Oscar Quintanilla ’28 Asks, ‘Why Don’t Frogs Get Fevers?’ tmfonda@colgate.edu Fri, 08/15/2025 - 11:25 Since his first semester at Colgate, Oscar Quintanilla ’28 has worked alongside Assistant Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences Anzela Niraula to research the neural and immune mechanisms of tadpoles. Sponsored by Colgate’s Science and Technology Accelerated Research Scholars (STARS) program, his project now continues into the summer, as Quintanilla and fellow researcher Ella Duchnowska ’26 investigate a shared research question: Why don’t frogs get fevers? Founded in 2022 by Professor of Biology Krista Ingram, the STARS program supports first-generation college students and students from high schools offering limited science preparation by pairing them with faculty mentors early in their time at Colgate. During the academic year, they receive 4–6 hours of weekly work-study experience that may carry into the summer. A neuroscience major on the pre-med track, Quintanilla is also active in the Minority Association of Pre-Med Students (MAPS) and the neuroscience club. Accordingly, his research project “exists at the intersection of immunology and neuroscience.” Under Professor Niraula’s mentorship, he’s testing how differences in thermoregulation, or the ability to control body temperature, shape immune responses in frogs compared to humans.   “Warm-blooded species maintain a constant internal temperature using energy from food,” says Quintanilla. “But cold-blooded species, like frogs, rely on external sources like the sun. That actually affects how they handle infections.” In humans, a fever is one of the body’s foremost immune defenses — an internal temperature spike that helps eliminate bacteria. “Bacteria like our normal body temperature, but if it gets hotter inside, they can’t do their work,” says Quintanilla. Frogs, however, can’t generate heat on their own. Instead, they seek it out. “They’ll move to warmer environments to help fight off infection,” he explains: a behavior the group expects to observe in the lab. There, infected frogs naturally gravitate toward warmer water. Using a population of over 90 tadpoles, the team is also studying whether microglia, the brain’s waste-clearing immune cells, play a role in the metamorphic changes that take place as tadpoles become frogs. Through immunohistochemistry, a technique that uses antibodies to visualize proteins in tissue samples, Quintanilla has begun analyzing frog brain matter to probe that question further. “Collecting and analyzing slices is so rewarding,” he says, sharing his aspiration to pursue a future career as a neurosurgeon. “It helps me build on my surgical skills, and in the long term, it’ll be a form of experience.”   Natural Sciences and Mathematics Research News and Updates Student Psychological and Brain Sciences

Ekra Hoque ’26 Investigates Food Safety in Bangladesh tmfonda@colgate.edu Thu, 08/14/2025 - 14:19 This summer, Ekra Hoque ’26 has taken her biochemistry training home to Bangladesh, where she’s investigating a critical public health issue: food safety. At BRAC University in Dhaka, she’s exploring what it’s like to conduct scientific research in the place where she hopes to build her future career. Hoque’s experience is supported by Career Services’ Summer Internship Funding program, which is designed to help offset related expenses. Her host institution, BRAC University, was established in 2001 by Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, the founder of BRAC, one of the world’s largest nongovernmental organizations. Modeled on the American liberal arts college system, the university shapes future leaders who can balance academic excellence with empathetic leadership. At BRAC, Hoque joined a large microbiology lab to investigate the quality and safety of food commonly sold in open-air markets — “where affordability often comes at the cost of hygiene,” Hoque says. “Many people in Bangladesh, especially those living in poverty, rely on these markets for daily food, but they’re not always safe.” Her research involved collecting items such as fruits, dates, grains, and nuts, and testing them for microbial and fungal contamination. “When I started off, I was looking for aflatoxins,” Hoque says. These are spores produced by fungal growth on food that can have toxic effects. But as her testing commenced, she found these and more: gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, lactose fermenters and non-fermenters. “While some of these microbes occur naturally in the human body, they may pose health risks when consumed in large quantities through contaminated food,” says Hoque. “I think that, with further research, we’ll be able to better understand how these microbes affect consumers.” Along the way, Hoque has learned several new lab techniques, including culturing cells, PCR (polymerase chain reaction), and ELISA, a test used