Research Programs
Research in the Department of Biological Sciences includes the following areas:
- Animal Physiology
- Cancer Biology
- Cell and Extracellular Matrix Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Ecology and Evolution
- Microbiology and Virology
- Molecular Biology and Genetics
- Science Education
An alphabetical list of faculty and their research areas is also available.
| Description | |
|---|---|
| Robert E. Akins, Ph.D., F.A.H.A. | Development and regulation of cellular organization and function in striated muscle. |
| Matthew E. R. Butchbach, Ph.D. | - mouse models for motor neuron diseases and nerve injury - therapeutic strategies for motor neuron diseases |
| Patricia A. DeLeon, Ph.D. | Reproductive genetics, genomics, and sperm proteomics. |
| Melinda K. Duncan, Ph.D. | Eye development. |
| Randall L. Duncan, Ph.D. | Signal transduction of mechanical and hormonal stimulation in the development and maintenance of bone and cartilage. |
| Mary C. Farach-Carson, Ph.D. | Molecular and cell biology of bone cells and bone extracellular matrix. |
| Kamin J. Johnson, Ph.D. | Male reproductive hormone production and function. |
| Catherine B. Kirn-Safran, Ph.D. | Skeletogenesis in mice. |
| Catherine B. Kirn-Safran, Ph.D. | Mechanobiology, cell signaling and cellular stress response. |
| Salil A. Lachke, Ph.D. | Mammalian lens |
| Sigrid A. Langhans, PhD | Pediatric brain tumors - developmental biology and treatment |
| Gary H. Laverty, Ph.D. | Epithelial transport systems in cultured tissues. |
| Michael C. Moore, Ph.D. | Neuroendocrine control of reproductive behavior and aggression, stress physiology and maternal influences on offspring phenotype. |
| Ulhas P. Naik, Ph.D. | Role of adhesion molecules in vascular biology. |
| Anja Nohe, Ph.D. | Role of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) during skeletal development and maintenance. |
| Ayyappan K. Rajasekaran, Ph.D. | Regulation of epithelial junctional complexes by ion transporters and cell adhesion molecules. |
| N. Carolyn Schanen, M.D., Ph.D. | Cellular mechanisms regulating expression and function of chromatin proteins in nerve and bone cells. |
| Robert A. Sikes, Ph.D. | Modeling human prostate and breast cancer metastasis in vivo. |
| Shunji Tomatsu MD. PhD. | Mouse models for skeletal dysplasias - therapeutic strategies for bone diseases with bone targeting. |
| Jeffery L. Twiss, M.D., Ph.D. | Effects of neuronal activity and environmental stimuli on nerve regeneration and neural repair. |
| David C. Usher, Ph.D. | The relationship of obesity to metabolic syndrome and heart disease. |
| Roger Wagner, Ph.D. | The role of pericytes and endothelial cells in the function of microvessels and capillaries. |
| Donna Woulfe, Ph.D. | Platelet development and roles in hemostasis and thrombosis. |
| Description | |
|---|---|
| Bruce M. Boman, M.D., Ph.D., M.S.P.H., FACP | Colon cancer stem cell research. |
| Carlton R. Cooper, Ph.D. | The role of cell adhesion in prostate cancer preferential metastasis to bone. |
| George R. Dodge, Ph.D. | Role of extracellular matrix and their proteases in cancer, cell migration and apoptosis. |
| Mary C. Farach-Carson, Ph.D. | Extracellular matrix and hormonal influences on cancer metastasis to bone. |
| Deni S. Galileo, Ph.D. | Adhesion molecules that influence glioma and breast cancer cell motility in vitro and invasiveness and metastasis in a chick xenograft model. |
| Sigrid A. Langhans, PhD | Link between obesity and cancer. |
| Mary Ann McLane | Molecular mechanisms involved in cancer metastasis. |
| Ulhas P. Naik, Ph.D. | Tumor angiogenesis and tumor metastasis using animal models, focusing on breast and prostate cancer. |
| Anja Nohe, Ph.D. | Role of vitamin D and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) in breast cancer. |
