Meet Our Faculty

Office Location

Room 114
Morgan-Moses Math and Science Building

(912) 583-3157

hpeters@bpc.edu

Dr. Helene Peters

Division Chair of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Professor of Biology

Division of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Education

PhD, Zoology, Aquatic Parasitology, University of the Free State (Bloemfontein, South Africa), 2002
MSc, Zoology, Aquatic Parasitology, University of the Free State, (Bloemfontein, South Africa), 1998
BSc, Zoology Honors, University of the Free State (Bloemfontein, South Africa), 1997
BSc, Zoology, University of the Free State (Bloemfontein, South Africa), 1996

Biography

Dr. Peters was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa and spent the first 30 years of her life in South Africa. She emigrated to the United States of America in 2005, was awarded a green card in the prestigious EB1 “Outstanding Scientist/Researcher” category with Clearwater Christian College as a sponsor, and subsequently received her US citizenship in May 2019. Dr. Peters completed her undergraduate and graduate studies in the City of Roses, Bloemfontein, South Africa at the University of the Free State. Dr. Peters started teaching as a lab instructor and junior lecturer at the University of the Free State as a 22-year-old graduate student working towards her B.Sc. Honors degree. At Brewton-Parker College, Dr. Peters continues to elevate undergraduate research in the Biology major to prepare students for graduate studies and accompany graduating seniors to the Georgia Academy of Science to present their research findings. Dr. Peters lives in Vidalia, GA with her husband, two children, two dogs, two cats, and a Fischer’s lovebird.

I spent my 25th birthday in the Okavango Delta, Botswana, and received a baby Nile crocodile as a gift!
I have described three new species of protozoan parasites that were previously unknown to science. These symbionts live on the gills of abalone and limpet hosts in the marine intertidal zone of the coast of southern Africa.

Research Interests

Parasitology

Professional Organizations/Memberships

Dr. Peters was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa and spent the first 30 years of her life in South Africa. She emigrated to the United States of America in 2005, was awarded a green card in the prestigious EB1 “Outstanding Scientist/Researcher” category with Clearwater Christian College as a sponsor, and subsequently received her US citizenship in May 2019. Dr. Peters completed her undergraduate and graduate studies in the City of Roses, Bloemfontein, South Africa at the University of the Free State. At Brewton-Parker College, Dr. Peters elevates undergraduate research in the Biology major to prepare students for graduate studies and accompany graduating seniors to the Georgia Academy of Science to present their research findings. Dr. Peters lives in Vidalia, GA with her spouse, two children, two dogs, two cats, and a Fischer’s lovebird.

Georgia Academy of Science

Favorite Classes Taught at BPC

BIO 300 – Cell Biology with Lab
BIO 310 – Embryology with Lab
BIO 370 – Microbiology with Lab
BIO 410 – Genetics with Lab

"The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy."

Scholarly Work & Publications

CONFERENCE CONTRIBUTIONS (NATIONAL):

Helene Botes & T.C. van der Linde, 1997. Influence of larval density on the development, size and survival of Culiseta longiareolata (Diptera: Culicidae). Insects in African Economy and Environment, Stellenbosch, South Africa. (Poster)

Helene Botes, Linda Basson & J.G. van As, 1997. Abalone gill symbionts – friends or foes? Microscopial Society of South Africa, Belville, South Africa. (Paper)

Helene Botes, Linda Basson & J.G. van As, 1998. Ectosymbiotic Ellobiophryid peritrichs associated with abalone. Microscopial Society of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa. (Paper)

Helene Botes, Linda Basson & L.L. van As, 1999. Digenean trematodes found associated with Haliotis spadicea Donovan, 1808. Microscopial Society of South Africa, Bloemfontein, South Africa. (Paper)

Helene Botes & Susan Bower, 2000. Unusual protozoans found in the esophageal folds of the abalone Haliotis kamtschatkana kamtschatkana Jonas, 1845. Parasitological Society of Southern Africa, Bloemfontein, South Africa. (Paper)

Helene Botes, Linda Basson & L.L. van As, 2000. Reproduction of scyphidiid peritrichs associated with South African molluscans. Parasitological Society of Southern Africa, Bloemfontein, South Africa. (Poster)

