Research Areas and Teaching Expertise of the 生物学 Department

Martin Connaughton, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of 生物学

Area of Expertise: Aquatic Ecotoxicology

研究: Students in my lab examine the effects of environmental toxicants and pharmaceuticals on fish development, function of the visual system and exploratory behavior using larval or adult zebrafish.  Recent research projects have examined the effects of nicotine, alcohol, fluoxetine (active ingredient in Prozac) and some common agricultural 农药.  In addition we have examined the effects of aflatoxin, a fungal toxin that can affect crops, on visual development and behaviors.  

教学领域: General 生物学 II with lab (BIO 112/113), 生态 (BIO 206), Summer travel courses: Community 生态 of Coastal Maine (BIO 210,  at Acadia National Park), & 百慕大 Environment (BIO/ENV 221, at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Science), Marine and Estuarine 生物学 (BIO 309), Fish Behavior and 生理学 (BIO 336), Estuarine Science (CRS 240, Chesapeake Semester)

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Katherine Hovanes, Ph.D.

访问ing Assistant Professor of 生物学

Area of Expertise:植物生态学

研究: My research focuses on 1) processes regulating population growth and spatial pattern formation of grasses and 2) how plant species interactions influence competitive outcomes and potential for coexistence. I primarily do research in the field, but I also conduct greenhouse experiments. Students who work with me will probably spend plenty of time outdoors at RAFC exploring how fire disturbance influences grassland plant diversity, composition, and trait expression.

教学领域: Invasion 生物学 with lab (当前的 Topics, BIO 100), Plant 生物学 with lab (BIO 211), Community 生态 with lab (Special Topics, BIO 394)

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亚伦R. Krochmal, Ph值.D.

Associate Professor of 生物学

Areas of Expertise: Behavioral 生态 of Reptiles; Comparative and 进化ary Cognition

研究: My students and I combine neuroanatomical, pharmacological, behavioral, and ecological approaches to investigate how animals perceive, interact with, and navigate their 环境. Together, we apply our results to address questions of wildlife and habitat conservation, the mechanistic underpinnings of age-related loss of spatial memory, and the evolution of advanced cognition.

教学领域: General 生物学 I with lab (BIO 111/113), General 生物学 II with lab (BIO 112/114), Integrative Human Anatomy with lab (BIO 301), Integrative Human 生理学 with lab (424年生物)

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马拉·米斯拉博士.D.

Assistant Professor of 生物学

Areas of Expertise: Developmental 生物学 and Neurobiology

研究: I’m interested in how the cells of the nervous system grow and form functional connections with other cells as an organism develops from an embryo to an adult. 我的实验室使用 果蝇 Drosophila melanogaster as a model to study genes that regulate this process.

教学领域: Stem Cells in the Public Eye with lab (当前的 Topics, BIO 100), General 生物学 I with lab (BIO 111/113), Stem Cell 生物学 with lab (Special Topics, BIO 294), Developmental 生物学 with lab (BIO 302), Neurobiology with lab (BIO 311), Neurodevelopment with lab (Special Topics, BIO 394)

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明迪·雷诺兹博士.D.

Professor of 生物学, Director Biochemistry and Molecular 生物学 Program

Areas of Expertise: Metals Toxicology and Cancer 生物学

研究: Students working in my lab use an 在体外 cell culture model to examine how co-exposure to toxic heavy metals  leads to the production of DNA damage, mutations, and cell death. Additionally, we are examining how exposure to heavy metals leads to epigenetic changes in DNA repair processes which can impact susceptibility to DNA damage and the development of cancerous phenotypes.

教学领域: Body Toxic (FYS 101), General 生物学 I with lab (BIO 111/113), Cell 生物学 with lab (BIO 205), Introduction to Toxicology with lab (BIO 350), Biochemistry with lab (BIO409 / CHE309)

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Jennie Rinehimer, Ph.D

Associate Professor of 生物学, Chair Department of 生物学

Areas of Expertise: Behavior and 生理学

研究: My research examines how birds alter their behaviors with changing ecological conditions. Much of this work is done in the field with the assistance of undergraduates. 当前的 projects focus on trade-offs between foraging and predation risk in ruby-throated hummingbirds and the effects of parent age and breeding experience on reproductive success of field sparrows.

教学领域: Diversity and Adaptation with lab (当前的 Topics, BIO 100), General 生物学 II with lab (BIO 112/114), 生态 with lab (BIO 206/216), Ornithology with lab (BIO 228), Winter travel course: Tropical 生态 (Special Topics, BIO 294), Ecophysiology with lab (BIO 315), Behavioral 生态 with lab (BIO 328), 进化 with lab (BIO 351)

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Robin Van Meter, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of 生物学, Associate Chair Department of 生物学

Area of Expertise: Amphibian Ecotoxicology

研究: Research in my lab explores the effects of environmental pollutants on amphibians and the wetland ecosystems they thrive in. 当前的ly, my research team and I are working to develop a biomarker sampling approach for salamanders so we can better understand the impact of anthropogenic activity on salamander populations. 这个项目 students hands-on experience collecting samples in the field and processing those samples for biological changes and environmental pollutants in our lab.

教学领域: 当前的 Topics in 生态 with lab (当前的 Topics, BIO 100), General 生物学 II with lab (BIO 112/113), General Zoology with lab (BIO 206), Winter travel course: Tropical 生态 (Special Topics, BIO 294), Conservation and Wildlife Techniques with lab (ENV 302), Wetland 生态 with lab (ENV/BIO 313)

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凯瑟琳·米. Verville, Ph值.D.

西德克. and Virginia Gent Decker Associate Professor of 生物学

Areas of Expertise: Microbial 生态 and Immunology

研究: I have a special interest in the interface of 生态/Environmental 生物学 and Microbiology as well as a passion for 生物学 education, including 生物学 Laboratory education. My research has focused on microbiological analyses of small drinking water systems in Puerto Rico, analysis of bivalves for bacterial indicators of fecal contamination and pathogens, and bacterial responses to injury/stress. Recent students in my lab have worked on research projects to investigate invertebrate models of immunity as well as the responses of individual bacterial cells to environmental stress.

教学领域: General 生物学 I with lab (BIO 111/113), Microbiology with lab (BIO 203), Microbial 生态 with lab (BIO 310), Immunology with lab (BIO 404)

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Jennifer Wanat, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of 生物学

Area of Expertise: Molecular Genetics and Aging

研究: Students in my lab study how telomeres, the specialized structures at the ends of linear chromosomes, affect cellular senescence and aging. We are also collaborating 博士. Van Meter on a project exploring the connection between land use (urban, agricultural, forested) surrounding salamander habitat and salamander health (disease incidence and metabolism differences). 

教学领域: From Germs to GMOs with lab (当前的 Topics, BIO 100), General 生物学 I with lab (BIO 111/113), Genetics with lab (BIO 209), Biotechnology and Molecular 生物学 with lab (BIO 314), Cellular Aging with lab (Special Topics, BIO 394)

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Suzanne Thuecks, M.A.T.

生物学 Instructor and Laboratory Coordinator

Area of Expertise: 生物学 Laboratory Instruction

研究: My presentations and publications focus on science education. I am especially interested in how to teach writing in the science classroom, curricular and lab design, and instructional 指导实践. My areas of biological interest are molecular biology, virology, and forensic applications of biology.

教学领域: Forensic 生物学 with lab (当前的 Topics, BIO 100), General 生物学 I with lab (BIO 111/113), General 生物学 I with lab (BIO 112/114)

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