BIOrhythms
a publication of the Washington University Biology Department for Undergraduate Majors
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Ben Mansfeld joined the Biology Department at WashU in fall 2023 as an Assistant Professor. He was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, grew up in Vienna, Austria, and went back to Israel to complete his undergrad degree at Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Faculty of Agriculture campus, a satellite campus focused on plant science, along with nutrition and biotechnology.
“I grew up in the city, but my dad having grown up in an agricultural village in Israel, knew a lot about farming and plants. We had a citrus orchard and a small greenhouse where we grew oranges and papaya in the mid-80s. My dad was one of the earliest papaya growers in Israel. We didn’t have a magnifying glass, but when I was 5 years old, he showed me some tiny red mites through his reading glasses. This little beneficial insect was walking around eating all the bad insects. It is one of my earliest memories of being fascinated with science.
“When applying to colleges, I wanted to be a graphics or industrial designer. I wanted to do green industrial design for the betterment of the planet, but I didn’t get into any program. I didn’t know what to do for my undergrad. While sitting in the backyard, complaining to friends about my dilemma, somebody asked me about the plants in our backyard. I went into detailed explanation about papaya males and females, fruit, pollen, crossing and so forth. She said ‘Ben, why don’t you go study agricultural science?’
BIOrhythms archive
November 2023
Faculty Spotlight: George Hoganson, Assistant Prof of Pediatrics, Course Spotlights: Bio 2652 & 2658: PEMRAP I & II; Bio 3057 vs. 3058: changes to Physiological Control Systems, New Student Group: WashU Genomics & Precision Medicine Society
October 2023
Faculty spotlight: Xuehua Zhong; Course spotlight: Bio 4344 Epigenetics
April 2023
Features Mark Manteuffel, Instructor; Stella Rusel, new Student Coordinator, Bio 380 and Bio 4193.
February 2023
This issue features Lecturer Corey Westfall, new courses for fall 2023 and more
November 2022
This issue features a Faculty Spotlight on Liz Mallott, Course Spotlight on Bio 349 Microbiology, WashU Votes: midterm election party on November 8th, new student group KDSAP offering clinical experience, and more.
September 2022
Featuring Assistant Professor B. Duygu Özpolat, WashU Votes, Vagelos Fellowship, and best places to study in Biology
April 2022
Featuring Barbara Schaal and Bio 3900: Science for Agriculture and Environmental Policy
February 2022
This issue features new faculty member and undergraduate research coordinator Janet Goins, Bio 131: Biology in the News, and more
November 2021
This issue features interviews with undergrads who won awards and summer opportunities
October 2021
This issue features Assistant Dean and Academic Coordinator Anthony Smith, three undergrad biology courses about cancer, Bear Studios, A World of Women in STEM and WashU Clinical Connect.
April 2021
This issue features Jason Weber, Bio 4715 and 4716, Bio 500 spotlight: Michelle Pollowitz on the Penczykowski Lab and undergrad awards
February 2021
This issue features Eleanor Pardini, new Environmental Studies minors, Bio 500 research stories
November 2020
This issue features Andrés López-Sepulcre, Bio 4193 Experimental Ecology Laboratory, Fall OUR Symposium
September 2020
This issue features Professor Erik Herzog, National Voter Registration Week, student group announcements and more.
More BIOrhythms Archive
All issues of BIOrhythms dating back to September 2008
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