Helene Botes, Liesl L. van As, Linda Basson and J.G. van As, 2001. Reproductive processes of Ellobiophrya sp., hypersymbiont of scyphidiid peritrichs. Microscopial Society of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa. (Poster)

Helene Peters, Liesl L. van As & Linda Basson, 2002. An overview of the reproductive process, conjugation, in Mantoscyphidia branchi van As, Basson & van As, 1998. Parasitological Society of Southern Africa, Golden Gate, South Africa. (Paper)

Helene Peters, Liesl L. van As & Linda Basson, 2002. Possible life-cycle for the digenean hemiurid occurring in Haliotis spadicea Donovan, 1808. Parasitological Society of Southern Africa, Golden Gate, South Africa. (Paper)

Helene Peters, Liesl L. van As & Linda Basson, 2002. Some notes on the cestode larvae (Tetraphyllidea) found in the alimentary canal of Octopus vulgaris from the De Hoop Nature Reserve, South Africa. Parasitological Society of Southern Africa, Golden Gate, South Africa. (Poster)

Lopez*, Autumn and Peters, Helene (2019) “THE OCCURRENCE OF METHICILLIN RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS (ROSENBACH, 1884) IN COLLEGIATE CONTACT AND NON-CONTACT SPORTS.” (Poster)

Batchelor*, Sarah and Peters, Helene (2019) “THE OCCURRENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF MELISSOCOCCUS PLUTONIUS (WHITE, 1912 AND NOSEMA CERANEA (FRIES, ET AL. 1996) IN HONEY BEES APIS MELLIFERA (LINNAEUS, 1758) FROM APIARIES IN SOUTH EAST GEORGIA.” (Poster)

Queen*, Joshua and Peters, Helene (2019) “A BLIND STUDY ON THE PREVALENCE OF ANABOLIC STEROID CLENBUTEROL AMONG COLLEGIATE ATHLETES AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GOLD NANOPARTICLE LATERAL FLOW IMMUNOASSAY TEST-KITS.” (Poster)

PUBLISHED CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS:

Helene Botes, Linda Basson & J.G. van As, 1997. Abalone gill symbionts – friends or foes? Proceedings of the Microscopial Society of South Africa. 27:119.

Helene Botes, Linda Basson & J.G. van As, 1998. Ectosymbiotic Ellobiophryid peritrichs associated with abalone. Proceedings of the Microscopial Society of South Africa. 28:75.

Helene Botes, Linda Basson & L.L. van As, 1999. Digenean trematodes found associated with Haliotis spadicea Donovan, 1808. Proceedings of the Microscopial Society of South Africa. 29:76.
Helene Botes & Susan Bower, 2000. Unusual protozoans found in the esophageal folds of the abalone Haliotis kamtschatkana kamtschatkana Jonas, 1845. South African Veterinary Association. 72(2):109-116.

Helene Botes, Linda Basson & L.L. van As, 2000. Reproduction of scyphidiid peritrichs associated with South African molluscans. South African Veterinary Association. 72(2):109-116.

Helene Botes, Liesl L. van As, Linda Basson and J.G. van As, 2001. Reproductive processes of Ellobiophrya sp., hypersymbiont of scyphidiid peritrichs. Proceedings of the Microscopial Society of South Africa. 31:76.

Helene Peters and L. Basson, 2003. Notes on the life-cycle of the digenean (Trematoda: Hemiuridae) occurring in Haliotis spadicea (Donovan, 1808). Journal of the South African Veterinary Association. 74(3):87-101.

Helene Peters, L. Basson and L.L. van As, 2003. An overview of the reproductive process, conjugation, in Mantoscyphdia branchi (Van As, Basson & Van As, 1998). Journal of the South African Veterinary Association.74(3):87-101.

Helene Peters, Liesl L. van As & Linda Basson, 2003. Some notes on the cestode larvae (Tetraphyllidea) found in the alimentary canal of Octopus vulgaris from the De Hoop Nature Reserve, South Africa. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association.74(3):87-101.