| Mark Parcells | Cancer vaccines and tumor immunology. |
| Ayyappan K. Rajasekaran, Ph.D. | Molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of epithelial to mesenchymal and mesenchymal to epithelial transitions. |
| Robert A. Sikes, Ph.D. | Human prostate cancer progression, metastatic cell interaction with bone and therapeutic intervention. |
| Daniel Simmons, Ph.D. | Malignant transformation by papovaviruses. |
| Katia Sol-Church, Ph.D. | Mechanisms of chemotherapeutic resistance in osteosarcoma. |
| Kenneth L. van Golen, Ph.D. | Understanding the mechanisms of inflammatory breast cancer metastasis. Understanding the role of RhoC GTPase in aggressive cancers. |
| Cathy H. Wu, Ph.D. | Bioinformatics and computation biology of cancer biology. |
| Description | |
|---|---|
| Robert E. Akins, Ph.D., F.A.H.A. | Cell interactions, signaling cascades, and cell migration in tissue engineering and regenerative therapies. |
| Bruce M. Boman, M.D., Ph.D., M.S.P.H., FACP | Colon cancer stem cell research. |
| Matthew E. R. Butchbach, Ph.D. | - subcellular localization of ribonucleoprotein complexes in neurons - glutamate toxicity in motor neurons |
| Carlton R. Cooper, Ph.D. | The role of cell adhesion in prostate cancer preferential metastasis to bone. |
| Kirk Czymmek, Ph.D. | Fungal cell biology. |
| George R. Dodge, Ph.D. | Cartilage extracellular matrix, tissue engineering of cartilage and bone substitutes. |
| Melinda K. Duncan, Ph.D. | The function of the lens capsule and the regulation of transcription by cell signaling. |
| Randall L. Duncan, Ph.D. | Signal transduction of mechanical and hormonal stimulation in the development and maintenance of bone and cartilage. |
| Mary C. Farach-Carson, Ph.D. | Molecular and cell biology of bone cells and bone extracellular matrix. |
| Deni S. Galileo, Ph.D. | Cell division, death, migration, and differentiation in early development of the vertebrate brain; cancer cell biology and interaction with ECM. |
| Kamin J. Johnson, Ph.D. | Intercellular interactions controlling fetal gubernaculum development. |
| Catherine B. Kirn-Safran, Ph.D. | Osteoblast, chondrocyte, and odontoblast differentiation. Mineralized tissue Repair. |
| Salil A. Lachke, Ph.D. | Lens fiber cell biology |
| Sigrid A. Langhans, PhD | Therapeutic and diagnostic potential of intracellular sodium. |
| Gary H. Laverty, Ph.D. | Epithelial transport systems in cultured tissues. |
| Ulhas P. Naik, Ph.D. | Signaling through adhesion molecules during angiogenesis and platelet aggregation. |
| Anja Nohe, Ph.D. | Role of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and vitamin D during mesenchymal stem cell differentiation. |
| Eleftherios T. Papoutsakis | Blood clotting and platelet function. |
| Ayyappan K. Rajasekaran, Ph.D. | Modulation of tumor microenvironment by cell adhesion molecules. |
| Erica M. Selva, Ph.D. | Genetic and molecular control of signal transduction during Drosophila development. |
| D. Janine Sherrier | Modification of the plant cell wall during interactions with microbes. |
| Robert A. Sikes, Ph.D. | Role of bone marrow stromal cells in prostate cancer metastasis to bone. Role of ion channel accessory protein in prostate cancer metastasis to bone. |
| Shunji Tomatsu MD. PhD. | Role of extracellular matrix (collagen and glycosaminoglycans) in lysosomal storage disorders. |
| Kenneth L. van Golen, Ph.D. | Understanding the differences between RhoA and RhoC GTPases. |
| Donna Woulfe, Ph.D. | Platelet signal transduction mechanisms. |
| Cathy H. Wu, Ph.D. | Bioinformatics and computation biology of cell and extracellular matrix biology. |
| Description | |
|---|---|
| Robert E. Akins, Ph.D., F.A.H.A. | Cardiac morphogenesis and the development of congenital heart malformations. |
