NEWSLETTERC O L L E G E O F N A T U R A L S C I E N C E S / / V O L U M E 2 / / I S S U E 5

Dean's MessageDR. CHARLENE WOLF-HALL

In addition to fond farewells to graduates

and retirees, we say welcome to new

students, faculty and staff. We are

welcoming new students through

summer orientation and have several

faculty and staff searches in progress.

This week, we announced the next

Department Head for Biology &

Microbiology. Please congratulate Dr.

Radhey Kaushik who starts on June 22.

Dr. Kaushik will relinquish the role of

Associate Dean for Research; more

information about that position coming

soon.

Campus is in bloom as we transition from

spring to summer. It is a bit surreal to

walk around campus and smell the

flowers after this last year. I hope you all

enjoy a wonderful summer.

Commencement 2021: Dr. Hildreth (pictured left sideof front row) was an HonoraryMarshall for the CNS andCAFES ceremoney

Celebrating WorkAnniversaries

---May 2021

Jay Shore - 26 yearsMatt Miller - 22 yearsGreg Heiberger - 18 yearsBishnu Karki - 9 yearsPatrick Danielson - 7 years

Congratulations to our graduates! What a

pleasure to see many walk at our outdoor

commencement ceremony. Student

speaker, Keri Pappas, and Marshall, Dr.

Hildreth, were amazing. It was chilly and

windy that morning, but oh so joyful. Please

remember us warmly and stay in touch.

Semester end brings the recognition of

Dean’s List students. Please see that list

later in the newsletter. Congratulations for

achieving this recognition during a

particularly challenging year.

In this issue, we highlight recent

retirements and thank these CNS family

members for their many years of service.

We wish them the best.

STUDENT MEDALLION RECIPIENTSHailey Axemaker, Biotechnology & Microbiology

Avori Bastemeyer, BiochemistryKelsey Bender, Human Biology

Monique Bunkers, Chemistry & BiochemistryAbby Burkhart, Human Biology

Courtney Cameron, Biotechnology & MicrobiologyNicholas Carlson, Physics

Jerrod Fedorchik, BiochemistryMoriah Flanagan, Biotechnology & Microbiology

McKenzie Gaspar, BiochemistryWes Genant, Biochemistry

Gabbie Gervais, Human BiologySusie Grabenstein, BiochemistryThane Henschel, Human Biology

Josh Loecker, BiochemistryKatie Lucas, Biology

Josh Mohs, Human BiologyAbigail Morgan, Chemistry & Biochemistry

Collin Olevson, Human Biology Keri Pappas, Human Biology & Microbiology

Timothy Paris, Chemistry, Biochemistry, & Psychology Bailey Pickering, Human BiologyJessica Scheer, Human Biology

Sarah Schweitzer, Human BiologyEric Sundall, Chemistry & Biochemistry

Cheyenne Trautmann, ChemistryKaylan Untiedt, Biology

Awards & Recognition

Van D. and Barbara B. Fishback Honors College 2021 Honors Medallion Ceremony

2021 Commencement Ceremony

Honorary Marshall: Dr. Michael Hildreth, Biology & MicrobiologyStudent Speaker: Keri Pappas, Human Biology

American Oil Chemists SocietyePoster Pitch Competition:

Ahmad Alhomodi, 1st placeBiology & Microbiology

FACULTY RECOGNITIONSDon Auger (deceased), Biology & Microbiology

Kevin Cope, Biology & MicrobiologyNicole Grove, Chemistry & BiochemistrySurtaj Iram, Chemistry & Biochemistry

Robert McTaggart, PhysicsJess Mediger, Biology & MicrobiologyMark Messerli, Biology & MicrobiologyMatt Miller, Chemistry & BiochemistryMadhav Nepal, Biology & Microbiology

Scott Pedersen, Biology & MicrobiologyDoug Raynie, Chemistry & Biochemistry

Marjoanne Thompson, Biology & MicrobiologyRachel Willand-Charnley, Chemistry & Biochemistry

Natural Sciences undergraduates make up less than 10% of the student body at SDSU, but represented 37% of the graduating Honors Students earlier this month!

