Research

The department of Biology supports the active engagement of students in the real work of science - in the classroom, in the field, and in the laboratory. Our curriculum is designed to involve students in the process of scientific discovery.  Upper-level courses offer opportunities to plan and execute significant research projects, and to become skillful interpreters and presenters of research findings. 

Many students work collaboratively with our faculty, engaging in active research in many areas of biological science. Summer is a particularly active time.  Click here to learn more about research in our department during the summer.  Our well-equipped teaching and research labs support these endeavors. 

Clicking on the images below will take you to more information about each research program. 

	Project	Faculty
	Microbiology Circadian rhythms in cyanobacteria	Jayna L. Ditty, Ph.D.
	Plant Ecology My main research goal is to understand how ecological and evolutionary factors shape the great variety of reproductive systems possessed by flowering plants.	Simon K. Emms, Ph.D.
	Plant physiology/biochemistry Plant adaptations to stress	Amy S. Verhoeven, Ph.D.
	Animal Physiology Aquatic toxicology and physiological basis of behavior	Dalma Martinovic-Weigelt, Ph.D.
	Ecosystem Ecology Human alteration of biogeochemical cycles and fate of anthropogenic nutrients in aquatic ecosystems	Gaston E. "Chip" Small, Ph.D.
	Evolutionary Ecology & Animal Behavior I am an evolutionary ecologist interested in linking trophic interactions, physiological mechanisms and behavioral strategies.	Adam Kay, Ph.D.
	Immunology Modulation of Anti-Tumor Immunity by Neuropeptides	Jill M. Manske, Ph.D.
	Cell Biology Regulation of cell proliferation	Jennifer Cruise, Ph.D
	Developmental Biology Origin of hepatic endothelium in birds and its role as an inducer of hepatocyte differentiation	Glenn K. Sherer, Ph.D.
	Aquatic Ecology Ecology of shallow lakes and wetlands; food-web interactions and stoichiometric relationships	Kyle D. Zimmer, Ph.D.
	Wildlife Biology Population ecology, particularly population dynamics, habitat use, and migration	Timothy L. Lewis, Ph.D.
	Limnology Role of shallow lakes in regional and global carbon cycling	Leah M. Domine, Ph.D.
	Neuroscience Anatomy and physiology of the brain; mechanisms underlying learning and memory.	Kurt R. Illig, Ph.D.
	Physiology and Evolutionary Ecology Evolution of physiological and morphological traits in reptiles	Jerry F. Husak, Ph.D.
	Behavioral neuroendocrinology Seasonal plasticity in the neuroendocrine mechanisms regulating complex social behavior	Sarah A. Heimovics, Ph.D.