Laurel F. Appel, Wesleyan University

Laurel F. Appel

Adjunct Associate Professor of Biology,
Director, Wesleyan McNair Program,
Programs Coordinator, Wesleyan Hughes Program in the Life Sciences

Ph.D. (Genetics) from University of California at Berkeley
M.S. (Biophysical Chemistry) from University of California at Berkeley
A.B. (Chemistry) from Oberlin College

Contact Information and Office Hours:

101 Hall-Atwater,
860-685-3258, lappelatwesleyan.edu
Office Hours:
Mondays 11:00 - 12:00 pm,
Wednesdays 1:10 - 2:00 pm,
or by appointment.

(photo of Dr. Appel)

Courses Taught:

Biol 108: Human Cloning (Not currently offered)
Biol 150: Introduction to Genes and Genomes (Spring 2007)
Biol 210: Genomics: Modern Genetics, Bioinformatics, and the Human Genome Project (Fall 2008) Course Description Course Webpage

Coordinator for:

Life Sciences Mentored Study Group Program (Deans' Office)
Click here to request to join a mentored study group for Introductory Biology or Chemistry courses.
Please include course number, and some times (afternoons or evenings) that you have available to meet every week. See also SARN website.
Wesleyan Women in Science -- see our schedule for upcoming events. (Also member of AWIS-CT board.)
Hughes Summer Program

Public Science and Outreach:

Science Advisor to Liz Lerman/Dance Exchange production, Ferocious Beauty: Genome, and in continuing workshops for students and teachers on Science and Dance and Embodied Learning, and member of Feet to the Fire Planning Committee.)
Science advisor and liason to Prospect Math/Science Program of the Wesleyan/Middletown Public Schools Collaborative.
Speaker in Greeen Street Arts Center's Sunday Salon Series "Recycled Art and Grocery Store Science: Fostering Creativity in Children"
Children's Science Workshops at Green Street Arts Center, various local schools and libraries.
Advisor to Action Science Kids (ASK), Wesleyan's Science Outreach volunteer group.
"Beyond the First Draft: where the Genome Project is taking us." An Explanation and Discussion for the Wesleyan Community and interested Public. Panel Discussion by faculty from 8 different departments on the meaning of the Genome Project, and how it affects our lives, research, and teaching. Repeated as WeSeminar for parents and alumni.
Genomics Links -- An annotated list of good Web resources for Genomics and other genetics/bioethics/biomedical sites, for the interested NON-expert. (For PIMMS, WeSeminar attendees, and general public).
Experiments you can do at home: Tried and true experiments from WesWIS outreach and my own visits to schools, scouts, and libraries.
K-12 Science Links -- A less-well annotated list of Web resources for math and science activities for kids, and their parents and teachers.

Research Interests:

Developmental Genetics. How gene expression is regulated and coordinated in the developing Drosophila embryo.
(And how the same genes and regulatory circuitry are recycled in more complex but flight-impaired organisms, such as humans.)