School
of Sciences
and Health
Discover Your Potential
The Elizabethtown College School of Sciences and Health engages our students in scientific study while fostering your skills and knowledge to improve the health and well-being of people, communities, and our environment. We pair hands-on research with field placement and internships which will prepare you for lifelong success.
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Programs
Committed to Research
Research is at the heart of all the programs within Etown’s School of Sciences and Health. Our students work side-by-side with our award-winning faculty on research projects as early as their first year on campus. Fundamental research questions are also routinely incorporated into the curriculum of our programs. Below are some of the latest research projects co-authored by our faculty and students:
David R. Bowne, Bradley J. Cosentino, Laurel J. Anderson, Sandra Cooke, Jerald J. Dosch, Danielle Garneau, Todd S. Fredericksen, Mary Beth Kolozsvary, Erin S. Lindquist, James G. March, Rebecca A. Urban, and Craig R. Zimmermann. 2019. A broader approach to understanding urbanization effects on freshwater turtles: reply to Lambert and Steen 2019. Conservation Biology. 33(5):1197-1199.
Janet Morrison, John Barthell, Anne Boettcher,
David Bowne, Cheryl Nixon, Karen Resendes, Julianne Strauss-Soukup. 2019. Recognizing and Valuing the Mentoring of Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity (URSCA) by Faculty Members: Workload, Tenure, Promotion, and Award Systems. White Paper, Council on Undergraduate Research.
Bowne, D., (2020) A natural process: Fostering critical thinking through as ecological allegory. EcoEd.https://ecoed.esa.org/r2943/a_natural_process_fostering_critical_thinking_through_an_ecological_allegory
Wong WY, Simakov O,
Bridge DM, Cartwright P, Bellantuono AJ, Kuhn A, Holstein TW, David CN, Steele RE, Martínez DE. (2019) Expansion of a single transposable element family is associated with genome-size increase and radiation in the genus Hydra. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 116: 22915-22917. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1910106116.
Dalton, E.D.
(2020). Exercise-related coping beliefs predict physical activity levels in response to naturally occurring stress: A daily diary study of college students. Journal of American College Health, epub ahead of print.
Anya Goldina, Peter Licona, Patricia Likos Ricci. 2020. Creating Extra Credit Assignments that Challenge, Inspire, and Empower Students. HAPS Educator Special Conference Edition. P.86-89
“Nucleobase-Modified Triplex-Forming Peptide Nucleic Acids for Sequence-Specific Recognition of Double-Stranded RNA” Brodyagin, N.; Hnedzko, D.,
MacKay, J. A.; Rozners, E In Peptide Nucleic Acids. From Chemistry to Animals (Methods in Molecular Biology), Nielsen, P. E. Ed; Vol 2105; Humana, New York, 2020, pp. 157-172. (DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0243-0_9)
“Synthesis and RNA binding properties of extended nucleobases for triplex-forming peptide nucleic acids” Kumpina, I.; Brodyagin, N.;
MacKay, J. A.; Kennedy, S. D.; Katkevics, M. Rozners, E. J. Org. Chem., 2019,84, 13276-13298. (DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.9b01133)
“Synthetic, Structural, and RNA Binding Studies on 2-Aminopyridine-Modified Triplex-Forming Peptide Nucleic Acids” Kotikam, V.; Kennedy, S. D.;
MacKay, J. A.; Rozners, E Chem. Eur. J. 2019, 25, 4367-4372. (Cover Article – Very Important Paper) (DOI: 10.1002/chem.201806293)
Newell, Elizabeth
(2020) Contracted consultant for “The State Museum of Pennsylvania: NAGPRA Human Skeletal Analysis (2020)” Submitted to: Janet Johnson, Curator; Division of Archaeology. The State Museum of Pennsylvania. Harrisburg, PA
Sternberg R.J., Kaufman J.C.,
Pretz, J.E.
(2019). A propulsion perspective on creative contributions. In V. Glăveanu & I. Lebuda (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of the Possible. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98390-5
Rood, J. A.; Reehl, S. R.; Jacoby, K. A.; Oliver, A. G. Crystal structures of a series ofbis(acetylacetonato)oxovanadium(IV) complexes containing N-donor pyridyl ligands. Acta Cryst. 2020, E76, 826-830.
Roy, M.M., Devroop, K., & Bohn, A. (2019). The positive impact of African drumming on elderly participants’ mood and demeanour, Muziki, 16(2), 113-125. https://doi.org/10.1080/18125980.2020.1794945
Wickham, R. J.
(2019). The biological impact of menthol on tobacco dependence. Nicotine Tob Res. doi:10.1093/ntr/ntz239
Wickham, R. J., Lehr, M., Mitchell, L., & Addy, N. A. (2020). Combined Infusion and Stimulation with Fast-Scan Cyclic Voltammetry (CIS-FSCV) to Assess Ventral Tegmental Area Receptor Regulation of Phasic Dopamine. Journal of visualized experiments: JoVE,(158),10.3791/60886. https://doi.org/10.3791/60886
Martin, C, Y. Bonano,
D.L. Wohl. Evaluation of fecal matter preservation methods and their effect on composition of microbiota assessed through DNA sequencing and analysis. BIOS (accepted, revised Dec 13, 2019)
Bessonett, S., Spiker, C., and
Yorty, J.L.
Anti-CD40 prevents the corticosterone-induced loss of splenic dendritic cells in C57BL/6 mice. Manuscript accepted for publication in BIOS on 3.5.20.
Shelby, S. and
Yorty, J.L.
