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Biology seniors present at national Ecology conference

Two seniors majoring in Biology, Kaitlyn Braun and Anna Kale, presented at the 2026 Benthic Ecology Meeting in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Anna Kale, who is also majoring in Environmental Studies, was awarded "Best Student Poster Presentation," among other undergraduate and master's students, as well as Ph.D. candidates.

Anna Kale Ecology Meeting

Anna Kale, a senior Biology and Environmental Studies major from King George, Virginia, was awarded the top award for her poster at the 2026 Benthic Ecology Meeting held in March. 

Two seniors from McDaniel College showcased their undergraduate research at the 2026 Benthic Ecology Meeting held in March in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Kaitlyn Braun of York, Pennsylvania, and Anna Kale of King George, Virginia, both Biology majors, presented their undergraduate research at the national conference alongside Associate Professor of Biology Allison Kerwin. The annual conference brings together marine ecologists from across the United States and around the world.

During the conference, Kale, who is also majoring in Environmental Studies, earned the "Best Student Poster Presentation" for her poster, "Effects of Insecticides on Metabolic Properties of the Cassiopea xamachana Microbiome." She was selected for the top award among other undergraduate and master's students, as well as Ph.D. candidates. 

Braun's poster was titled "The Effects of Insecticides on Strobilation Timing and Success in Cassiopea xamachana."

The Benthic Ecology Meeting Society (BEMS) promotes research in benthic ecosystems, including rocky intertidal and coral reef environments, while supporting the next generation of benthic biologists.