Society of Physics StudentsOutstanding Undergraduate

Research Award:Abdullah al Maruf, Physics

Awards & Recognition, Cont.Sigma Pi Sigma - National Physics Honors Society

The following Physics students were initiated into Sigma Pi Sigma on April 30, 2021:

Nicholas CarlsonZachary LehmannAbdullah al Maruf

It was a special evening as several past inductees were able to join the ceremony via Zoom. Special guestsincluded George Duffey and LaVon (Doner) Hall, who were both inaugural inductees from the chapter's firstinstallation class in 1947, pictured below. Dr. Duffey would go on to become a faculty member in the PhysicsDepartment here at SDSU, and LaVon and Harold (deceased) Hall remained involved with SDSU throughout

the years, including establishment of their scholarship.

Sigma Xi Research Awards

M.S. PAPER CATEGORY1st place: Camille Massmann, Biology & Microbiology

Faculty advisor: Dr. Bishnu Karki

PH.D. PAPER CATEGORY3rd place: Subrata Bhadra, Chemistry & Biochemistry

Faculty advisor: Dr. Brian Logue

PH.D. PROPOSAL CATEGORY1st place: Ahmad Alhomodi, Biology & Microbiology

Faculty advisor: Dr. Bishnu Karki

Our research activities focus on the investigation of land surface dynamics and climate impacts using multiple spatiotemporal

resolution satellite data from regional to global scales. The research topics mainly involve the followings four fields.

Third, we develop novel algorithms to

produce an operational global biomass

burning emissions product in near real time

by integrating active fires observed from a

network of geostationary sensors and

polar-orbiting satellites. The related

algorithms and computer codes have been

integrated in NOAA for operational product

generations of hourly and daily biomass

burning emissions. With the update of

satellite observations and the change of

NOAA air quality models, we will continue

to refine the algorithms and computer

codes and to improve the product accuracy.

Research Spotlight: Dr. Xiaoyang Zhang XIAOYANG ZHANG • PROFESSOR/SENIOR SCIENTIST • GEOSPATIAL SCIENCES CENTER OF EXCELLENCE

Finally, we investigate the impacts of

environmental change and human

activities on terrestrial ecosystems. This

research topic is mainly concentrated on

the long-term trends and extreme

anomalies of vegetation phenology and

biomass burning emissions in responses to

climate change, environmental variation,

and human activity across regional and

global scales.

First, we develop innovative algorithms

for the generation of long-term global land

surface phenology (seasonal vegetation

dynamics) products at a spatial resolution

of 0.05 degree (~5 km) and 500 m,

separately, which services as a NASA’s

standard product for the study on long-

term global environmental change and

carbon cycle. The 5-km phenology product

is produced from satellite instruments of

Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer

(AVHRR, since 1982), Moderate Resolution

Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS, since 2000), and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS, since 2012), and the 500-m product

is generated from MODIS and VIIRS. The VIIRS, as the successor of MODIS, is the new-generation optical sensor in the middle resolution,

which will continue to provide Earth surface observations at least during next decade. We will continue to refine the algorithms to

reproduce the long-term phenology product (over 50 years) with high accuracy and continuity.

Second, we develop systems for monitoring crop progress and growing condition in near real time at field scales by fusing polar-

orbiting and geostationary satellites, which is to support USDA’s capability of monitoring crop growth and yield. This research is to

reconstruct high spatiotemporal dynamics of crop greenness by fusing observations from geostationary satellites (500-m pixels at every 10

minutes), Landsat and Sententil-2 (30-m pixels at every 3 days), and PlanetScope (3-m pixels daily). The system will have the capability of

reporting crop growing conditions weekly at 30-m pixels.

Upcoming RetirementsWe would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to these folks who are retiring from

SDSU. Thank you for your service over the years, and enjoy your next chapter!

Terry McCutcheon, Biology & MicrobiologyTerry started at SDSU in January of '99; the temperature was -29 when

he arrived from Gainesville, TX, where the temperature was 70 when

he left! He coached the rodeo team from 99-09, helping many students

get NIRA National Champion titles: Tabitha Sigman Harris (Goat

Tying), Rachel Tiedeman (Barrel Racing), Andrew Coughlin (Bull

Riding, reserve) and Joe Gunderson (Bareback Riding, reserve). Within

the department, some of his favorite memories include TA meetings

Mike Hildreth, Biology & MicrobiologyMike started at SDSU in 1987 and will retire this August. One of his

favorite memories: "The look on the SDSU policemen faces when

they broke into my old spooky coyote necropsy lab out in the

Wildlife & Fisheries unit while I was working one late night on some

skinned foxes. I was in a full isolation suit covered in fox blood, there

were fox body parts were laying around, and they were completely

confused and scared to death. It took a few minutes to convince

them that they hadn’t stumbled onto a mass murder scene and to get them calmed down

enough to put their guns away." In retirement, he plans to continue working on his acreage

near the Brookings area and continue working on bison parasite issues!

with Dick Whalen and Kendra Hill, as well as hearing non-majors tell him, "I hate Biology but

you made it fun!" His plans for retirement include stuff with family, grandkids, and horses.

