The First Annual Biology Graduate Student Research Day was held Friday, September 15, 2006, at the Rever Hall of the Riggs Alumni Center at the University of Maryland.

Dr. Richard Payne, Chair of Biology, opened the afternoon session. He introduced Dr. Charles Caramello, the new Dean of the Graduate School, who spoke briefly. Dr. Richard Highton was honored, as he begins his 51^st year in the Department of Biology (formerly Zoology). He shared memories and history of the department and campus.

Featured speakers were four Biology (BIOL) graduate students.

Jon Beadell talked about "Disease and Immune Response in Pacific Island Avifauna." Jon is co-advised by Dr. Robert Fleischer, Smithsonian Institution, Genetics Program, and Dr. Gerald Wilkinson, Biology.

Jaime L. Grace, advised by Dr. Kerry Shaw, Biology, presented research concerning "Population Differentiation in Female Acoustic Preference May Facilitate Sexual Isolation in the Hawaiian Cricket Laupala cerasina.”

Haiyan He gave a talk about how "Visual Deprivation Reactivates Rapid Ocular Dominance Plasticity in Adult Visual Cortex." Haiyan is advised by Dr. Elizabeth Quinlan, Biology.

The fourth speaker was Colin Rose, whose talk was about "Isolation by Distance in the Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea virginica." Colin’s advisor is Dr. Matt Hare, Biology.

A poster session and reception rounded off the day, which provided a wonderful opportunity for faculty, graduate students, post-docs, and others in the College of Chemical and Life Sciences to socialize and learn more about the research of their colleagues.