2019. Flea Cases Observed in Dogs during the Fall and Flea Preventative Buying Habits of Clients at a Mid-Sized Veterinary Hospital in Pennsylvania. Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science. 93(2):107-117. DOI: 10.5325/jpennacadscie.93.2.0107
In Press
(2020)
Elizabeth A. Newell, Stevie Monteiro, Stephanie Hanus, Destiny Harbison. James McTighe. Film Review of Plastic Paradise: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Teaching Sociology. In press.
Pretz, J.E., Price, A.L., Zulkosky, K.D., & White, K. (in press). Nursing students’ decision making in clinical simulation. In M. Sinclair (Ed.) Handbook of Intuition Research as Practice. Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar.
King, S. P., Yonker, J. E., Bopp, K. L., &
Smith, T. E.
(in press). Intergenerational and impactful: Integrating service-learning in aging-related undergraduate Psychology courses. In A. M. Schwartz & R. L. Miller (Eds.) High Impact Practices. Society for the Teaching of Psychology.
Meet the Dean
Dr. Alan Utter
Dr. Alan C. Utter joined Elizabethtown College in 2024. Prior to that, he served as the Vice President for Business Development at Integrated Health 21, a Pittsburgh-based provider of coordinated health management programs and services. Dr. Utter has significant experience in higher education including serving as Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Research at Arkansas State University. He is an American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Fellow, an ACSM Certified Exercise Specialist for Preventive and Rehabilitative Exercise Programs, an ACSM Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist, and served for 10 years as the Director for the ACSM Health and Fitness Instructor workshop. His research focus is body composition assessment, sport performance, and cardiovascular/metabolic/perceptual responses to exercise. Dr. Utter graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1995 with a Ph.D. in exercise physiology and a Master’s of Public Health (M.P.H.) in epidemiology.
School Resources
Our outstanding facilities collectively underscore our dedication to promoting academic and scientific excellence, enabling students to develop critical research skills, and supporting our dedicated faculty members in their pursuit of cutting-edge discoveries. In the Elizabethtown College School of Sciences and Health, we believe that research and practice is not just a part of our curriculum; it is a fundamental pillar of our educational philosophy, empowering students to become the next generation of scientific and healthcare leaders. These cutting-edge spaces are carefully designed to enhance students' educational experiences and facilitate groundbreaking research in their respective disciplines.
Located within the Lyet Wing of the Masters Center for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering, our Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences proudly hosts a range of cutting-edge laboratories. These state-of-the-art facilities include the Anatomy and Physiology Lab, Behavioral Endocrinology Lab, Ecology Lab, Environmental Science Lab, Microbiology Lab, Molecular Biology and Immunology Lab, Cell Biology Lab, Genetics Lab, and Developmental Biology Labs. They offer a diverse array of specialized tools and resources that not only enhance the educational experience but also facilitate groundbreaking research in the field of biological and environmental sciences.
Located within the Lyet Wing of the Masters Center for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering, the Chemistry Department houses an array of cutting-edge laboratories and facilities. These include the Theoretical Chemistry Research Laboratory, equipped for molecular modeling and computational chemistry research, the O.F. Stambaugh Chemistry Library, offering extensive resources, and the NMR Laboratory with its superconducting Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer. The Organic Chemistry Laboratory provides hands-on training, and the Organic Instrument Room supports product analysis. Additionally, the department features the Quantitative Chemical Analysis Laboratory, the General Chemistry Laboratory, the Biochemistry Laboratory, and the Instrumental Analysis Laboratory. The Chemistry Computer Laboratory offers specialized software, and the Chemistry Classroom is dedicated to introductory experiments. Five Research Laboratories further support student-faculty research. These state-of-the-art facilities enhance the educational experience and enable groundbreaking chemistry research.
In the Occupational Therapy program, students gain hands-on experience through simulations in multiple labs, including the Physical Rehabilitation Lab, where they learn about body movement in daily tasks, and the Occupations Lab, which focuses on adapting everyday activities for those with physical or mental challenges. The Kid Zone lab enhances understanding of children's needs, emphasizing play, school, self-care, and independence.
The Cadaver Lab is designed to cater to the evolving needs of future healthcare professionals. With the capability to house multiple cadavers, the lab extends invaluable hands-on learning experiences to students, particularly those enrolled in courses such as Anatomy and Physiology, Advanced Anatomy, and Graduate Anatomy for Physician Assistant students. The lab's design, reflects professional healthcare settings, and provides a practical learning environment that fosters collaboration, encourages the development of a professional self-image among students, and aligns with the goal of cultivating dedicated and proficient future healthcare workers.
Elizabethtown College's Psychology Department offers a rich array of lab spaces designed to enhance students' learning experiences and support faculty scholarship. The Psychology Commons, housing faculty offices and the Psychology Computer Lab, acts as a central hub for students to interact with faculty members, seek guidance, and engage in collaborative discussions. In our Perception, Cognitive, Social, and Developmental labs, students actively participate in ongoing faculty research projects, gaining hands-on experience and contributing to scholarly work. Additionally, the Student Research Suite provides a dedicated space for students to conduct their independent research, fostering their scientific inquiry and honing their research skills. The Neuroscience Lab not only supports specific courses like "Introduction to Neuroscience" and "Sensation and Perception" but also serves as a wet lab, offering students valuable resources for hands-on learning and dissections. These well-equipped lab spaces collectively play a pivotal role in enriching the educational journey of students and facilitating the research endeavors of our dedicated faculty members.
