Dr. Pamela Lovejoy Thrives on Nurturing Curiosity
It’s what fuels SJNY Assistant Professor Pamela Lovejoy’s journey through the world of biology; a passion began to take root during a childhood spent exploring in her hometown Guilford, Connecticut.
“I spent a lot of time outside as a child, so I became interested in nature and learning about how it worked,” Dr. Lovejoy, Ph.D., reflected.
Dr. Lovejoy’s path toward biology unfolded gradually, influenced by inspiring teachers and hands-on experiences in high school.
“In high school, I always enjoyed my science courses the best, I think because of the hands-on activities,” she said. “My biology teachers, in particular, were amazing, and their enthusiasm for the material they taught hooked me.”
Her transition to college marked the beginning of her professional journey in biology.
“I started college as a biology major, got involved in research as soon as I could, and knew that it was the path for me,” said Dr. Lovejoy, whose first professional experience within the field came during an internship with the Dolphin Communication Project.
In the internship, she studied tactile communication among wild Atlantic spotted dolphins off the coast of Bimini.
“It was an amazing experience and solidified my interest in animal behavior,” she said.
Joining the faculty at St. Joseph’s Brooklyn Campus was a natural fit for Dr. Lovejoy, she said.
“I was drawn to SJNY because it is a small school that values research,” she said. “Students and faculty are able to connect in a way that just isn’t possible at a larger school.”
As part of the research she conducts at St. Joseph’s, Dr. Lovejoy delves into understanding how genetic and environmental factors influence behavior in the common fruit fly. Specifically, she’s attempting to identify the genes that influence the response that flies have to the herbicide atrazine.
“Flies are an excellent genetic model organism, and scientific discoveries made using them can relate to humans or to other insects,” she attested.
What sets Dr. Lovejoy apart is her commitment to involving students in her research endeavors.
“Students have been involved in this project for its duration,” she said of the fruit fly and atrazine research. “All of our biology majors do their own research senior thesis, but this experience in BIO 290 provides them with another research project that they can put on their resume and talk about in future job interviews.”
Reflecting on the importance of studying biology, Dr. Lovejoy underscores the need for scientific literacy in society.
“There is so much misinformation out in the world these days,” said Dr. Lovejoy, who presented her fruit fly and atrazine research at The Allied Genetics Conference in March. “It is important for everyone to have a basic understanding of science and biology, so that they can recognize misinformation when they see it.”