79th Annual Meeting of Virginia Junior Academy of Science
​Research Symposium

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2020 VJAS Research Symposium - Guest Speakers

Invited Lecture
Tuesday Evening VJAS General Session

Overcoming vaccine failure

Lisa Shollenberger, Ph.D.
​Old Dominion University

Dr. Lisa Shollenberger is in her first year as an Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences at Old Dominion University. She is also an Adjunct Researcher at Fiocruz Rene Rachou in Brazil and Chief Scientific Officer of EnduraVax. For more than two decades, Dr. Shollenberger has been conducting consilient research in the fields of microbiology, drug and gene delivery, nanotechnology, immunology, parasitology, and vaccinology, with the long-term goals of improving human health and mentoring the next generation of scientists. Dr. Shollenberger has developed or co-developed 10 unique innovations, three of which are patented. Her current research program focuses on the mechanisms of disparate vaccine responses and understanding how confounding factors influence vaccine efficacy. She is a Co-Investigator on a malaria vaccine project through the Department of Defense and is a 2019 awardee of the Summer Research Fellowship Program through ODU. 

Invited Lecture
George W. Jeffers Memorial Lecture
Wednesday Evening VJAS General Session

Patterns in Nature: A Treasure Trove for the Curious

John A. Adam, Ph.D.
​Old Dominion University

Dr. Adam has broad interests in mathematical modeling and applied mathematics, ranging from mathematical biology to meteorological optics. He has published approximately 110 papers in mathematical and scientific journals and given over 160 talks and presentations to professional and university/college groups.  He also enjoys writing resource articles on applied mathematics for teachers.  In addition, he is a frequent contributor to Earth Science Picture of the Day (http://epod.usra.edu/).
 
Dr. Adam has written several books - Mathematics in Nature: Modeling Patterns in the Natural World, X and the City: Modeling Aspects of Urban Life and A Mathematical Nature Walk.  His latest book, Rays, Waves and Scattering: Topics in Classical Mathematical Physics was published in June 2017.  He is also co-author (with physicist Lawrence Weinstein) of Guesstimation: Solving the World’s Problems on the Back of a Cocktail Napkin.
 
Dr. Adam has been Professor of Mathematics at Old Dominion University since 1984. His Ph.D. from the University of London was in theoretical astrophysics.  In 2007 he was winner of an Outstanding Faculty Award for the State of Virginia.  In 2012 he was a recipient of a Carl B. Allendoerfer Award from the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).