Biology Faculty

Mikus Abolins-Abols

Assistant Professor

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Education: Ph.D., Indiana University, 2017

Research Interests: Physiological and behavioral ecology; neuroendocrinology; mechanisms of maternal behavior and stress; developmental biology of feathers

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Dr. James Alexander

James E. Alexander, Jr.

Associate Professor

(502) 852-7243
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Education: Ph.D., University of Oklahoma, 1987

Research Interests: Population ecology and physiological ecology of aquatic invertebrates; zebra mussel (Dreissena) biology.

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Natalie Christian

Assistant Professor

(502) 852-3727
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Education: Ph.D., Indiana University, 2017

Research Interests: Microbial ecology; community ecology; symbiosis; foliar endophytic fungi; scholarship of teaching and learning (SOTL)

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Cindy Corbitt

Professor

(502) 852-3915
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Education: Ph.D., University of Alaska, Fairbanks, 1997

Research Interests: Behavioral neuroendocrinology; environmental signaling and the central nervous system

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Rafael Sênos Demarco

Assistant Professor

Education: Ph.D., University of Kansas, 2011

Research Interests: Stem cell biology; metabolism; lipids; signaling pathways; molecular biology; Drosophila genetics

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Lee Dugatkin, Professor, Department of Biology

Lee Dugatkin

Professor and Distinguished University Scholar

(502) 852-5943
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Education: Ph.D., State University of New York, Binghamton,1991

Research Interests: History of science; behavioral and evolutionary ecology; evolution of cooperative and altruistic behavior; cultural transmission in nonhumans

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Professor Perri Eason

Perri Eason

Professor

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Education: Ph.D., University of California, Davis, 1991

Research interests: Behavioral ecology and conservation biology of terrestrial vertebrates and insects

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Sarah Emery

Sarah Emery

Professor and Director of Graduate Studies

(502) 852-5940
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Education: Ph.D., Michigan State University, 2005

Research Interests: Plant ecology; biodiversity; succession; restoration; plant-fungus interactions; plant-insect interactions; invasive species; sand dune biology

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Paul Ewald

Paul Ewald

Professor

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Education: Ph.D., University of Washington, 1980

Research Interests: Evolutionary ecology of parasitism; evolutionary medicine; agonistic behavior; pollination biology

Linda Fuselier

Linda Fuselier

Professor and Chair of the Biology Department

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Education: Ph.D., University of Kentucky, 2004

Research interests: Postsecondary Biology Education – I am interested in the intersection of science education with science studies and inclusivity in the classroom and laboratory. My background is in evolutionary biology, fish biology and plant ecology. Although my research has turned toward biology education, all of my work is informed by content knowledge in biology, making my research “discipline-based education research” (DBER).

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Paul Himes

Paul R. Himes

Assistant Professor

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Education: Ph.D., Michigan State University, 2009

Research Interests: Microbiology; molecular genetics

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Dr. Rachel Hopp

Rachel Hopp

Associate Professor, Term

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Education: Ph.D., University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 1999

Research Interests: Molecular regulation of apoptosis in photoreceptors; retinitis pigmentosa and retinoblastoma; effective teaching methods for student success in anatomy and physiology

Dae-Sung Hwangbo

Assistant Professor

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Education: Ph.D., University of Rochester, 2012

Research Interests: 1) Molecular genetics and neuronal circuits of circadian rhythms, sleep, and feeding behavior in Drosophila; 2) Molecular genetics of aging and cell death in Drosophila; 3) Development of Drosophila models of human diseases (such as Prader-Willi syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease)

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Mat Kolmann

Matt Kolmann

Assistant Professor

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Education: Ph.D., University of Toronto, 2016

Research Interests: Evolutionary ecology; functional morphology; biomechanics; comparative vertebrate anatomy; ichthyology (fish biology); phylogenetic systematics and phylogenetic comparative methods

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Alycia CR Lackey

Alycia CR Lackey

Assistant Professor

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Education: Ph.D., Michigan State University, 2013

Research Interests: Evolutionary and behavioral ecology; speciation; life history; sexual selection and mating interactions; response to rapid environmental change; biostatistics

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Dr. Mansfield-Jones holding a vertebra.

