Biology Graduate Student Association
Learn about our association at NAU and mark your calendar for our upcoming events
The Biology Graduate Student Association (BGSA) is a volunteer-based student group. Our mission is to:
- elevate the academic and social experience for both graduate and undergraduate students within the NAU Department of Biological Sciences
- advance the research environment
- promote service in the surrounding community
- set the stage for high-quality graduate student and faculty recruitment
BGSA resources and current officers
Biology graduate student resources Accordion Open
- NAU Biology Graduate Handbook 2018
- Academic calendar
- Graduate student government travel award program
- Funding resources
- Statistics consulting lab
Need help with the Cline Library research databases? Find librarians who specialize in natural science (Biology) material.
BGSA can serve as a soundboard for biology grad student practice presentations or for reviewing papers. BGSA will offer this service once each month. We will soon have a sign-up available on our website for interested students.
Our current officers: 2018-2019 Accordion Closed
President: Renee Jordan
- Project: “Effects of polychlorinated biphenyls on expression of endocrine and cancer related genes in the ninespine stickleback.”
- Advisor: Dr. Frank von Hippel
Vice President: Grace Griffiths
- Project: “Vocal responses to conspecific and heterospecific advertisement vocalizations in sympatric grasshopper mice (Onychomys)”
- Advisor: Dr. Bret Pasch
Secretary: Brian Hamilton
- Project: “Biomechanics and muscle physiology”
- Advisor: Dr. Natalie Holt
Treasurer: Paige Chesshire
- Project: “Changes in plant-pollinator networks along an elevation gradient”
- Advisor: Dr. Neil Cobb
Event Officer: Chris Wirth
- Project: “A revision of the genus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) through next-generation DNA sequencing and morphological character analysis”
- Advisor: Dr. Aaron D. Smith
Faculty representative: Ryan Ward
- Project: “Transmission and epidemiology of ESBL organisms at a regional healthcare facility”
- Advisor: Dr. Nate Nieto
Event coordinator: Kathleen Balazs
- Project: “Using plant traits to inform ecosystem function in a restoration context across the Colorado Plateau”
- Advisor: Dr. Brad Butterfield
Selection Committee Representative: Nicole Rice
- Project: ” The role of the protein titin in muscle physiology”
- Advisor: Dr. Kiisa Nishikawa
Service Committee Representative: Lizzie Rothwell
- Project: ” Efficacy of chemical defenses in the model organism Mimulus guttatus (yellow monkeyflower) against generalist and specialist insect herbivores”
- Advisor: Dr. Liza Holeski
Upcoming events
Science on Tap
- 3rd Thursday of each month
- 7 pm at The Green Room
- Contact Renee Jordan for details
Volunteer opportunities
Extracurricular opportunities
- Flagstaff Live (free local newspaper with information about local events, etc)
- Flagstaff Dance
Contact the Biology Graduate Student Association
Visit NAU BGSA on Facebook