Biology graduate student Molly Brown was awarded the Outstanding Biology Student Award from Shippensburg University and presented research at the Commonwealth of PA Biologists (CPUB) annual meeting.
Molly Brown conducted research alongside Bailey Schwartz and Kornilow. Their presentation explored the effects of light availability on salt spray tolerance in Monarda punctata, most widely known as spotted beebalm.
“Bailey and I presented the research at CPUB. Our main finding was that plants were able to tolerate salt better under high light conditions, and the proportion of stomata on the top surface of the leaf increased in salt-treated plants.”
Brown received a Bachelor of Science in biology with a concentration in ecology and environmental conservation from Ship. She is now continuing her education, focusing on contributing to biology research and science education.
After Brown completed her undergraduate studies, she knew she also wanted to pursue her master’s at Ship. “I really enjoyed my time completing my undergraduate degree here, and I liked how the smaller classrooms allowed me to form relationships with the faculty”, she said.
During her time in undergrad, she participated in work study with the biology department, assisting in the university’s vertebrate museum. She also served as a Center for Land Use and Sustainability (CLUS) student fellow in the fall of 2024 and as a graduate assistant in Spring 2025 for Biology 162, Principles of Organismal Diversity. Brown is now working toward her secondary education teaching certificate in science. Now, Brown is currently preparing for her thesis proposal, exploring invertebrate diets using DNA metabarcoding.
While taking on research opportunities as a grad assistant and feeling inspired by her professors, Brown has found a passion for teaching. “I am working towards my teaching certificate, and I either want to teach high school or continue my education and get my PhD to be a professor,” she said. “I never considered teaching as a path for me, but I feel inspired by the faculty at Shippensburg.”
Brown continues to make the most of her education and time at Ship. She continues to take on research opportunities and explore her passion for teaching. As she prepares for her thesis and works toward her teaching certificate, she is excited to see what the future holds.
