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Research Areas

The Department of Biological Sciences emphasizes the integrative nature of the biological sciences, focusing on programs that unite five major areas: Biology Education Research; Cellular & Molecular Biology; Ecology, Evolution, & Conservation Biology; Genetics, Genomics, & Bioinformatics; and Physiology & Behavior.

Faculty research programs reflect the interdisciplinary strength of our department, while providing a firm foundation in theoretical focal areas. Recent faculty hires support our rich tradition of research training in these traditional fundamental disciplines while providing the specializations to foster interdisciplinary relationships.

Faculty and Student Publications

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Biology Education Research

Shawn Brown: Course Embedded Research Experience, CURE
Judith Cole: Course Embedded Research Experience, CURE
Jaime Sabel: Biology student learning, scaffolds, metacognition

Cellular and Molecular Biology

Cell & Molecular Biology

Amy Abell: Epigenetic regulation of gene expression, EMT, signaling networks
Judith Cole: Signal transduction, receptor pharmacology, cell physiology
Bernie Daigle, Jr.: Bioinformatics, computational systems biology
Carlos Estrano: Signal transduction, protein trafficking, parasitology
Charles Lessman: Cell physiology, reproductive biology, development
Steven Schwartzbach: Protein trafficking, chloroplast evolution
Omar Skalli: Cytoskeleton, cell motility and division
Carrie Sutter: Aryl hydrocarbon receptor in skin, genetics of skin disease
Thomas Sutter: Cancer prevention, environmental science, signal transduction    

Ecology and Evolution

Ecology, Evolution, & Conservation Biology

Jim Adelman: Avian disease ecology, ecological immunology, behavior
Randall Bayer: Plant systematics and evolution
Leigh Boardman: Physiological ecology, insect physiology
E. Keith Bowers: Avian evolutionary, physiological and behavioral ecology
Shawn Brown: Microbial ecology, environmental microbiology, mycology
Rachel Diner: Marine and aquatic microbiomes, ecotoxicology, environmental change
Michael Kennedy: Wildlife ecology, mammal systematics
Jennifer Mandel: Plant ecology, evolutionary genetics, and conservation
Duane McKenna: Insect-plant interactions, insect systematics, evolution
Cassandra Nuñez: Animal behavior, behavioral ecology, stress physiology
Matthew Parris: Evolutionary ecology, herpetology
Emily Puckett: Evolutionary genetics, population genomics, phylogeography

Genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics

Genetics, Genomics & Bioinformatics

Randall Bayer: Plant systematic and evolution
Melvin Beck: Genetics
Shawn Brown: Microbial ecology, environmental microbiology, mycology
Bernie Daigle, Jr.: Bioinformatics, computational systems biology
Rachel Diner: Marine and aquatic microbiomes, ecotoxicology, environmental change
Philip Kohlmeier: Neurogenetics, Animal Behavior, Sociobiology
Jennifer Mandel: Plant ecology, evolutionary genetics, and conservation
Duane McKenna: Insect-plant interactions, insect systematics, evolution
Emily Puckett: Evolutionary genetics, population genomics, phylogeography
Carrie Sutter: Aryl hydrocarbon receptor in skin, genetics of skin disease
Thomas Sutter: Cancer prevention, environmental science, signal transduction

Physiology and Behavior

Physiology & Behavior

Jim Adelman: Avian disease ecology, ecological immunology, behavior
Leigh Boardman: Physiological ecology, insect physiology
E. Keith Bowers: Avian evolutionary, physiological and behavioral ecology
Judith Cole: Signal transduction, receptor pharmacology, cell physiology
Rachel Diner: Marine and aquatic microbiomes, ecotoxicology, environmental change
Michael Ferkin: Animal behavior, animal cognition, hormones and behavior
David Freeman: Circadian rhythms, mammal neuroendocrinology
Philip Kohlmeier: Neurogenetics, Animal Behavior, Sociobiology
Charles Lessman: Cell physiology, reproductive biology, development
Cassandra Nuñez: Animal behavior, behavioral ecology, stress physiology