Biology Faculty Research
The BIOL faculty offer expertise across a wide-range of Biology-related disciplines. Click on the individual names below for faculty websites, research interests, publications and contact information.
Dr. Matthew F. Bonnan
Associate Professor of Biology
Dinosaurs, Vertebrate Paleontology, Functional Morphology, Animal Kinematics
Dr. Bonnan is interested in three broad but interconnected areas of research: 1) the
evolution of dinosaur locomotion, particularly in the giant, long-necked sauropod
dinosaurs; 2) the evolution of an erect posture from a sprawled posture in dinosaurs
and mammals; and 3) the evolution of pronation and supination in the forelimb of tetrapods.
To these ends, he has utilized traditional anatomical approaches as well as state-of-the-art
computer modeling to understand and infer how the limbs of both extinct and extant
tetrapods have evolved and adapted. Currently, he has begun to utilize XROMM (X-ray
Reconstruction of Moving Morphology) to produce three-dimensional animations of small
animal bones in vivo. His current research focuses on the three-dimensional kinematics
of lizard and mammal forelimbs, as means to "reverse engineer" how early dinosaur
and mammal relatives may have moved and stood.
Dr. David W. Burleigh
Associate Professor of Biology
Reproductive biology, placental physiology and gene expression
Dr. Burleigh has studied various aspects of placenta physiology and development.
In an effort to further the understanding of gestational diabetes on fetal development
Dr. Burleigh has studied the effects of glucose on the secretion of placental growth
hormone by placental cytotrophoblast cells, examined the temporal expression of Growth
Differentiation Factor 15 in rodents during development, and studied the physiological
impact of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on placental trophoblast cell development
and gene expression
Throughout their lifetimes, cells are constantly bombarded by an ever-changing environment. They integrate these environmental changes with information about themselves to make important decisions of cell fate. Mistakes in these processes can lead to developmental defects or cancer. Research in Dr. Law's laboratory is interested in understanding how cells integrate information about themselves and their environments to make the correct cell fate decision. Using the budding yeast S. cerevisiae as an experimental model, we are currently focusing on the roles of post-translational histone modifications in controlling yeast cell fates. To understand this question, we regularly employ genetic, molecular, biochemical, and genomic approaches.
Dr. Tara Harmer Luke
Associate Professor of Biology
Molecular systematics, bioinformatics, marine microbial ecology, and symbiosis
Dr. Luke is interested in the molecular evolution in prokaryotes and has studied genes
responsible for carbon fixation and utilization in phototrophic and chemoautotrophic
bacteria, including archaea found in the deep sea. With a broad interest in marine
microbial ecology, Dr. Harmer has studied the relationship of the giant tubeworms
from deep sea hydrothermal vents and their bacterial symbionts. Dr. Harmer is also
interested in bioinformatics and participated in annotation of a microbial genome
Thiomicrospira crunogena, a free-living chemoautotrophic-proteobacterium found at
deep sea hydrothermal vents.
Dr. Craig Lind
Assistant Professor of Biology
Physiological Ecology, Endocrinology, Reproduction, Herpetology
Dr. Nathaniel Hartman
Associate Professor of Biology
Neuroscience, stem cells, developmental biology
Dr. Hartman has a sharp interest in the development of the nervous system. Using
targeted genetic approaches, Dr. Hartman investigates how molecular pathways guide
neural stem cell behavior and how alterations in these pathways can lead to devastating
neuropathologies. His recent work examines how the mammalian target of rapamycin
(mTOR) pathway affects fate decisions of neural stem cells.
Dr. Daniel Hernandez
Associate Professor of Biology
Conservation biology, ecology, ornithology, wildlife management
Dr. Dan Hernandez has a broad interest in conservation biology and has studied the
ecology of the endangered bird the Red Knot (Calidris canutus rufa) and their relationship
to the horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) populations in the Delaware Bay. He has
lead two expeditions to Tierra del Fuego, Chile to study the Red Knot and other shore
birds in their wintering grounds. He has also been involved in conservation projects
with Diamondback Terrapins projects at the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, NJ.
Dr. Ron S. Hutchison
Associate Professor of Biology
Algal responses to cold environments, plant molecular biology and physiology
Dr. Hutchison's research is focused on a long-standing interest in understanding
how plants, photosynthetic bacteria, and algae respond to low temperatures. One project
focuses on the changes in gene expression that occur when algae encounter low temperatures,
using the relatively new technique of microarray analysis. Another research area involves
the Identification and characterization of organisms found in Artic and Antarctic
samples. These organisms are likely to be affected by global climate change.
Dr. Michael R. Lague
Associate Professor of Biology
Human evolution, skeletal biology, morphometrics, size & scaling, paleontology
Dr. Lague is engaged in ongoing research into patterns of sex-based skeletal differences
(i.e., skeletal dimorphism) among living and fossil primates, including our early
human ancestors. Using state-of-the-art technology for quantifying bone shape, he
is addressing questions specific to assessing dimorphism (and, by extension, social
behavior) from fossil remains.
Dr. Margaret E. Lewis
Associate Professor of Biology
Paleontology, vertebrate anatomy, anthropology, paleoecology, evolutionary biology, forensics
Dr. Lewis' primary research involves reconstructing the behavior and ecology of extinct
members of the Order Carnivora1 by studying the functional morphology of the postcranial
skeleton (and skull where appropriate). A second research interest includes how carnivoran
behavior, ecology and evolution has impacted on and been impacted upon by human evolution.
I am particularly interested in how our hominin ancestors may have influenced the
structure of carnivore guilds and what role they may have played in the extinction
of larger carnivorans.
Dr. Ekaterina Sedia
Associate Professor of Biology
Plant ecology, community dynamics, non-vascular plants
Dr. Sedia worked on a variety of projects studying plant ecology and community dynamics
of the New Jersey Pinelands. Her main interests are lichens and non-vascular plants,
and the effects they have on post-fire regeneration of vascular plants as well as
soil microbial activity. She has also participated in collaborative projects, including
a study of the effects of salinity on establishment of Atlantic white cedar, and a
project examining the role of fire and clear-cutting in survival of broom crowberry,
a Pinelands endangered species.
Peter F. Straub
Dean School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Tenured Professor of Biology
Impact of polluted environments on gene expression patterns in fish
Dr. Straub has been involved in developing biomarkers of pollution in marine fish.
This work involved cloning and sequencing differentially expressed genes from the
livers (and other organs) from contrasting habitats. The isolated genes are be studied
by quantitative PCR and microarray analysis to determine which are suitable biomarkers
of pollution. In addition, Dr. Straub has analyzed the fish for organic contaminants
including PCB’s and pesticides.
Dr. York's research has been in two different areas of study. Dr. York’s first project
has focused on the effects that temperature fluctuations over time have had on microbes
in the aquifers of the geothermal well- field at Stockton. Microbes have been identified
using a molecular genetic strategy. Dr. York’s second project takes a molecular genetics
approach to understand the cellular function and regulation of an important enzyme,
protein phosphatase 2A from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.