Faculty
Dr. David Duvernell
Professor and Department Chair
- duvernelld@mst.edu
- Phone: (573) 341-6988
- 105D Schrenk Hall 400 W. 11th Street, Rolla, MO 65409
Research Interests:
Population Genetics, Molecular Evolution, Fish Genetics, Conservation Biology
Publications:
Personal Website:
Education:
- Virginia Tech, Ph.D. in Biology, 1998
- Saint Louis University, M.S. in Biology, 1994
- Drury University, B.A. in Biology and Chemistry, 1992
Dr. Chen Hou, PhD
Associate Professor
Director, Laboratory of Animal Physiology
- houch@mst.edu
- Phone: (573) 341-6360
- M4 Schrenk Hall 400 W. 11th Street, Rolla, MO 65409
Specialization:
Metabolic basis of aging, Energetic basis of animal growth and reproduction, Mammalian respiratory physiology, Eusocial insects
Research Interests:
Life history tradeoffs, aging, and oxidative stress/ Behaviors and physiology of social insects/ Energetics of animal growth and reproduction/ Mammalian respiratory physiology
Publications:
Education:
- University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, Ph.D. in Physics 2005
- University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, M.S. in Physics, 2000
- Sichuan University, Chengdu, China, B.S. in Physics, 1997
Dr. Yue-Wern Huang, PhD
Professor
Director, Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology
- huangy@mst.edu
- Phone: (573) 341-6589
- 309 Schrenk Hall 400 W. 11th Street, Rolla, MO 65409
Specialization:
Toxicology
Research Interests:
Develop nanocarrier platforms to deliver biologically active molecules in vitro and in vivo for basic science research and biomedical applications/ Investigate toxicity of nanomaterials to assess risk to human health; in particular, discover physical and chemical properties of nanomaterials that govern molecular mechanisms of nanotoxicity. Findings can be used for modeling and improvement of safer design of biocompatible nanomaterials/ Evaluate effects of environmental estrogens such as pharmaceuticals, phytochemicals, and industrial chemicals on humans and the environment
Publications:
Education:
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Ph.D., Zoology, 1998
- National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan, B.A., 1986
Dr. Niranjana Krishnan, PhD
Assistant Research Professor
Biological Sciences
- nkrishnan@mst.edu
- Phone: (573) 341-4831
- 105 Schrenk Hall West 11th Street, Rolla, MO 65409
Specialization:
Insect Toxicicology, Ecological Risk Assessment
Research Interests:
Employing in vivo and computational methods to assess risk of chemical exposures to non-target invertebrates/Elucidating chemical mode of actions and generating adverse outcome pathways
Publications:
Education:
- Iowa State University, USA, Ph.D. 2021
- Vellore Institute of Technology, India, M.S. 2013
- Mumbai University, India, B.S. 2011
Dr. Melanie Mormile, PhD
Professor & Associate Dean of Research and External Relations
Environmental Microbiology
- mmormile@mst.edu
- Phone: (573) 341-6346
- M2 Schrenk Hall, 400 W. 11th Street, Rolla, MO 65409
Specialization:
Environmental Microbiology
Research Interests:
Extremophilic Microorganisms in Hypersaline Environments/ Bioenergy Production/ Commodity Compound Production by Extremophilic Microorganisms/ Antibiotic Resistance in Environmental Microorganisms
Publications:
Education:
- University of Oklahoma, Norman, Ph.D., 1995
- University of Louisville, Louisville, M.S., 1988
- University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, B.S., 1985
Dr. Dev Niyogi, PhD
Professor
Director, Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology
- niyogid@mst.edu
- Phone: (573) 341-7191
- 110 E Schrenk Hall, 400 W. 11th Street, Rolla, MO 65409
Specialization:
Freshwater Ecology
Research Interests:
Effects of humanity on stream ecosystems/ Role of biodiversity in controlling ecosystem processes/ Nutrient uptake in streams and other aquatic systems
Publications:
Personal Website:
Education:
- University of Colorado, Boulder, Ph.D., 1999
- Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, B.A, 1989
Dr. Julie Semon, PhD
Associate Professor
Director, Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine
- semonja@mst.edu
- Phone: (573) 341-6606
- 306 Schrenk Hall 400 W. 11th Street, Rolla, MO 65409
Specialization:
Stem Cells
Research Interests:
Identifying molecular and therapeutic differences of mesenchymal stem cell subpopulations/Interactions of mesenchymal stem cells with extracellular matrix and endogenous cell populations/ Trafficking and fate determination of mesenchymal stem cells
Personal Website:
Education:
- Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, Ph.D. 2008
- Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, B.S. 1998
Dr. Katie Shannon, PhD
Teaching Professor
Director, Laboratory of Cytokinesis
- shannonk@mst.edu
- Phone: (573) 341-6336
- 231 Schrenk Hall 400 W. 11th Street, Rolla, MO 65409
Specialization:
Cells
Research Interests:
The temporal and spatial control of cell division/ Budding yeast as a model to determine how cytokinesis is cell-cycle regulated.
