Faculty Research in the Department of Biological Sciences

Ghayasuddin Ahmad
PhD, State University of New York at Buffalo 
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
Research (Immunologist):

• Immunology of cytoskeleton proteins: Study of the effects of heavy metals (air pollutants) on cytoskeleton alterations in animal and cell cultures. Techniques used: Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis, SDS-Page and Hemolytic Plaque Assays
• Study of immunoglobulin Fc receptors on white blood cells and platelets

Carolyn S. Bentivegna (Chairperson)
PhD, Rutgers, The State University
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
Research (Environmental Toxicologist): 

• Development of biological assays: use of gene expression and levels of carbohydrates in Chironomus riparius (midgefly larva) as an indicator of exposure to and biological effects of aquatic pollutants
• Study of genetic diversity: use of molecular biological tools to study genetic relationships between laboratory and wetland populations of chironomids

Allan D. Blake
PhD, University of Cambridge
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
Research (Molecular Neurobiologist/Cell Biologist/Molecular Pharmacologist): 

• Actions of neuropeptides in controlling inflammation and intercellular signaling
• Structure-function of somatostatin receptor proteins
• The functional role of somatostatin receptor subtypes in intracellular signaling
• Modifying intracellular signaling pathways using RNA silencing

Sulie L. Chang
PhD, Ohio State University
Professor of Biological Sciences
Research (Biochemist/Cell Biologist/Neuroimmunologist): 

• Neuroimmune pharmacology of substance abuse
• Intracellular convergence of mu-opioid receptor dependent pathways and cytokine receptor dependent pathways
• Substances of abuse affect vascular endothelial cell barriers
• Studies of leukocyte-endothelial interaction in drug addicts
• Brain activities in heath and disease

• Genome projects and bioinformatic analyses of cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. IU 625 (Anacystis nidulans) and cyanophage AS-1
• Study the effects of various EPA target heavy metals on the growth of cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. IU 625 (Anacystis nidulans) and its knock-out strains
• Molecular mechanism of lytic/lysogenic cyanophage AS-1 life cycle
• Environmental probes development for prediction, early detection and prevention of algal blooms
• Establishment of Cyanogroup Genomics Knowledge Base (CGKB)

Marian Glenn
PhD, Tufts University 
Professor of Biological Sciences
Research (Microbial Physiologist):

• Conversation Biology
• Microbial Physiology and Microbial Ecology, focusing on the microbial community as a bioindicator of ecosystem change
• Responses of microbial communities to pollution

Jane Ko
PhD, University of Minnesota
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
Research (Molecular Biologist/Cell Pharmacologist) 

• Study of the regulation of the G-protein coupled receptor gene
• Study of the mechanisms underlying the cell/tissue-specific gene expression
• Study of the cross-talk between the signal transduction pathway and the transcriptional regulation using the eucaryotic model system
• Study of the structure a single stranded DNA binding protein as a novel transcriptional 

Eliot Krause
PhD, Purdue University
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences
Research (Geneticist: Population Genetics/Cytogenetics): 

• Population genetic studies: (1) Control of population size between Tribolium species and within Tribolium species using various genetic strains and (2) Factors that affect competition between genetic strains of Tribolium
• Genetics and Cytogenetics: (1) Importance of fragile sites. (2) Involvement of sister chromatid exchange with expression of gene products

Roberta L. Moldow
PhD, The City University of New York
Professor of Biological Sciences
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Research (Neuroendocrinologist): 

• Factors influencing the regulation of the circadian rhythmicity of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis
• Study of the stress response including post traumatic stress disorder
• Addictive drugs and neuroendocrinology
• Gulf war syndrome

Anne M. Pumfery
PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences
Research (Virologist/Microbiologist):

• Role of viral and cellular cyclins and cyclin dependent kinases in Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes virus/human herpes virus 8 gene expression and DNA replication
• Regulation of viral gene expression by chromatin and histone modifications

Carroll D. Rawn (Director of Graduate Studies)
PhD, University of Kentucky 
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
Research (Mycology, Plant Pathology, Metabolism): 

• Growth, reproduction, physiology of fungi, especially plant pathogenic fungi
• Production of mycotoxins and effects of mycotoxins on fungi
• Mathematical modeling of fungal growth

Heping Zhou
PhD, University of Illinois-Chicago
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences
Research (Molecular Biologist): 

• Morphine-endotaoxin interaction affects neuroinflammation
• HIV-induced neuroinflammation during development
• Microarray technology
• Tumorigensis

Faculty Emeriti

Linda Hsu
PhD, University of Michigan
Associate Professor, Emeritus
University of Michigan