to detect specific bacteria and fungi. “Working in a large, high-volume lab environment was such an educational experience for me,” she adds. “I had to keep up with the pace and, many times, work independently. My long-term goals include coming back to Bangladesh and working as a professor here, conducting research.” Short term, Hoque and her BRAC colleagues hope to build on this work by collecting hospital data and exploring the broader correlations between food contamination and public health in Bangladesh. “Through this work, we hope to raise awareness and explore safer, more sustainable alternatives,” says Hoque. Visit Career Services online for more information about summer internship funding at Colgate. Academics Research Career Development News and Updates Student Department of Chemistry Ekra Hoque ’26

Pipcorn Co-Founder Jen Martin Named Weiner Family Entrepreneur in Residence in the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation sdevries@colgate.edu Wed, 08/13/2025 - 15:15 Pipcorn co-founder Jen Martin will bring more than a decade of experience building brands from the ground up, when she begins working with Colgate University’s student entrepreneurs as the new Weiner Family Entrepreneur in Residence in the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (E&I). “I started my first two businesses in college, so I understand how transformative this time can be and the unique experience of being a college entrepreneur: how to balance ambition with real-life demands,” Martin said. “It’s a moment to test bold ideas, take meaningful risks, and begin shaping the future you want to see. My hope is to help Colgate students do the same, to recognize their unique gifts, trust their instincts, and bring their ideas to life with confidence and purpose.” As co-founder and chief brand officer of Pipcorn, Martin turned a $3,000 idea for a snack company featuring special heirloom corn into a multimillion-dollar international brand, securing a deal on Shark Tank, multiple features on Oprah’s Favorite Things, and shelf space at major national retailers. She has been recognized as one of Entrepreneur’s 100 Power Women in Business, Forbes 30 Under 30, and Essence’s 50 Women to Watch. After her time at Pipcorn, Martin advised legacy consumer packaged goods companies, global automotive brands, and mission-driven startups in a consulting capacity — helping shape strategy for high-profile initiatives, including a worldwide marketing campaign for one of the world’s most iconic candy brands. Colgate University announced the creation of E&I’s Weiner Family Entrepreneur in Residence in April 2025. The endowed staff position was made possible by Howard Weiner ’72 and was established to support Colgate’s commitment to entrepreneurship and to ensure that future generations of students benefit from a strong liberal arts foundation as they build their startups.  “I'm excited to welcome Jen to the team. During her on-site interview, she connected with students, staff, faculty, and alumni through her student-centric approach and bona fide entrepreneurial chops,” said Entrepreneurship and Innovation Director Carolyn Strobel-Larsen. The entrepreneur in residence heads the Thought into Action (TIA) program — a key E&I focus area and signature program in the Middle Campus Initiative for Arts, Creativity, and Innovation (ACI). Martin will start in the position Sept. 10. E&I’s Thought Into Action (TIA) Incubator Kickoff Weekend will take place Sept. 19–20 during Homecoming weekend, when more than two dozen mentors will come to campus to work directly with students, culminating with the TIA Entrepreneur Showcase on April 11 during Arts, Creativity, and Innovation Weekend. “What makes Colgate special is the deep bench of passionate mentors and alumni who are genuinely invested in helping students succeed,” Martin said. “That access — and the generosity of spirit behind it — is a unique gift. I’m excited to help foster those connections and create space for big ideas, decisive action, and lasting impact. I’m ready to meet students where they are and help them find their next right step, one move at a time.” Centers and Institutes Alumni Third Century Career Development Entrepreneurship Professional Networks People News and Updates Faculty & Staff entrepreneurshipPipcorn Co-Founder Jen Martin