| Patricia A. DeLeon, Ph.D. | Genetics of sperm maturation and function. |
| George R. Dodge, Ph.D. | Extracellular matrix gene expression in development of the skeleton; cartilage development. |
| Melinda K. Duncan, Ph.D. | Eye development. |
| Randall L. Duncan, Ph.D. | Signal transduction of mechanical and hormonal stimulation in the development and maintenance of bone and cartilage. |
| Mary C. Farach-Carson, Ph.D. | Bone and cartilage formation. |
| Deni S. Galileo, Ph.D. | Early vertebrate brain development. |
| Kamin J. Johnson, Ph.D. | Development of the male reproductive system. |
| Catherine B. Kirn-Safran, Ph.D. | Mineralized tissue embryogenesis. |
| Salil A. Lachke, Ph.D. | Mammalian eye development and disease |
| George Molloy, Ph.D. | Transcriptional and translational control in brain development. |
| Ulhas P. Naik, Ph.D. | Cardiac development and hypertrophy. |
| Anja Nohe, Ph.D. | Mechanisms of skeletal development. |
| Ayyappan K. Rajasekaran, Ph.D. | Role of epithelial junctional complexes and ion transporters in development. |
| Erica M. Selva, Ph.D. | Control of Wnt and hedgehog signaling in Drosophila development. |
| Robert A. Sikes, Ph.D. | Development of the prostate gland. |
| Jia L. Song, Ph.D. | Regulatory roles of small RNAs on early development. |
| Jeffery L. Twiss, M.D., Ph.D. | Axon growth mechanisms and neuronal survival/signaling. |
| David C. Usher, Ph.D. | Development of adipose tissue. |
| Description | |
|---|---|
| E. Fidelma Boyd, Ph.D. | Molecular genetics, evolution and pathogenesis of bacteria. |
| Thomas E. Hanson | Evolution of autotrophy, tundra soil microbial ecology, metaproteomics/genomics. |
| John H. McDonald, Ph.D. | Effects of natural selection on nuclear genes. |
| Michael C. Moore, Ph.D. | Ecological immunology and the tradeoffs between immune and reproductive systems. |
| Mark Parcells | The evolution of herpesvirus virulence. |
| David Smith, Ph.D. | Sulfur and nitrogen cycles in bacteria residing in salt marsh environments. |
| Douglas Tallamy | Luperine chrysomelid beetle interactions with toxic cucurbitacin triterpenes. |
| Description | |
|---|---|
| E. Fidelma Boyd, Ph.D. | Molecular genetics, evolution and pathogenesis of bacteria. |
| Kirk Czymmek, Ph.D. | Fungal cell biology. |
| Deni S. Galileo, Ph.D. | Retroviruses and their use as vectors, including lentiviruses, in vitro and in vivo. |
| Thomas E. Hanson | Photosynthetic metabolism, biogeochemistry, applied microbiology. |
| Diane Herson, Ph.D. | Physiology of organisms which carry out bioremediation, Helicobacter-pylori in water. |
| Calvin L. Keeler | Avian influenza and avian herpesviruses - host-pathogen interactions, vaccines, and diagnostics. |
| Eleftherios T. Papoutsakis | Engineering of microbes to produce biofuels. |
| Mark Parcells | Molecular virology of Marek's disease virus (MDV), an oncogenic herpesvirus of chickens. |
| Michelle A. Parent | Yersinia - host-pathogen interaction. |
| Carl Schmidt | Pathogenesis of oncogenic herpes viruses. |
| D. Janine Sherrier | The role of bacterial LPS in nitrogen-fixing root nodule development. |
| Daniel Simmons, Ph.D. | Mechanism of DNA replication. |
| David Smith, Ph.D. | Sulfur and nitrogen cycles in bacteria residing in salt marsh environments. |
| K. Eric Wommack | Viruses and their impact on microbial communities. |
| Cathy H. Wu, Ph.D. | Bioinformatics and computation biology of microbiology and virology. |
| Description | |
|---|---|
| Robert E. Akins, Ph.D., F.A.H.A. | Heterotypic cell interactions in the control of gene expression, multi-cellular organization, and contractile function in striated muscle. |
| Bruce M. Boman, M.D., Ph.D., M.S.P.H., FACP | Colon cancer stem cell research. |
| E. Fidelma Boyd, Ph.D. | Molecular genetics, evolution and pathogenesis of bacteria. |
