Faculty

DR. MICHELLE A. BRIGGS
Assistant Professor (1992), Chairperson

• Plant ecology
• Plant reproduction
• Plant/animal interaction
• Plant secondary chemistry
• Medicinal aspects of plants

• Introductory Biology II
• Plant Science
• The 4th and 5th Kingdoms
• Medicinal & Poisonous Plants
• Plant-Animal Interactions
• Ecology

DR. DAVID BROUSSARD
Assistant Professor (2006)

• Mammalogy
• Vertebrate natural history
• Physiology of life histories
• Resource investment strategies
• Ecology and physiology of hibernation

Courses Taught:

• Human Physiology
• Animal Behavior
• Vertebrate Biology

DR. EDWARD G. GABRIEL, 
Associate Professor (1977)

• Chromosome banding techniques on blood cell development in the squirrel
• Human genetic analysis with particular emphasis on the muscular dystrophies
• The effects of UV radiation on Tetrahymena

• Introductory Biology I
• Cells, Genes & Society
• Evolution
• Darwin, Evolution, Science and You (Freshman Seminar)
• Medical Genetics

Dr. Terence McGarvey,
Assistant Professor (2004)

Research interests:

I use various molecular techniques including RNA interference to determine unique gene functions related to tumor development and progression. Areas of focus include:

• TGF beta pathways
• bladder cancer development and progression
• TRAIL (a death receptor ligand) and chemotherapy
• unique gene promoter isolation
• 3' untranslated region and RNA localization

Courses Taught:

• Anatomy & Physiology for the Health Care Consumer
• Human Anatomy
• Histology
• Human Physiology
• Developmental Biology

Dr. Mary E. Morrison,
Assistant Professor (2004)

Areas of interest include cell biology, neuroscience, developmental biology, virology, and biology education for non-majors.  Possible research projects for undergraduates include:

• Cell biology of the brain:  Granule neuron regulation of  Purkinje cell development

• Molecular biology of the brain:  Gene expression changes and signaling events during development of the cerebellum

• Mammalian Genetics:  effects of mutations on mouse brain development

• Biotechnology:  developing methods for gene transfer into neurons

Courses Taught:

• Cells, Genes & Society
• Introductory Biology I
• Immunology
• Cell Biology
• Neurobiology
• Cell & Molecular Research Methods

DR. JEFFREY D. NEWMAN , 
Assistant Professor (1995)   

Research interests include:

• Bacterial Purine Biosynthesis: cloning, expression & purification of enzymes
• Development of Antimicrobial Agents
• Evolutionary Genomics/Bioinformatics
• Characterization of Novel Microbes Isolated in the  Region

DR. PETER J. PETOKAS, 
 Research Associate (2003)
(on the left!)

Turtle Reproductive Biology, Hellbender Ecology, Stream Restoration, and Wetland Restoration and Management.  Current projects include development of:

• A web site for the Keystone Stream Team
• A statewide inventory of Natural Stream Channel Design (NSCD) projects
• Guidance documents for NSCD planning and design
• An NSCD database for storing and retrieving NSCD project design data
• Educational resources for organizations and individuals who desire to learn more about NSCD and Fluvial Geomorphology (FGM)

DR. MELVIN C. ZIMMERMAN,  Professor (1979),
Director of the Clean Water Institute

Problems dealing with Ecology, especially Aquatic Biology, Marine Biology and Parasitology.  Current projects include:

• Monitoring for Giardia cysts in the Williamsport Water  Authority’s Reservoirs
• Use of a macroinvertebrate biotic index to monitor water quality.
• Monitoring of sewage sludge for parasitic eggs and cysts.
• Food studies (Bioenergetics) of organisms.  Past studies have ranged from black bears to aquatic insects.
• Plankton dynamics in reservoir water and wetland delineation.
• Parasitic investigations of animals.  Past studies have examined black bears, squirrels and beaver.

• Introductory Biology II
• Ecology
• Environmental Science
• Aquatic Biology
• Invertebrate Biology
• Marine Biology (May Term in Jamaica!)
• SCUBA