Sue Schliinz, Biology & MicrobiologySue started at SDSU in 1989 and retired earlier this May. Stationed

in Berg Ag Hall, she handled lab preparations for 100+ sections per

year and her work has impacted many thousands of students over

the years. "Sue has done so much for the non-majors and majors

intro biology programs over the years and I know coordinating labs

would have been much more difficult without her experience and

knowledge," Dr. Mandy Orth said. "She will be greatly missed!"

Recent Media Coverage

SDSU engineers use satellite images to protect national security: Dr. Hankui

Zhang, Geospatial Sciences Center of Excellence, is part of a team that will work on

using images from remote-sensing satellites to protect national security. The full

four-year contract would bring more than $1.8 million in research funding to SDSU!

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

Celebrating service to the City of Brookings: Keith Corbett, alum of the

Chemistry & Biochemistry Department, recently retired as mayor of Brookings, SD.

“Keith Corbett began his professional life in service to his country, and then he

returned to the state of South Dakota and spent at least a few decades in service to

his state,” Bacon said.

Eye on KELOLAND: Mentoring matters: Lauri Sohl, online instructor for the

Geography & Geospatial Sciences Department, has been a longtime mentor. “I

knew I wanted to offer something to somebody who might need me,” Sohl said.

“One of the things I think we all tend to forget about is we think about ourselves

and our own needs but we don’t always think about what someone else might

need or that act of kindness.”

Backhaus (Human Biology B.S.) has been making big plays throughout his career for SDSU & Spirit Lake:

"'We saw a skinny, athletic high school player. The thing we didn’t see that we’ve come to know and love is,

number one, a great leader, and then number two one of the best football minds I’ve ever been around,' SDSU

Head Coach John Stiegelmeier says. Which came from another passion that Logan discovered in high school -

orthopedic surgery. 'I always thought it was kind of a cool goal is to help people that love the sport get back

to playing it as soon as possible because I know that’s what I’d want my surgeons to do for me as well,' Logan

says."

SDSU Qualifies 10 for College National Finals Rodeo:

Ten members of the South Dakota State University Rodeo

Team have qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo

(CNFR), including two students from Natural Sciences!

Colton Carlson, Human Biology major pictured top left, will

compete in team roping and Allison Pauley, Biochemistry

major pictured bottom left, will compete in barrel racing.

The women’s SDSU Rodeo Team has earned the title of

2020-2021 Great Plains Region Champions and the men’s

SDSU Rodeo Team has earned the title of 2020-2021 Great

Plains Region Reserve Champions. Congratulations to all!

Anchoring the line: Veteran center Wes Genant (Biochemistry

B.S., pictured left) leads Jackrabbit blocking unit:

"'He’s kind of 23 going on 43,' said Jason Eck, who is the Jacks'

offensive line coach and offensive coordinator. 'He’s a mature guy,

he’s married, and his personality is really a stabilizing factor for our

offense. One of his best qualities is that he’s seen just about

everything so he doesn’t get rattled. That really helps with some of

the younger guys who might have more emotional peaks and valleys.

He keeps those guys steady. He’s been a good leader for us.'”

Softball team claims first Summit League Championship Title in program history:

Media, cont.: Athletics Highlights

Chiara Bassi, Biology

Kendra Conard, Human Biology

Olivia Douglas, Human Biology

Mia Elliott, Biology

Cheyanne Masterson, Biology

Emma Osmundson, Biochemistry

Summit League Championship Title on May 15th

and put up a strong showing during the NCAA

tournament. Special congratulations goes to:

We are proud to have six Natural Sciences students on the Jackrabbits Softball team! They secured their first

Grants Awarded in CNS APRIL 2021

Bruce Millett, PI • Geography & Geospatial Sciences • SD

Department of Health / Department of Health & Human Services -

Centers for Disease • FY21 Geocoding and Mapping Services to the

Cancer Registry at SD Department of Health

Open PRAIRIE Data What is "Open PRAIRIE"?

