Graduate Faculty

Leo P. Bruederle, Ph.D., Department Chair, Associate Professor

Research Interests: Evolution of species-rich genera such as Carex (Cyperaceae); plant systematics at and below the level of genus, population genetics and endemism, and conservation genetics in species of special concern; and development of undergraduate research opportunities.

Office: NC 3016 F
Phone: 303-556-3419
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Amanda Charlesworth, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Office: SI 4106

Phone: 303-556-2854

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Greg Cronin, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Research Interests: Dr. Cronin applies basic ecological science to address issues that face urban areas. Streams such as Denver’s South Platte River have had their flows greatly altered by dams and ditches designed to protect Denver from devastating floods and to provide municipalities and agriculture with a reliable water supply. Dr. Cronin conducts research to understand how such changes affect aquatic ecosystems from the mountains to the plains.

Office: SI 4100
Phone: 303- 556-6036
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Michele Engel, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Research Interests: Plant fertilization, particularly molecular events allowing sperm-egg and sperm-central cell adhesion/fusion. Also pollen tube growth, pistil signaling, and male gamete unit development. Goals include using molecular techniques to characterize sperm surface proteins and their role in fertilization and to investigate genes involved in male gamete unit formation.

Office: SI 4099
Phone: 303-556-2593
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Charles A. Ferguson, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Research Interests: Dr. Ferguson is interested in the academic and non-academic issues students face coming into the STEM disciplines in college. He is particularly interested in student, parent, and high school faculty perceptions of what higher education is and how it prepares students for careers in science, math or engineering.

Office: NC 3014 B
Phone: 303- 556-4350
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Health Careers 09 Fall Calendar

Michael J. Greene, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Research Interests: Understanding mechanisms by which semiochemicals, natural products that act as signals or cues, mediate animal physiology and behavior; characterizing the chemical structures of these semiochemicals along with factors regulating their production; and characterizing the ecological, behavioral and social contexts under which they operate.

Office: SI 4115
Phone: 303- 556-5610
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Laurel Hartley, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Research Interests: Dr. Hartley's research experience, and interests are in the fields of science education and ecology. Her research interests in science education involve understanding what it means to be literate about ecological concepts and how current K-16 benchmarks and practices contribute to scientific literacy. Her scientific research bridges community ecology and ecosystem ecology to explore ways that plant communities respond to perturbations such as emerging infectious diseases, intensive herbivory, nutrient inputs, and invasive species introduction.

Office: SI 4124

Phone: 303-556-6251

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Office: NC 5014

Phone: 303.556.2557

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Lisa K. Johansen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Research Interests: Virus-host interactions and RNA silencing in Arabidopsis -- characterization of six RNA-dependent RNA polymerase genes and their roles in RNA silencing in response to biological and environmental stresses, such as viruses, drought, salinity, and temperature. GeneChip technology is being used for large scale genomic analysis.

Office: SI 4097
Phone: 303-556-6250
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Roderick Nairn, Ph.D., Professor

Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs

Timberley Roane, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Research Interests: Microbial methods of chemical detoxification, and physiological responses of microorganisms to environmental and biological stress. Also, understanding microbial community structure and function, and the use of microorganisms as indicators of environmental quality.

Office: SI 4096
Phone: 303- 556-6592
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Bradley J. Stith, Ph.D., Professor

Research Interests: Developmental and cell biology.  Ongoing research addresses insulin action and stimulation of the insulin receptor by the diabetic drug Glucophage, as well as the use of new lipid analysis methods to record changes in numerous lipids during meiotic cell division and fertilization in Xenopus laevis.

Office: SI 4110
Phone: 303-556-3371
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Diana F. Tomback, Ph.D., Professor

Research Interests: Evolutionary, behavioral, and conservation ecology emphasizing seed dispersal mutualisms between white pines and Clark’s nutcrackers, as well as conservation of white pine ecosystems. Long-term study of  whitebark pine regeneration after fires in Yellowstone and whitebark pine infection in the Rocky Mountains by white pine blister rust.

Office: SI 4105
Phone: 303-556-2657
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Alan Vajda, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Research Interests: Environmental Signaling and Endocrine Disruption. Dr. Vajda's lab focus is on the emerging eco-human health issue of endocrine-active chemicals in wastewater-dominated streams. Studies include: neural mechanisms underlying reproductive disruption by estrogenic mixtures, ecosystem responses to major engineering upgrades, and the role of global water management decisions in mitigating adverse impacts of environmental chemicals on the health of humans and wildlife.

Office: SI 4104

Phone: 303-556-6765

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Michael Wunder, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Research Interests: Quantitative ecology, biogeography, and population dynamics. Characterizing and understanding space-time dependencies in ecological systems, especially those involving highly mobile or migratory animals.

Office: SI 4124

Phone: 303-556-8870

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David Albeck, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology

Research Interests: The Albeck lab studies the behavioral and physiological effects of aging, with particular emphasis on non-invasive strategies of enhancing neurotrophin expression and cognitive function.

Office: NC 5008G
Phone: 303-556-6718
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Richard Allen Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology

Research Interests: Psychopharmacology. Neurobiological and behavioral mechanisms that contribute to cocaine tolerance, sensitization and drug dependence (i.e., "addiction"). Glutamatergic mechanisms that underlie escalation of cocaine use.  Pharmacological, neurobiological, and behavioral mechanisms that alter the abuse potential of psychoactive drugs.

Office: NC 5008H
Phone: 303-556-6740
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Mary Coussons-Read, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology

Research Interests: Effects of prenatal stress on maternal health and immunity; Role of maternal stress in pregnancy complications and poor bith outcomes; Impact of perinatal stress on early immunological and behavioral develpment; Opioid-induced alterations in immune function and infection; Pavolvian conditioning of immune responses.

Office: NC 5002M
Phone: 303-556-2687
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Jennifer Ramp Neale, Ph.D.

Research Interests: Conservation and restoration genetics; the incorporation of genetics and pollination in conservation/restoration planning including the incorporation of genetic data into GIS; community-level genetic examination and conservation;demographic monitoring and pollination studies of rare and endangered flora in the Rocky Mountain region.

Denver Botanic Gardens

Phone: 720-865-3562

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