Jennifer Mansfield-Jones

Associate Professor

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Education: Ph.D., University of Michigan, 1995

Research Interests: Digestive energetics as related to parasitic infections

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Professor Jeffery Masters

Jeffery A. Masters 

Assistant Professor, Term

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Office: LF 139C

Education: Ph.D., University of Louisville, 2014 

Research Interests: Impacts of disturbance and invasive species on native plant/arthropod interactions; rare plant reproductive biology

Andrew Mehring

Assistant Professor

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Education: Ph.D., University of Georgia, 2012

Research Interests: Ecosystem ecology; urban ecology; animal effects on greenhouse gas flux; limnology; biogeochemistry; green infrastructure; stream restoration; stormwater management; global change

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Scaled image of Dr. Menze for faculty page

Michael A. Menze

Professor and Associate Dean, Research and Innovation

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Education: Ph.D. [Dr. rer. nat.], University of Dusseldorf and University of Mainz, 2001

Research Interests: Molecular physiology; mitochondrial bioenergetics; cryobiology, and animal stress biology

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Rachel Neal: portrait

Rachel Neal

Associate Professor

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Education: Ph.D., Missouri University of Science and Technology, 1999

Research Interests: Toxicology in during mammalian development, particularly the impact of legal substance use during pregnancy

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Dr. Michael Perlin

Michael Perlin

Professor

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Education: Ph.D., University of Chicago,1983

Research Interests: Molecular genetics; structure and function of the gene; molecular biology of drug action; gene mapping and splicing, fungal phytopathogens, host/pathogen interaction

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Rachel Pigg

Assistant Professor

Education: Ph.D., Kansas State University, 2014

Research Interests: Wildlife ecology and management; vector-borne disease ecology and control; discipline-based education research

Shira Rabin

Shira Rabin

Associate Professor, Term; Director of Undergraduate Studies

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Education: Ph.D., Northwestern University, 2005

Research Interests: Bacterial pathogenesis; toxin biology; host/pathogen interactions; science education and pedagogy

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Mark Running

Mark Running

Professor

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Education: Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, 1997

Research Interests: Plant genetics and development; drought tolerance; biofuels

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David J. Schultz

David J. Schultz

Professor and Interim Senior Associate Dean for Finance & Strategy

Education: Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University, 1996

Research Interests: Molecular genetics, biotechnology, and biochemistry; production of unusual lipids and secondary metabolites in plants; trichome mediated pest resistance in Pelargonium xhortorum (geranium)

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portrait of Dr. Sledge

Samiyyah Sledge

Assistant Professor

Education: Ph.D., University of Louisville School of Medicine, 2021

Research Interests: Physiology; Cellular and Molecular Biology; Biophysics; Chronic Diseases; Mechanisms of Dry Eye Disease; Ophthalmic Conditions and Diseases; Phospholipids’ Role in Disease; Pathophysiology of Cancer; Biological and Health Sciences Program Development and Recruitment; Retention Practices, Teaching and Success Strategies for Science Majors; and Race in Science.

 

Allison Smith

Allison Smith

Part-Time Lecturer

(502) 852-6771
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Education: Ph.D. University of Louisville, 2012

Research interests: Environmental justice; brownfields; environmental policy

Joseph M. Steffen, Ph.D. Professor of Biology

Joseph M. Steffen

Professor

Education: Ph.D., University of New Mexico, 1980

Research Interests: Cellular and molecular physiology; environmental physiology; endocrine and growth factor effects on muscle

Dr. Stocke portrait

Sanaya K. Stocke

Assistant Professor

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Education: Ph.D., University of Louisville, 2016

Research Interests: Neurobiology, taste electrophysiology, optogenetics, neuroendocrinology; effects of peripheral hormones on taste and flavor processing in the brain, teaching pedagogy.

Micah Worley

Micah Worley

Associate Professor

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Education: Ph.D., Oregon Health Sciences University, 2000

Research Interests: Microbiology of intracellular pathogens and pathogen manipulation of host cells

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Stephen P. Yanoviak

Stephen P. Yanoviak

Professor & Tom Wallace Endowed Chair of Conservation

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Education: Ph.D., University of Oklahoma, 1999

Research Interests: Tropical arthropod ecology, behavior and conservation

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Deborah R. Yoder-Himes

Deborah R. Yoder-Himes

Associate Professor and Assistant Chair

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Education: Ph.D. Michigan State University, 2005

Research Interests: Microbiology and molecular genetics; bacterial pathogenesis; transmission of opportunistic pathogens; the role of bacterial pathogens in the environment; and the evolution of pathogenesis.

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