Publications:
Education:
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA , Ph.D., Cell and Developmental Biology, 2000
- University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, B.A., 1994
Theodore Sumnicht, MS
Academic Specialist
Manager, Ozark Research Field Station
- tsnwg@mst.edu
- Phone: (573) 341-6298
- M4 Schrenk Hall 400 W. 11th Street, Rolla, MO 65409
Research Interests:
Tropical Ant Ecology, Taxonomy, and Phylogenetics
Education:
- University of Arkansas, Little Rock, MS in Biology, 2012
- University of California, Davis, BS in Entomology, 2009
Dr. Matthew Thimgan, PhD
Associate Professor
Director, Laboratory of Sleep Biology
- thimgan@mst.edu
- Phone: (573) 341-7190
- G-13C Schrenk Hall 400 W. 11th Street, Rolla, MO 65409
Specialization:
Biochemistry, genetics and anatomy of the sleep loss response: role of lipid metabolism in Drosophila
Research Interests:
Biochemical and genetic factors of sleep regulation/ How sleep and wake transitions reflect health and aging/ Mitigating the consequences of sleep deprivation/ Physiological and molecular biomarkers of sleepiness in humans.
Education:
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Ph.D., 2005
- University of California, Los Angeles, B.S., Microbiology, 1996
Dr. Robin Verble, PhD
Associate Professor Program Director for Environmental Sciences
Director, Fire Ecology Lab
- verbler@mst.edu
- Phone: (573) 341-7274
- M2 Schrenk Hall 400 W. 11th Street, Rolla, MO 65409
Specialization:
Fire ecology/Prescribed burning/Wildland fire/Insect ecology/Forest ecology/Ant ecology/Ecology/Entomology
Research Interests:
Research that focuses on the ecology of fire-adapted ecosystems and organisms.
Personal Website:
Education:
- University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Ph.D. in Applied Ecology, 2012
- University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, MS in Forest Entomology, 2008
- University of Southern Indiana, Evansville, BS in Biophysics, 2006
Dr. David Westenberg, PhD
Professor
Laboratory of Microbiology and Faculty Athletics Representative
- djwesten@mst.edu
- Phone: (573) 341-4798
- 105 Schrenk Hall 400 W. 11th Street, Rolla, MO 65409
Specialization:
Rhizosphere Microbiology
Research Interests:
Rhizosphere microbiology/ Antibacterial materials/ Microbiology education
Publications:
Personal Website:
Education:
- University of California, Los Angeles, Ph.D. Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, 1991
- Michigan State University, East Lansing, B.S. Microbiology and Public Health, 1982
Terry Wilson, MS
Associate Teaching Professor and
Assistant Affiliate Director for Project Lead the Way-Biomedical
- twilson@mst.edu
- Phone: (573) 341-6121
- 111A Schrenk Hall 400 W. 11th Street, Rolla, MO 65409
Education:
- Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, M.S. in Biology, 1993
- Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, B.S. in Education, 1983
Emeritus Faculty
Dr. Roger Brown, PhD
PROFESSOR EMERITUS DIRECTOR
BIOMATERIALS LABORATORY
- rbrown@mst.edu
- Phone: (573) 341-4860
- M3 Schrenk Hall
Specialization:
Biomaterials
Research Interests:
Biomaterials for bone repair and therapeutic applications/ Development of bioactive glass coatings on titanium implants for enhanced bonding at implant site/ Porous bioactive glass scaffolds for in vitro engineering of new bone tissue/ Bioabsorbable composite materials for bone fracture fixation/ Neutron-activatable glass microspheres for radiotherapeutic applications
Publications:
Education:
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Postdoctoral training, 1968-71
- Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Ph.D., Physiology, 1968
- Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, B.S. Zoology, 1964
Dr. Ron Frank
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR EMERITUS
Biological Sciences
- rfrank@mst.edu
- Phone: (573) 341-4831
- 105 Schrenk Hall
Education:
- The Ohio State University, Ph.D. in Genetics, 1985
- The Ohio State University, M.S. in Genetics, 1981
- Houghton College, B.S. in Biology, 1978
Affiliate Faculty
Dr. Chang-Soo Kim
Professor of Electrical Engineering
- ckim@mst.edu
- Phone: (573) 341-4529
- 111 Straumanis-James Hall
Research Interests:
Solid-state devices, micro/nanofabrication, sensor engineering, nanotechnology applications, biological microdevices and systems
Education:
- Sensors Engineering at Kyungpook National University, South Korea, Ph.D
- Semiconductor Engineering at Kyungpook National University, South Korea, MS
- Electronic & Electrical Engineering at Kyungpook National University, South Korea, BS
Dr. Jinling Liu, PhD
Assistant Professor
Engineering Management & Systems Engineering, Joint Appointment with Biological Sciences
- jinling.liu@mst.edu
- Phone: (573) 341-4150
- 219 Engineering Management, 600 W. 14th Street, Rolla, MO 65409
Specialization:
Biomedical Informatics
Research Interests:
Artificial Intelligence, Biomedical Informatics, Precision Medicine, Big Data Analytics, Systems Biology, Immunology, Casual Inference, Multi-omics Data
Personal Website:
Education:
- University of Pittsburgh, M.S., 2019
- The Pennsylvania State University in Ph.D., 2014
- East China Normal University, B.S., 2008
Dr. Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe
Professor of Geology, Dept. Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering
- ikuenobe@mst.edu
- Phone: (573) 341-6946
- 147 McNutt Hall, 1400 North Bishop Avenue
Research Interests:
Palynology and Sedimentology
Personal Website:
Education:
- University of Cambridge, Ph.D.
- University of Ife, MS and BS
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Dr. Hu Yang
Department Chair, Professor, Linda and Bipin Doshi Chair Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
- huyang@mst.edu
- Phone: (573) 341-4854
- 110E Bertelsmeyer Hall
Research Interests:
Biomaterials; Drug and Gene Delivery; Nanomedicine; Pharmaceutical Engineering
Personal Website:
Education:
- BE Polymer 1998, Sichuan University
- PhD ChE 2004, University of Akron
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