Colgate Hosts First Nation Students From Western Australia tmfonda@colgate.edu Tue, 08/12/2025 - 10:52 In late June, Colgate University hosted students from Curtin University (Perth, Australia) for two weeks of cultural exchange, exploration of central New York geography, and Indigenous connections. Geography professors Adam Burnett and Peter Klepeis, along with Colgate students Jannah Zabadi ’26 and Jack Mullen ’26, led the cohort of 12 exchange students and two Curtin faculty as they attended academic lectures, visited Native American nations, and connected with nature. Colgate’s relationship with Curtin University began with work conducted more than a decade ago by Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies Emerita Ellen Kraly. In 2013, Kraly collaborated with Curtin colleagues to repatriate a collection of art held by Colgate and made by Australian Aboriginal children. She also developed an extended study to Western Australia that was eventually carried on by Burnett and Klepeis. “These child artists are referred to as the stolen generation,” says Burnett, who has helped to maintain the relationship with Curtin in recent years. “They were removed from their families by government agencies under acts of their respective parliaments.” These policies, implemented through much of the 20th century, bear clear parallels to the experiences of Indigenous communities in central New York, where children from Haudenosaunee and other nations were forcibly placed in residential boarding schools. Thus, after leading several extended studies centered on Aboriginal culture in Western Australia, Burnett and Klepeis asked: “What would it look like to host Aboriginal students at Colgate and provide them with an experience similar to what Colgate students receive in Australia?” “These experiences would, as a whole, create both a deeper understanding of what Colgate is, what the Colgate environment is like, and what the people of central New York are like,” says Burnett. The program was implemented with these objectives in mind, combining academic lectures with local excursions. “We started with ice-breaking activities run by Outdoor Education, followed by an intergroup dialog session to help us understand each other better,” explains Burnett. The group then embarked on a camping trip to the Adirondacks with Outdoor Education, camping overnight in the high peaks. “Getting to know the students from Curtin was so eye-opening,” says Zabadi. “They had so much wisdom to share about their life experiences, advice for my future, and interpretations of our excursions that were different from mine.” Later, the cohort visited the local Oneida and Onondaga nations. At the Oneida Indian Nation, students were hosted for a day. “We were fed a great meal, and then we were allowed to see a lacrosse game,” says Burnett. The next day, they visited the Onondaga Nation, where they saw the Longhouse and the buffalo field. “Later in the visit, we met with Angela Ferguson, whom Colgate awarded an honorary degree in 2024,” says Burnett. Ferguson’s food sovereignty project, Braiding the Sacred, involves locating, growing, and returning corn, beans, and squash seeds that were thought long-lost to their people. “Meeting the women at the Onondaga Nation farm was a highlight of the exchange,” shares Zabadi. “The love, respect, joy, and healing they put into their work was unlike anything I had seen before.” Though brief, Burnett also reflects fondly on the exchange, hoping that it will inspire understanding. “Understanding can help heal trauma, so I hope that what we did may have helped contribute to that in even a small way,” he says. “And might this be a model for doing it again in the future, maybe with other extended study partners?” News and Updates Faculty & Staff Department of Geography Colgate University students tour Colgate’s campus (Photo by Charlotte Bristol)

Colgate in the Media: July 2025 kputman@colgate.edu Fri, 08/01/2025 - 13:13 Colgate University faculty, staff, and alumni regularly provide their expertise and contribute to national and regional media outlets shaping discussions around vital research and current events.  ‘We’re in uncharted waters.’ Hacking swamps could curb methane emissions — but side effects are unclear Science, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Emily Ury It’s darker than darkness — Rogue dark star defies the laws of the universe The Pulse, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy Cosmin Ilie What a 1964 Book About American Anti-Intellectualism Can Teach Us About the Trump Era LitHub, Donald M. and Constance H. Rebar Professor in Humanities, Professor of English Peter Balakian What Does It Mean To Look Like A Leader? Forbes, Hurley Family Chair, Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Neuroscience Spencer Kelly Factors to Consider Before Joining Greek Life U.S. News & World Report, Dean of Students Dorsey Spencer Colgate University’s Ho Tung Visualization Laboratory Bridges Ancient Worlds and Modern Understanding Through Immersive Technology Cosm, Technical Director and Designer-Visualization Lab and Planetarium Joe Eakin Why I left the US to build a business in Nairobi Daily Nation, Sally Ngoje ’19 The Rise of AI Will Make Liberal Arts Degrees Popular Again Inc., Bill Winters ’83 What is Mark Murphy’s legacy as Packers president and CEO? ESPN, Mark Murphy ’77 Faculty News Alumni News and Updates Alumni Faculty & Staff

