, delivering more than 200 babies each year. She was recently featured on The Today Show’s series, “24 Hours With…” where a camera followed her for a full day. 

You were featured on The Today Show. What was that like?

What an experience! When I was asked to participate in the Today Show series "24 Hours With…", I was hesitant to do it at first because I am not that type of personality. I was nervous! But once I asked my mother her opinion, there was no turning back. Proud mom! The producer and Craig Melvin, the correspondent, made the day as easy as possible. It was a very long day. Due to my somewhat hesitation to do the show, I mentioned to the producers that I work with my uncle and cousin, as well as my husband who is a physician at the hospital. It’s a family affair. That shifted some of the attention away from me! I thought that they did a nice job with the segment. 

What made you choose obstetrics?

My father is a heart and vascular surgeon in South Florida. Growing up, I spent weekends with my father in the hospital watching him see patients and performing heart surgery. I found it mesmerizing! My father is an amazing teacher. While I was at Auburn, there was a summer course titled "Hospital Experience" that I took. During that course, I followed an amazing obstetrician, and he introduced me to the miracle of delivering babies and allowed me to occasionally follow him during my off time. That was my first exposure to obstetrics and gynecology.

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