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Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) is a three-step process. First, genetic material is fractioned into 20,000 droplets per sample. This partitioning of the sample is a key component of ddPCR which allows for the quantification of copies per sample of a particular gene. Once the droplets have been generated, the second step is a typical PCR cycle, where the fluorescent probes for a gene will attach to present sequences.

Research continues on residence hall wastewater testing 
Feb 22, 2022

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, student dormitory life has been dominated by face masks, physical distancing and regular nasal swab testing.

College News, Grants & Research, Faculty & Staff, Outreach & Community Engagement, STEM
Dr. Sarah Carmichael, professor in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences at Appalachian State University, is a geochemist and a National Geographic Explorer. She specializes in Devonian period research, studying the causes and effects of mass extinction events that occurred 350–417 million years ago. She is pictured during a field expedition in Mongolia in 2018, where she and her team evaluated specimens preserved in volcanic rocks. Photo by Felix Kunze

App State research team examines ancient evidence in mass extinctions
Jan 12, 2022

Appalachian State University’s Dr. Sarah Carmichael describes her job as similar to that of a crime scene investigator — and the evidence she examines is more than 350 million years old.

College News, Faculty & Staff, Students, Grants & Research, Sustainability
Dr. Baker Perry, professor in Appalachian State University’s Department of Geography and Planning, right, and his expedition team member Dr. Tom Matthews, work on the automated weather station at the Mount Everest Base Camp. Perry and Matthews were members of the 2019 National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Everest Expedition. Learn more at www.natgeo.com/everest. Photo by Freddie Wilkinson, National Geographic.

App State leads climate research at the top of the world
Dec 16, 2021

Appalachian State University has stepped onto the world stage as the lead institution to coordinate the operation and maintenance of weather stations at the highest elevation on the planet — Mount Everest.

College News, Faculty & Staff, Sustainability, Global Learning, Grants & Research, Students
Dr. Andy Heckert, professor in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences at Appalachian State University, is pictured in the Eastern Cape of South Africa in September during his 2021–22 Fulbright experience. Photo by Iekraam Adams

Fossils offer App State Fulbright Scholar clues on ancient animal evolution
Dec 14, 2021

Millions of years and thousands of miles stand between Appalachian State University paleontologist Dr. Andy Heckert and new insights into the evolutionary path of Earth’s animals.

College News, Global Learning, Faculty & Staff, Grants & Research, Awards & Honors, STEM
Dr. Donna Lillian has been named interim associate dean of Appalachian State University’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) beginning January 3, 2022. Photo submitted.

App State College of Arts and Sciences welcomes interim associate dean for 2022-23
Dec 13, 2021

Dr. Donna Lillian has been named interim associate dean of Appalachian State University’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). Beginning January 3, 2022, she will serve alongside Dr.

College News, University News, Faculty & Staff
Assistant professor Dr. Michael Reddish, left, and Ethan Harris test samples in the lab in Appalachian State University’s A.R. Smith Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences, where they investigate treatments for triple-negative breast cancer — work funded by a grant from the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. Harris is a senior from Clemmons who is double majoring in chemistry-biochemistry and biology-cellular/molecular biology. Photo by Chase Reynolds

App State team researches treatments for aggressive breast cancer
Dec 10, 2021

 A research team at Appalachian State University is investigating effective treatments for one of the most aggressive types of breast cancer — with the goal of reducing adverse side effects.

College News, Grants & Research, Faculty & Staff, Students
Image of AmeriCorps members & AmeriCorps Senior Volunteers. Photo by Americorps.

Sociology faculty lead charity initiatives for the holidays
Dec 2, 2021

Appalachian State University’s Department of Sociology oversees two programs this time of year that benefits populations in need in the surrounding counties of the High Country.

College News, Outreach & Community Engagement, Faculty & Staff, Support
A research team at App State has received nearly $1.1 million in grant funding through the University of North Carolina System’s Research Opportunities Initiative to conduct a three-year honeybee research program aimed at addressing honeybee decline in the U.S. Photo by Todd Bush, courtesy of Hive Tracks

App State researchers working to save honeybees with informatics
Nov 30, 2021

Hardworking honeybee populations — responsible for a third of the food on Americans’ plates — are on the decline in the U.S., meaning food shortages and higher prices at grocery stores could become the future norm.

College News, Outreach & Community Engagement, Faculty & Staff, Grants & Research
Dr. Jon Davenport Safe fund recipient, photo provided

SAFE Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Jon Davenport
Nov 19, 2021

Dr. Jon Davenport, assistant professor, Department of Biology

Student and Faculty Excellence (SAFE) fund recipient
Project: Size Matters: The Influence of trap and mesh size on Turtle Captures

College News, Faculty & Staff, SAFE Grant, Grants & Research
Oblique 3D view of CFM 5.3 visualized with Gocad. Faults are colored by orientation (strike) and relocated seismicity from Hauksson et al. (2012) colored by time.