The UAB Department of Biology presents 2026 Darwin Day.
Events:
Poster Session and Reception: 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Join the Department of Biology for a public poster session highlighting current research.
Keynote Lecture by Andrea Bodnar, Ph.D.: 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Topic: “The Ocean’s Methuselahs – Genomic Signatures of Exceptional Longevity and Negligible Aging in Sea Urchins”
About the presenter: Dr. Andrea Bodnar is the Science Director at the Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute, where she works at the intersection of marine biology and human health. She has a unique background, with formal training in biochemistry and neuroscience that led her to a position as a Senior Scientist at the Molecular Discovery Lab at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS), where she conducted research using sea urchins to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying longevity. Her current work takes advantage of the close genetic relationship between humans and urchins to understand the molecular and cellular pathways controlling lifespan and disease resistance, searching for novel strategies for combating age-related diseases.
Event Sponsors
UAB Department of Psychology, Evelyn M. & Harold C. Martin Endowed Support Fund, and UAB Honors College