| Matthew E. R. Butchbach, Ph.D. | - genetics of motor neuron diseases - generation and characterization of transgenic mouse models of motor neuron diseases |
| Kirk Czymmek, Ph.D. | Fungal cell biology and plant pathogenesis. |
| Patricia A. DeLeon, Ph.D. | Reproductive genetics, genomics, and sperm proteomics. |
| George R. Dodge, Ph.D. | Chondrocyte gene regulation and disease, alternative-splicing of ECM genes. |
| Melinda K. Duncan, Ph.D. | The transcriptional consequences of cell signaling during development. |
| Mary C. Farach-Carson, Ph.D. | Molecular and cell biology of bone cells and bone extracellular matrix. |
| Deni S. Galileo, Ph.D. | Migration, survival, and differentiation of vertebrate brain and of brain tumor cells. |
| Thomas E. Hanson | Genetic analysis of metabolism, expanding genetic toolkits in novel microbes. |
| Diane Herson, Ph.D. | Physiology of organisms which carry out bioremediation, Helicobacter-pylori in water. |
| Kamin J. Johnson, Ph.D. | Genomics of fetal testis and gubernaculum formation. |
| Calvin L. Keeler | Genomic approaches to the study of the innate immune system. |
| Catherine B. Kirn-Safran, Ph.D. | Gene targeting by homologous recombination. |
| Salil A. Lachke, Ph.D. | Mouse developmental genetics |
| Mary Ann McLane | Molecular mechanisms involved in cancer metastasis. |
| George Molloy, Ph.D. | Control of animal cell growth and differentiation related to neuronal and brain glial cells. |
| Robin Morgan | Molecular biology of Marek's disease. |
| Ulhas P. Naik, Ph.D. | Signaling cross-talk between growth factor receptors and adhesion molecules: use of transgenic and knockout mice. |
| Anja Nohe, Ph.D. | Utilizing genetic mouse models of peak bone density to determine the mechanism underlying peak bone mass. |
| Mark Parcells | Functional analysis of Marek's disease virus (MDV) gene products. |
| Ayyappan K. Rajasekaran, Ph.D. | Role of Na,K-ATPase in cell signaling. |
| N. Carolyn Schanen, M.D., Ph.D. | Genetics of autism and speech disorders, epigenetic regulation of gene expression by DNA methylation, chromosomal rearrangements. |
| Carl Schmidt | Bioinformatics and avian genomics. |
| Erica M. Selva, Ph.D. | Genetic and molecular control of signal transduction during Drosophila development. |
| D. Janine Sherrier | Analysis of the small RNA transcriptome of Medicago truncatula. |
| Robert A. Sikes, Ph.D. | Mechanisms rogression of human prostate cancer to castration resistance. Mechanisms of prostate cancer metastasis to bone. |
| Daniel Simmons, Ph.D. | Mechanism of DNA replication. |
| Katia Sol-Church, Ph.D. | Genetics of Costelo Syndrome. |
| Shunji Tomatsu MD. PhD. | Genetics of skeletal dysplasias - generation and characterization of skeletal dysplasia and lysosomal storage disorder mouse models. |
| Jeffery L. Twiss, M.D., Ph.D. | Subcellular localization of neuronal mRNAs and translational control. |
| David C. Usher, Ph.D. | The relationship of obesity to metabolic syndrome and heart disease. |
| Donna Woulfe, Ph.D. | Role of mutations and deletions in genes encoding platelet signaling molecules. |
| Cathy H. Wu, Ph.D. | Bioinformatics and computation biology of molecular biology and genetics. |
| Description | |
|---|---|
| Deborah Allen, Ph.D. | Active and collaborative learning strategies and materials; learning communities. |
| Robert C. Hodson, Ph.D. | Biology education with special emphasis on development of introductory biology laboratory investigations and computer networking. |
| Florence Schmieg, Ph.D. | The effect of Problem-Based-Learning (PBL) strategies on educational outcomes. |
| David C. Usher, Ph.D. | Affect of undergraduate research on educational outcomes; recruitment and retention of underrepresented minorities in the sciences. |