The Open Public ResearchAccess InstitutionalRepository & InformationExchange trackspublications from withinNatural Sciencesthroughout the year,showing where and whenarticles were opened allaround the world.

3,165 downloads at 345 institutions in 116 countries9 new works posted, for a total of 917A Study of African Savanna Vegetation Structure, Patterning,and Change was the most frequently downloaded piece at177 downloads. This dissertation is by past PhD studentChristoffer R. Axelsson, who was an advisee of Dr. Niall P.Hanan.

Data across the whole College of Natural Sciences:

APRIL 2021

Spring 2021 Dean's ListFULL-TIME (12+ CREDIT) STUDENTS WITH A 3.5 OR HIGHER GPA

Javi Adividya

Aliza Ahrendt

Karlee Albert

Claire Alt

Mara Andersen

Sarah Anglin

Hailey Axemaker

Ann Babits

Kailey Bak

Gavin Baker

Joshua Balster

Dayne Bartels

Arene Barwari

Chiara Bassi

Avori Bastemeyer

Jaidyn Bauman

Tacey Baustian

Brady Beck

Kelsey Bender

Donovan Bentz

Katelyn Bettin

Jenna Blogg

Austin Bonn

Jaiden Boomsma

Elise Braswell

Cassidy Bridges

Caitlin Bright

Cheyloh Brockel

McKenzie Brown

William Brown

Laney Brown

Kaila Brudelie

Cayden Budd

Zachary Budden

Logan Burket

Callie Bursing

Brooke Buthe

Cassidy Carda

Kenzie Carlson

Nicholas Carlson

Colton Carlson

Regan Carlson

Abigail Carson

Kyerra Carter

Alyssa Casper

Andrew Christiansen

Kayla Christopherson

Clara Conner

Deirdre Cross

Mason Crow

Kallie Crowl

Courtney Currier

Jackson Dana

Joseph Dembouski

Erin Denevan

Kaylee Derickson

Steven Dewaide

Nichole Dial

Rachel Dieckmann

Sam Diemer

Dhalten Dirks

Lindsey Dockendorf

Nathan Doering

Joshua Donahoe

Olivia Douglas

Ava Dreessen

Marissa Driesen

Thomas Ebrahem

Kayla Egenes

Mitchal Eichacker

Hunter Eide

Evan Ekstrum

Alexis Elfstrand

Matias Erickson

Sarah Erickson

Katherine Erickson

Peyton Evans

Hannah Even

Mary Fanta

Jerrod Fedorchik

Alexis Fickbohm

Harley Fischer

Julie Fischer

Chase Flickema

Aubrie Franken

Michael Frick

McKenzie Gaspar

Taylor Geffre

Megan Gerhart

Megan Gilk

Elizabeth Gillingham

Lucas Goetz

Luke Gorski

Clara Greenhagen

Libby Gregg

Tatum Gregston

Paige Haakenson

Cooper Haaland

Tseganesh

Hailemariam

Mackenzie Hanisch

Miah Hansen

Tyffani Hanson

Caleb Harthoorn

Taylor Hastings

Emily Hedge

Mollie Heinen

Riley Hellmann

Thomas Hennen

Kelli Henricks

Thane Henschel

Madisyn Heyn

Madison Higbee

Nicole Hintz

Clara Hipp

Abigail Hobbs

Madison Hodgdon

Halle Hoekstra

Rylee Honomichl

Samantha Hunsecker

Morgan Huntington

Thad Indermuhle

Tylee Irwin

Amanda Jacobs

Haley Jahnke

Deann Jelsma

Emma Jensen

Caden Johnson

Abigail Kastens

Amanda Kerr

Connor Klinkhammer

Riley Klueber

Luke Knutson

Isaac Kovash

Robert Kowitz

Mackenzie Krcil

Brady Kruse

Peyton Kuchenbecker

Jackson Kunz

Nicholas Kurtenbach

Abygail Lang

Angela Louise Lansang

Maxwell Larsen

Jenell Linne

Spring 2021 Dean's List, cont.FULL-TIME (12+ CREDIT) STUDENTS WITH A 3.5 OR HIGHER GPA