Natalia Adams* and Helene Peters (2017) “THE OCCURRENCE OF ATHLETE’S FOOT (TINEA PEDIS), CAUSED BY THE DERMATOPHYTIC FUNGUS, TRICHOPHYTON RUBRUM MALMSTEN 1845, AMONGST ATHLETES AT BREWTON-PARKER COLLEGE.” Georgia Journal of Science, 75(1)32.

Tajamian Foster* and Helene Peters (2017) AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE EFFECT OF AN ENERGY DRINK ON ATHLETE PERFORMANCE AMONG BASKETBALL ATHLETES AT BREWTON-PARKER COLLEGE. Georgia Journal of Science, 75(1)17.

Katie Sills* and Helene Peters (2018) THE EFFECT OF SLEEP EXTENSION ON PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE IN COLLEGIATE ATHLETES. Georgia Journal of Science, 76(1)114.

Lopez, Autumn* and Peters, Helene (2019) “THE OCCURRENCE OF METHICILLIN RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS (ROSENBACH, 1884) IN COLLEGIATE CONTACT AND NON-CONTACT SPORTS.” Georgia Journal of Science, Vol. 77(1)106.

Batchelor, Sarah* and Peters, Helene (2019) “THE OCCURRENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF MELISSOCOCCUS PLUTONIUS (WHITE, 1912 AND NOSEMA CERANEA (FRIES, ET AL. 1996) IN HONEY BEES APIS MELLIFERA (LINNAEUS, 1758) FROM APIARIES IN SOUTH EAST GEORGIA.,” Georgia Journal of Science, Vol. 77(1)105.

Queen, Joshua* and Peters, Helene (2019) “A BLIND STUDY ON THE PREVALENCE OF ANABOLIC STEROID CLENBUTEROL AMONG COLLEGIATE ATHLETES AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GOLD NANOPARTICLE LATERAL FLOW IMMUNOASSAY TEST-KITS.”Georgia Journal of Science, Vol. 77(1)63.

Kaitlynn M. Gillette* and Helene Peters (2020) “AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT EMBALMING FLUIDS ON BEEF, PORK AND CHICKEN MEAT PRODUCTS.” Georgia Journal of Science, Vol. 78(1)1.

Krizia K. Cornejo* and Helene Peters (2020) “ELECTROPHORESIS ANALYSIS OF COUGH SYRUPS AND LABORATORY TESTING OF ANALGESICS.” Georgia Journal of Science, Vol. 78(1)10.

Taylor M. Morris* and Helene Peters (2020) “HEART RATE AND ELECTROCARDIOGRAM ACTIVITY IN ATHLETES: PRE-EXERCISE, DURING EXERCISE, AND POST-EXERCISE.” Georgia Journal of Science, Vol. 78(1)13.

Nicole A. Esterbrook* and Helene Peters (2020) “SURVEY OF THE INCIDENCE OF MYCOPLASMA PNEUMONIAE IN RESIDENT AND COMMUTING STUDENTS AND AN ANTIBIOTIC DISK DIFFUSION TEST USING MACROLIDES, QUINOLONES AND BETA-LACTAMS.” Georgia Journal of Science, Vol. 78(1)32.

FULL-LENGTH PAPERS:

Helene Botes, Linda Basson & Liesl L. van As, 2001. Two new species of Mantoscyphidia Jankowski, 1980 (Ciliophora: Peritrichia), gill symbionts of Haliotis Linnaeus, 1758 (Mollusca: Archaeogastropoda) from the south coast of South Africa. Acta Protozoologica. 40:131-140.

Helene Peters, Liesl L. van As, Linda Basson and Jo G van As, 2004. A new species of Ellobiophrya Chatton et Lwoff, 1923 (Ciliophora: Peritrichia), attached to Mantoscyphidia Jankowski, 1980 (Ciliophora: Peritrichia) species. Acta Protozoologica. 43:163-172.

Helene Peters, Liesl L. Van As and Linda Basson. 2010. Binary fission, telotroch formation and conjugation in Mantoscyphidia Jankowski, 1980 (Ciliophora: Peritrichia). Acta Protozoologica. 49:61-74.