2025 Darwin Festival

Salem State's annual Darwin Festival is a weeklong event that celebrates the work of Charles Darwin, with sessions from leading researchers celebrating the field of biology and its impact on today's world.

All in-person talks will be held in Vets Hall, Ellison Campus Center, North Campus. A number of the talks are webinar only. Events are free and open to the public.

Students and guests who anticipate needing accommodations due to a disability or who have questions about access may contact the Center for Accessible Academic Resources at [email protected] or Ryan Fisher for more information.

Schedule:

9:25 am: BioSociety, moderated by Brenna Dillon, BioSociety President, Salem State University

“Diversity in STEM Panel”

Meet, listen, and ask questions of role models on campus representing minority communities in American Society. Hear their background and current research. Make connections for future relations in school and beyond.

Sponsored by the Salem State University Biological Society and ThermoFisher Scientific

10:50 am: Pamela Rosales, Ph.D. Candidate, Brandeis University

“The Intersection of Homologous Recombination and Heterochromatin Maintenance in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae.”

Mating-type switching in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a fascinating process that enables haploid yeast cells to switch mating types, facilitating diploid formation and enhancing genetic diversity within populations. This process is initiated by a DNA double-strand break and is dependent upon homologous recombination at a heterochromatic donor template to repair the break. My research focuses on understanding the regulatory mechanisms that govern this process, emphasizing the interplay between homologous recombination and heterochromatin maintenance. This talk will delve into my ongoing efforts to investigate how these two processes are coordinated and influence genome stability and gene regulation.

Sponsored by the Salem State University Biology Department and ThermoFisher Scientific

Founded in 1980 by Philip A. DePalma and Virginia F. Keville.