Timothy Paris

Peyton Parker

Jenna Parliament

Himesh Parmar

Jacob Paulson

Jessica Pedelty

Ryan Peldo

Jadyn Perry

Allison Peters

Olivia Pfeifle

Bailey Pickering

Gabrielle Pietila

Kristen Poppen

Jack Rabern

Megan Rambo

Anna Rauber-Ramos

Cale Reeder

Jessica Reinhardt

Jonathan Ricke

Morgan Ridley

Amanda Roesler

Kennedy Roland

Tiana Rupp

Darratu Salesa

Devindi Samarasinghe

Nathan Sangster

Alexis Saunders

Brett Schamens

Matthew Schmit

Sierra Schofield

Sidney Schroeder

Lauren Schueler

Brandon Schuldt

Megan Schulte

Sarah Schweitzer

Michael Schwinghamer

Wyatt Seagren

Brayden Selchert

Katelyn Severson

Hattie Shaffer

Meg Sheehan

Kushagra Singh

Saloni Singh

Jessica Skare

Sheridan Skinner

Braden Skow

Joseph Slama

Logan Smith

Landon Smith

Tanner Smith

Althea Spencer

Quenton Steffen

Hailey Stengel

Kristin Stoltenberg

Kassy Strable

Rylee Stromer Iversen

Abigail Swenson

McKayla Tegethoff

Thomas Teigen

Ellie Thein

Marcie Thomas

Jordan Thompson

Kylee Thorpe

Riley Thorpe

Brittany Todd

Tommi Toft

Cassandra

Townsend

Cheyenne

Trautman

Jada Tschetter

Nathan Tuttle

Kaylan Untiedt

Sarah Urevig

Taylor Videen

Emma Von Hagel

Kayla Washington

Brittney Weber

Gohan White Bull

Emily Wilde

Rachel Wilner

Sydney Wilson

Alexander Withrow

Cole Withrow

Jax Wysong

Jorie Ziegeldorf

Morgan Logue

Kristina Long

Katherine Lucas

Hannah Markman

Nicole Matter

Mary Matya

Carson Max

Caitlynn McGregor

Marie McLaughlin

Emory McManimon

Wyatt Meendering

Jaclyn Meier

Emily Miller

Alana Moe

Victoria Moe

Joshua Mohs

Morgan Moon

Hannah Moran

Namra Mubashar

Whitney Muck

Abigale Muller

Laura Munger

Cassie Munsterman

Elijah Myers

Ethan Noble

Tarek Nour

Kyra Obermeyer

Christina O'Bryan

Austin Odland

Collin Olevson

Shelby Olson

Kayla Olson

Brynn Olson

Insaf Omar

Emma Osmundson

Keri Pappas

Spring 2021 Academic RecognitionsPART-TIME (<12 CREDIT) STUDENTS WITH A 3.5 OR HIGHER GPA

Kathryn Long

Sienna Mahan-Deitte

Emma Martin

Zachary Mehlberg

Brett Mogen

Kenneth O'Neil

Thomas Ott

Eliza Peters

Bronson Pond

Jessica Scheer

Kaihlen Smith

James Speck

Eric Sundall

Makayla Swancutt

Brooklyn VanDerWolde

Andrew White

Mary Willrodt

Aaron Yam

Jayda Zemlicka

Amel Abdalla

Kaylee Athey

Logan Backhaus

Justin Balicki

Tanner Berg

Rachael Bingham

Sophie Bisgard

Regan Blackwell

Camryn Blackwell

Connor Borgos

Sidney Brower

Marshall Brown

Cole Brown

Monique Bunkers

Abigail Burkhart

Courtney Cameron

Cole Conard

Hanna Cummins

Jacob Devine

Abigail Dressen

Ty Dunse

Gage Fenski

Alissa Findley

Moriah Flanagan

Wesley Genant

Raina Grimsley

Maggie Heezen

Devon Hegdahl

Justin Hoogestraat

Kara Jueckstock

Anne Knoff

James Krall

Mitchell Lack

Jacqueline Laddusaw

Cassidy Laidlaw

Tana Lick

Over 53% of our Natural Sciences students appear on one of these lists! We

are proud of their drive for academic excellence, especially during a uniquely

challenging semester of navigating pandemic restrictions.