Corien Bakermans, assistant professor of microbiology,
earned her doctorate from Cornell University.
Her research involves determining what adaptations
microorganisms have evolved to live at low temperatures
and how these adaptations are relevant
to ecological success and ecosystem processes.
She previously served as a research scientist in the
Department of Earth Sciences at Montana State
University.

Phillip Day’s research is focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying hormonal signal transduction in germinating cereal grains such as rice, barley, and wheat. Specifically, Dr. Day studies the role of lipid- and protein-kinases in the gibberellin response of rice aleurone cells. He currently teaches courses in microbiology and genetics.

Miranda Sarachine Falso, Assistant Professor of Biology, earned her doctorate in Pharmacology at the University of Pittsburgh. Her dissertation work focused on proteomic methodologies to identify markers in the nuclear matrix of ductal carcinoma in situ and tamoxifen resistant breast cancer. She recently completed a postdoctoral research position with the Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Her postdoctoral research utilized accelerator mass spectrometry to answer a variety of biological questions such as understanding cell and protein turnover in human tissues. Her primary research interest lies in understanding the long-term effects of exposure to low levels of endocrine disrupting compounds found in the environment during early stages of development.

Michael Gannon’s interests and research are in tropical biodiversity and the ecology of temperate and tropical bat species. His studies have taken him from Pennsylvania to the Caribbean. He teaches general biology, function and development of organisms, and mammalogy.

Jim Julian's current research in amphibian and wetland ecology has focused on the use
of seasonal, isolated wetlands by amphibians, as well as the detection of these habitats
using an airplane-borne sensor called LiDAR. Dr. Julian teaches introductory biology,
environmental science for non-majors, and an upper-level course in conservation
biology.

Mary Kananen’s research has been in the behavioral genetics of Drosophila. She
teaches courses in general biology, human biology, anatomy, genetics, the biology of
aging, and physiology. She is highly active in community outreach programs for
younger students.

Ed Levri is broadly interested in evolutionary ecology, and his research has primarily focused on
parasitism, predation, and behavior of a New Zealand snail and the evolution drugresistance
in malaria. Dr. Levri teaches introductory biology, invertebrate zoology,
evolution, aquatic ecology and environmental studies.

Carolyn Mahan’s research interests include the study of biodiversity in threatened
ecosystems, the effects of human-modified landscapes on wildlife, and behavioral
ecology of sciurids. Dr. Mahan teaches introductory biology, environmental studies,
field ecology, and evolution.

Laura Palmer’s research concerns mechanisms of action of volatile anesthetics,
signaling pathways in the regulation of protein synthesis, and translational control of
gene expression. She teaches courses in introductory biology, cell and molecular
biology, and genetics.

Esther Siegfried's research focused on the role of an evolutionarily conserved signal
transduction pathway, the Wnt signaling pathway, in the specification of cell fate,
growth and differentiation in embryonic development, as well as adult testes
development of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Dr. Siegfried's teaching includes
molecular and cell biology, genetics, development biology, mammalian physiology and
anatomy.

James Winsor’s research interests are in plant reproductive ecology. He has worked
extensively on the genetic and environmental factors affecting pollen performance. Dr.
Winsor teaches introductory biology, general botany, ecology, and economic botany.