Two Colgate Students Lead Projects for Peace Abroad tmfonda@colgate.edu Thu, 07/31/2025 - 10:23 This summer, Colgate students Harshitha Talasila ’26 and Kajol Luplunge ’28 have been selected as two of 125 recipients of Projects for Peace grants. Accepted from a pool of applicants at partner institutions across the globe, their projects address issues of substance abuse, mental health, and women’s health internationally. To date, there have been more than 2,000 Projects for Peace in over 150 countries — Talasila and Luplunge’s initiatives now join the list. Harshitha Talasila ’26 On July 1, Talasila arrived in Vijayawada, India — the site of her Projects for Peace fellowship and, more personally, her birthplace. “I immigrated from India to the States when I was five,” she explains, “and wanted to give back.” Her project partners with a nonprofit, Young Indians, and centers around the subjects of mental health and drug abuse. An environmental studies and peace and conflict studies double-major, Talasila developed the idea for her project by consulting family members in Vijayawada. She asked, “What is a really pressing issue here?” and became aware of rising drug-abuse cases and a lack of dialogue about mental health, especially in the school system. “In India, these topics are often stigmatized,” she says. “This can lead to a lack of support for individuals, with broader long-standing impacts on a community.” In preparation for her project, Talasila consulted Shaw Wellness Dietitian Allison Bowers and Alcohol and Drug Services Counselor Stephen Elfenbein. Additionally, she spoke to her former advisers with the Dutchess County Youth Council of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., to source public speakers. In association with Young Indians (Yi), each session of her program takes place at a local University or school. There, Talasila and other speakers share information about various drugs, abuse, and associated mental health concerns. “When the project originally started, we weren’t sure if we would get a really strong response,” shares Talasila. “But the minimum class size we’ve had is 150 students.” Following their presentation, Talasila hosts a Q&A with program participants and circulates feedback forms. “A lot of the feedback has been, ‘Hey, no one’s ever talked to us about this,’” she says. “And by the end, I feel like a good majority of our participants walk out knowing more about the topic.” For Talasila, though, the project is about more than education: it’s a step toward long-term change. “We must start at the individual and local community levels to build peace,” she argues. “Peace isn’t just about the absence of conflict — it’s about creating the foundation where communities are able to thrive and support one another.” Kajol Luplunge ’28 In partnership with peers at Clark University and volunteers at Diyo South Asia, an NGO she co-founded with peers in high school, Luplunge’s Project for Peace is based in Sankhuwasabha, Nepal. There, her project is working to address both practical and societal challenges Nepalese women face during their menstrual cycle. “In Nepal, menstruation is often treated as a taboo rather than a physiological process,” explains Luplunge, who co-founded Diyo South Asia to address such concerns. “Some girls don’t make it through school because they don’t have access to proper facilities, leading to higher rates of child marriage and other long-term consequences.” A major directive of Luplunge’s project is to build clean, well-lit, and hygienic bathrooms with proper disposal facilities in two government schools in Sankhuwasabha. By doing so, she and volunteers aim to provide girls with the safety and privacy needed to stay in school during their periods. “We’re also teaching 57 women how to make reusable pads, so they can improve access and share this information with their communities,” she adds.   A third phase of Luplunge’s project is reproductive education. “Menstruation shouldn’t be a secret,” she says. By hosting workshops for 400 boys and 500 girls, she aims to spread awareness “not just about biology, but about discussing these topics sensitively and openly.” As Luplunge completes a neuroscience research project in Hamilton, she is continuing to write articles, draft interview questions for local women, and prep slides for the project.  “Helping others has always been part of how I grew up,” she says. “This project is specific to the summer, but we’re planning more.” The Projects for Peace program was founded in 2007 with a $1 million investment from Kathryn Wasserman Davis, a philanthropist and longtime advocate for international peacebuilding. Interested Colgate students can apply through the University’s Office of National Fellowships and Scholarships.   News and Updates Student Harshitha Talasila leads a workshop on mental health and drug abuse at Velagapudi Ramakrishna Siddhartha Engineering College in Vijayawada, India.