Faculty Research Interests

Faculty Member	Research Interests
Charles A. Acosta, PhD	Population dynamics of commercially fished species Community ecology on coral reefs Crayfish dispersal and ecology
Hildegard A. Baldridge, PhD	Vascular Physiology
Hazel A. Barton, PhD	Cave Microbiology Astrobiology Techniques in Microbial Ecology Low-biomass contaminant database
Richard L. Boyce, PhD	Factors driving "bark-stripping" in Rocky Mountain bristlecone pinecanopy uptake and allocation of nitrogen by conifers ecophysiology of red cedar effect of the invasive Amur honeysuckle on forest understory herbs effects of calcium deficiency on tree ecophysiology development of Fuzzy Set Ordination (FSO) for use with plant community data
Chris Curran, PhD	Understanding how environmental toxicants affect the brain, leading to deficits in learning and memory and altered behavior. Understanding how genetic differences (polymorphisms) affect susceptibility or resistance to environmental toxicants such as polychlorinated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
Debby Dempsey, RN, BS, MS	Turgor Pressure in Plants
Diane W. Fritz	Cancer-Mesothelioma; Science Education
Larry A. Giesmann, PhD	Plant development in general, especially germination protocols for cryo-preserved seeds of threatened and endangered plants in Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana.
Stephen C. Linn, PhD	Expression, regulation, and structure of genes in the sphingolipid biosynthetic pathway
Eimear M. Mullen Ph.D	Investigating the role of soy and other botanicals such as policosanol on cholesterol levels. We look at the molecular effects of these botanicals on genes and proteins involved in cholesterol biosynthesis and metabolism such as HMG CoA reductase and the LDL receptor. Our research is carried out both in cell culture and in mice.
Michael R. Millward, M.S.	Biology of invasive species. Colonization of the Ohio River by D. polymorpha (zebra mussel).
Michelle Ottersbach, MS, CSCS, RCEP, CCET, CES Adjunct faculty	Clinical exercise physiology in chronic disease populations. The role of exercise in the treatment and recovery from heart disease and cancer. The role of exercise in disease prevention and management.
Debra K. Pearce, PhD	Under documented food supplements
S. Frank Platek	Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis; Forensic Science
Kathy Quigley, MHS	Board Certified Clinical Specialist (Sports Physical Therapy), Certified Athletic Trainer
Bonnie L. Richmond, PhD	Dietary cholesterol and lipid absorption
Patrick J. Schultheis, PhD	Molecular and cellular biology of ion transporters
Michael P Scola, DPM	Previous Study on Molecular Basis of Arthritis in Children; None Currently
Miriam Steinitz Kannan, PhD	Aquatic Ecology including: Algae as water quality indicators, Climate Change, Diatom Ecology, Reconstruction of past climate histories using fossil diatoms and other evidence, Ecology of the Ohio River Basin.