C.V.

Laura K. Palmer- C.V.

Research Interests

Research Interests

CURRENT POSITION: ° Penn State Altoona, Altoona, PA
Associate Professor of Biology (Spring 2011-present)
- Assistant Professor of Biology (Fall 2004-Spring 2011)
Courses Taught: BIOL 110 (Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity); BIOL 222 (Genetics); BIOL 230W (Biology: Molecules and Cells); BIOL 413 (Cell Signaling and Regulation); BIOL 422W (Advanced Genetics); VBSC 211 (The Immune System and Disease) EDUCATION: ° Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology (Sept. 2002-June 2004) Mentor: Dr. Leonard S. Jefferson, Evan Pugh Professor and Chair of Dept. of Cellular and Molecular Physiology ° Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA Ph.D., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (August, 2002) Dissertation Title: “Molecular Mechanisms of Volatile Anesthetic Response in Saccharomyces cerevisiae” Thesis Advisor: Dr. Ralph L. Keil, Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology ° Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio B.S., with High Distinction (May, 1996) Major: Biochemistry (ACS certified) PUBLICATIONS:
° Palmer, L.K., (2010) Using Harry Potter to Introduce Students to DNA Fingerprinting and Forensic Science. The American Biology Teacher 72(4): 242-244 [PDF]
° Palmer, L.K., Baptiste, B.A., Fester, J.C.*, Perkins, J.C.*, and Keil R.L. (2009) RRD1, a Component of the TORC1 Signaling Pathway, Affects Anesthetic Response in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Yeast 26:655-661 (*denotes undergraduates) [PDF] ° Keil, R.L. and Palmer, L.K. (2009) A Visual Demonstration of Plasmid DNA Preparation From Bacteria. The American Biology Teacher 71(6): 363-366 [PDF] ° Palmer, L.K., Rannels, S.L., Kimball, S.R., Jefferson, L.S., and Keil, R.L. (2006) Inhibition of Mammalian Translation by Volatile Anesthetics. American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism 290:E1267-E1275 [PDF] ° Palmer, L.K., Shoemaker, J.L., Baptiste, B.A., Wolfe, D. and Keil, R.L. (2005) Inhibition of Translation Initiation by Volatile Anesthetics Involves Nutrient-sensitive GCN-independent and -dependent Processes in Yeast. Molecular Biology of the Cell 16:3727-3739 [PDF] ° Palmer, L.K., Wolfe, D., Keeley, J.L., and Keil, R.L. (2002) Volatile anesthetics affect nutrient availability in yeast. Genetics 161:563-574 [PDF] PREVIOUS TEACHING EXPERIENCE: ° Adjunct Instructor of Biology, Department of Biology, Millersville University, Millersville, PA (Spring 2004) ° Instructor, graduate-level colloquium course in Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine (Spring and Fall Semesters 2003) ° Facilitator, Problem-Based Learning Session for first-year medical students as part of the core curriculum at the Penn State College of Medicine. (Fall 2003) OTHER SELECTED TEACHING/OUTREACH ACTIVITIES: Lecture-based: ° Presented a series of three lectures on drug mechanisms of action for upper-level criminal justice course (CJ 469: Drugs and Drug Policy; Feb.2008, Feb. 2009) ° Presented guest lecture on DNA fingerprinting and forensic science for CJ 210 course (The Law Enforcement Function) at Penn State Altoona, Altoona, PA (Apr. 2006) ° Presented lesson on "Fun Facts About Your Noggin'" for Juniata Gap Elementary School's "Super Science Saturday", Altoona, PA (Apr. 2006) ° Developed and presented lesson on DNA fingerprinting to 7th and 9th grade students at Roosevelt Junior High School, Altoona, PA (Jan. 2006, 2007) ° Developed and presented lesson on "Fun Facts About Your Noggin'" for Penn State Altoona's "Take Your Kids to Work Day" activities (Apr. 2005) ° Developed and presented lesson on "How the Brain Works" to children ages 1-10 as part of the National Association of Eductation of Young Children's "Week of the Young Child" Celebration (Apr. 2005) ° Facilitated lesson on the ethics of current biotechnology in relation to the novel Frankenstein for high school A.P. English class at Altoona Area High School, Altoona, PA (Nov. 2004) Laboratory-based: ° Co-facilitated DNA isolation experiments for 9th and 10th grade students at Palmyra High School, Palmyra, PA (biannually, 2000-2006) ° Guided summer laboratory project for undergraduate student (2002) ° Guided laboratory rotation projects for eight first-year graduate students for 4-8 week intervals each (1999-2002) SEMINARS and ORAL PRESENTATIONS:

° Biology Seminar Series, “Using Genetics to Investigate Volatile Anesthetic Action”, Department of Biology, Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, PA (Mar. 2010)
° Division of Math and Natural Sciences Colloquium Series, “The Past, Present, and Future of Anesthesia Research”, Penn State Altoona (Feb. 2010)
° Free University Seminar Series, “The Discovery of Anesthesia and the Quest for Understanding”, Penn State Altoona (Dec. 2009) ° Workshop presentation, “Involvement of the TOR Pathway in Yeast Anesthetic Response” (International Conference on Yeast Genetics and Molecular Biology, Manchester, UK, Jul. 19-24, 2009)
° Panel presentation (with Arter, M.L. and Wiens-Tuers, B.A.) “Critically Engaging Students: An Interdisciplinary Approach” (The Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Justice Educators Annual Meeting, Altoona, PA , Apr. 4-5, 2008) ° Biology Seminar Series, Department of Biology, Millersville University, Millersville, PA (Feb. 27, 2008) ° Science Club Seminar Series, Penn State Altoona, Altoona, PA (Mar. 28, 2006) ° Chemistry Club Seminar Series, Department of Chemistry, Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA (Apr. 15, 2003) ° Biology Seminar Series, Department of Biology, Millersville University, Millersville, PA (Feb. 12, 2003) ° Final Thesis Seminar, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA (May 24, 2002) ° Chemistry Seminar Series, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio (Apr. 2001) ° 13th Annual Graduate Student Research Forum, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA (March 2001) ° Student Seminar Series, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA (Jan. 14, 2000) ° Department Seminar Series, Department of Anesthesia, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA (Feb. 1998) ABSTRACTS:
° Palmer, L.K., Baptiste, B.A., Fester, J.C., Perkins, J.C., and Keil, R.L. “RRD1, a Component of the TOR Signaling Pathway, Affects Anesthetic Response in Saccharomyces cerevisiae” (International Conference on Yeast Genetics and Molecular Biology, Manchester, UK, July 2009) ° Fester, J.C., Liptak, A., and Palmer, L.K. "Identification of Genes Affecting Volatile Anesthetic Response in Saccharomyces cerevisiae" (Pennsylvania Academy of Sciences Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, March 2007) ° Palmer, L.K., Rannels, S.L., Kimball, S.R., Jefferson, L.S., and Keil, R.L. “Volatile Anesthetics Affect Signaling Pathways and Translational Control Mechanisms in Perfused Rat Liver” (Cold Spring Harbor Translational Control Meeting, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, Sept. 2004) ° Palmer, L.K., Keeley, J.L., and Keil, R. L. “The General Amino Acid Control Pathway Plays a Role in Volatile Anesthetic Response in Yeast” (Cold Spring Harbor Translational Control Meeting, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, Sept. 2002) ° Palmer, L.K., Keeley, J.L., and Keil, R.L. “Anesthetics Activate the General Control Response in Yeast” (Molecular Mechanisms of Alcohol and Anesthetic Action Meeting, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2001) ° Keil, R.L., Palmer, L.K., and Keeley, J.L. “Volatile Anesthetics Affect Nutrient Availability in Yeast” (Molecular Mechanisms of Alcohol and Anesthetic Action Meeting, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2001) ° Palmer, L.K., and Keil, R.L. “Nutrient Availability and Anesthetic Response in Yeast” (Yeast Genetics and Molecular Biology Meeting, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 2000) ° Palmer, L.K., and Keil, R.L. “Painless TAT2 Removal” (12th Annual Graduate Student Research Forum, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 2000) ° Palmer, L.K., Gillman, E., and Keil, R.L. “Ubiquitin Involvement in Anesthetic Response” (10th Annual Graduate Student Research Forum, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 1998) AWARDS:
2009-2010 recipient of the Athleen Stere Teaching Award at Penn State Altoona. This award was created to recognize excellence in teaching and learning as exemplified by Penn State Altoona faculty member Dr. Athleen Stere.
2007-2008 recipient of the Grace D. Long Faculty Excellence Award at Penn State Altoona. This award was created to recognize faculty members who, by their performance as teachers and their work in the areas of advising, scholarship, research, and service, demonstrate excellence in their profession.