Biology Department Faculty
Research Interests and Activities
Mr. Albert Answini. Project Supervisor for the Coastal Dolphin Research Project
(sponsored by the Marine Science Consortium,
Dr. Marilyn Baguinon.
Research on the mechanism of biological nitrogen fixation, specifically
the nitrogenase enzyme of Klebsiella pneumoniae; also interested in studying
the mammalian enzyme acyloxyacyl hydrolase
that detoxifies bacterial endotoxins. Recently, I have been involved in a research
on the mechanism of blood clot formation. All the above research involve the use of recombinant DNA techniques.
Dr. Nancy M. Butler. Freshwater and marine ecology, including plankton feeding strategies,
mating behavior, physiology, and community structure.
Dr. Carol C. Mapes. Research on the mechanism of insect gall formation on Solidago altissima
(goldenrod) and on the effect of light and temperature on the pupariation of Eurosta solidaginis (goldenrod fly). Also, a survey of insect
gall diversity in southeastern PA.
Dr. Ronald R. Rhein.
Interests include land use education and insect taxonomy, with emphasis
on environmental quality assessment. Retiring Summer
2007.
Dr. Cristen Rosch. Plant molecular and cell biology, with
interests including gene expression, gene regulation, and the use of
fluorescent microscopy to study the cellular cytoskeleton.
Dr. Wendy L.
Ryan. Gas bubble formation
at low gas supersaturations related to decompression
sickness ("the bends") and the effects of high hydrostatic pressure
on various marine invertebrates. The impact of environmental stresses on the
sea anemone Aiptasia and its symbiont, as a model for hermatypic
corals. Marine mammal
research, including an open ocean survey on the R/V Ronald Brown (NOAA)
and bottlenose dolphin research through the Wallops Island Marine Science
Consortium (VA).
Dr. Christopher F. Sacchi. Reproductive biology of native and introduced plant species with a
focus on abiotic and biotic factors influencing plant
growth and reproduction.
Plant-herbivore and plant-pollinator interactions are of special
interest.
Dr. William F. Towne. Honey bee learning and orientation.
Dr. Todd Underwood. The interactions between the brood
parasitic Brown-headed Cowbird and its hosts. Brood parasitism is a reproductive
strategy where female birds lay their eggs in other birds’ nests and leave all
parental care to these “foster parents” or hosts. Also
interested in other topics in avian behavior, ecology, and conservation.
Dr. Anne E. Zayaitz.
Food and applied microbiology, with interests including food pathogens,
food spoilage organisms, water quality and the use of fluorescent microscopy as
a tool in applied microbiology.