Biology, Department of
College of Science and Engineering
Dr. Steven Gorsich, Chair
2100 Biosciences, 989-774-1865;
https://www.cmich.edu/colleges/cst/biology
Elizabeth Alm, Ph.D., microbial ecology, environmental microbiology
Hunter Carrick, Ph.D., aquatic ecology, health and biogeochemistry of aquatic systems
Gregory Colores, Ph.D., microbial ecology, soil microbiology, biodegradation
Cynthia Damer, Ph.D., molecular mechanisms of membrane trafficking, cell biology, genetics, microscopy
Joanne Dannenhoffer, Ph.D., botany, plant cell biology, plant physiology
Peter D. Dijkstra, Ph.D., behavioral ecology, endocrinology, comparative physiology, evolutionary biology
Tracy Galarowicz, Ph.D., fish ecology and management
Thomas M. Gehring, Ph.D., GIS applications, landscape ecology, management of wildlife-human conflicts, predator-prey ecology, wildlife conservation
Steven W. Gorsich, Ph.D., stress tolerance and oxidative damage during yeast fermentation and spore development using cell, molecular, genetic and molecular techniques
Philip L. Hertzler, Ph.D., developmental biology of marine shrimp
Stephen J. Juris, Ph.D., toxin biochemistry, molecular mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis, cellular biology of host-pathogen interactions
Xantha Karp, Ph.D., Developmental timing and cell fate plasticity in C. elegans, using genetic and molecular approaches
Jonathan Kelty, Ph.D., stress tolerance, neurobiology, neural control of respiration, environmental physiology
Peter S. Kourtev, Ph.D., structure and function of microbial communities in the environment
Deric R. Learman, Ph.D., geomicrobiology
Debra Linton, Ph.D., biology education, science teacher training
Eric W. Linton, Ph.D., bioinformatics, eukaryotic microbiology and systematics
Andrew Mahon, Ph.D., molecular ecology, aquatic surveillance for rare species, Antarctic phylogeography, systematics
A. Scott McNaught, Ph.D., limnology, zooplankton ecology, statistics
Anna K. Monfils, Ph.D., plant biology, systematics and evolution
Kirsten E. Nicholson, Ph.D., evolution and systematics of vertebrates, particularly reptiles and amphibians; museum studies
Kevin Pangle, Ph.D., predator-prey interactions, phenotypic plasticity, Great Lakes food webs
Wiline Pangle, Ph.D., behavioral ecology, science education
Shasta Sabo, Ph.D., neuroscience; molecular and cellular mechanisms of synapse formation and neuronal development; pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders; live fluorescence imaging
Jennifer Schisa, Ph.D., cell and molecular effects of stress and aging
Nancy E. Seefelt, Ph.D., ecology and evolution of vertebrates, ecological modeling, ornithology
Michelle L. Steinhilb, Ph.D., genetic models of human neurodegenerative disease, cellular and molecular neurobiology
Bradley J. Swanson, Ph.D., ecology, molecular ecology, conservation biology, population genetics, population dynamics, animal behavior
Don Uzarski, Ph.D., limnology, wetland and stream ecology, experimental design
Rebecca Uzarski, Ph.D., toxicology, cell biology
Daelyn Woolnough, Ph.D., spatial ecology of aquatic and terrestrial systems
Dave Zanatta, Ph.D., aquatic ecology, molecular ecology, conservation of freshwater mussels
Course Designators:
BIO - Biology
MAR - Marine Science
The Programs:
Master of Science (M.S.) in Biology
Master of Science (M.S.) in Biology:Conservation Concentration
Interdisciplinary Programs:
M.S. in Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology
Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology
M.S. in Neuroscience
Ph.D. in Neuroscience
Ph.D. in the Science of Advanced Materials
Ph.D. in Earth and Ecosystem Science
The Department of Biology has two Master of Science (MS) degree programs: the M.S. in Biology (general) and the M.S. in Biology with an emphasis on conservation. The general biology M.S. is designed to prepare students for careers in all areas of biology. The conservation biology M.S. is designed to prepare students for careers with state and federal agencies or non-government organizations. Students enrolled in the general M.S. in Biology program may pursue a Plan A (thesis) or Plan B (non-thesis) option. Students enrolled in the M.S. conservation concentration program may pursue a Plan A option only.
The Department of Biology supports teaching and research activities with excellent multi-user resources, including a microscopy facility with confocal, transmission electron and scanning electron microscopes; and a natural history and herbarium collection. The Department also boasts a fleet of boats and research vehicles, a Biological Station on Beaver Island in northern Lake Michigan with diverse and pristine island habitat available for field-oriented research and laboratory studies, and Neithercut Woodlands, a 252-acre tract of mixed hardwood forest providing habitats suitable for both aquatic and terrestrial studies.
The CMU Biological Station on Beaver Island is an approved residence center for graduate work in biology. It is possible to fulfill some course requirements at the Biological Station.
A number of graduate teaching assistantships and graduate research assistantships are available on a competitive basis in the Department of Biology website. Application forms may be obtained from the Biology Department. The deadline for applications is February 1 each year for full consideration.
Most Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA) are supported through faculty research grants or contractual agreements. A limited number of GRAs are available for 12 months with highly competitive stipends.
Biology Graduate Scholarships:
Justin Dickerson Memorial Research Scholarship
This scholarship is sponsored by a Detroit-based nonprofit called the Great Lakes Soil Bank in memory of Justin Dickerson, who was killed in a motorcycle accident. This award is for a biology Master’s student who is pursuing thesis research in the subject of soil microbiology, aquatic biology, or the soil microbiome. Preference is given to students doing soil microbiome research. The award may be used to pay for tuition, books, room and board, research support, or research supplies.
Raymond E. Hampton Excellence in Biology Research Award
Established in 1994 in recognition and appreciation of Dr. Hampton, who served 24 years as professor of biology at CMU. This merit-based award will recognize second-year biology graduate students identified as worthy of distinction to be used for a research project while at the CMU Biological Station on Beaver Island.
Daniel E. & Mildred G. Wujek Scholarship
This scholarship recognizes an outstanding second-year botany or aquatic biology graduate student who has been identified as worthy of distinction. The award may be used for tuition, books, room and board at a biological station, and for research supplies and logistics. This endowment was established by CMU alumni Daniel E. and Mildred G. Wujek. Daniel Wujek was a faculty member in the CMU Department of Biology.
Marian Whitney Summer Graduate Scholarship
Marian was a strong advocate for women in science who taught in the Biology Department for 18 years. The award was established by her estate after her death. The award is to an outstanding graduate student who is completing a thesis in zoology. The award may be used to support the graduate student in the summer.
Michigan Graden Club, Inc. Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to an outstanding full-time biology undergraduate junior or senior, or a graduate student with interests in any of a variety of botanical or land management subjects. Applicant must have taken a general botany course, maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA overall with a minimum 3.25 GPA in biology courses, and a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester. At least one additional plant course must be taken.