EIU Department of Biological Sciences

Faculty Research Projects Involving Students

The Department of Biological Sciences maintains an active student research program that welcomes Biological Sciences Majors. A faculty – mentored student research project is an excellent way to prepare for a career, graduate school, and the pre-health professions. The Biological Sciences faculty are always looking for enthusiastic, motivated students to become involved in their research projects. 

Dr. Eric Bollinger Dr. Bollinger's general research interests are in the conservation biology and behavioral ecology of birds and mammals.  Specific research interests include the ecological and evolutionary aspects of cowbird parasitism and the impacts of habitat fragmentation on grassland birds.  

Dr. Gary Bulla Dr. Bulla's research focuses on mechanisms controlling mammalian gene expression and development, especially in the liver.  Three areas of interest include: 1) Activation and silencing of hepatic gene expression 2) Using whole genome profiling to identify master regulators responsible for driving liver function and 3)  identifying regulators of fibroblast identity.  His work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.

Thomas Canam  My research focuses on using plants for bioenergy and bioproduct applications. One aspect of my research involves using biotechnology to tailor plant traits for specific applications, such as bioethanol production.  I am also interested in using bacteria and fungi as pretreatment agents of agricultural residues destined for biomass-to-bioenergy processes, such as gasification. At EIU, my research will complement the numerous green energy initiatives on campus, including the Renewable Energy Center and the Center for Clean Energy Research and Education.

Dr. Barbara Carlsward Dr. Carlsward’s research interests incorporate techniques of plant anatomy and molecular phylogenetics to study plant evolution. The primary goal of her research is to generate reliable hypotheses of evolution and then use these phylogenies as a foundation for studying character evolution of plant structure. Most of Dr. Carlsward’s research has focused on orchids.  Students interested in gaining hands-on experience with plant structure and evolutionary questions should contact Dr. Carlsward. While her foci are anatomy and phylogenetics, Dr. Carlsward also has experience with floristic projects as well as ethnobotany and could direct graduate research with students interested in any of these fields.

Dr. Robert Colombo My research focuses on how fish populations respond to anthropogenic impacts.  Specifically, I am interested in the responses of native fishes to harvest, invasive species and habitat alterations.  Most of my research focuses on commercially or ecologically important species in lotic (flowing) water system.  

Dr. Ann H. Fritz Ann Fritz’s research is in behavioral ecology, particularly of insects. Ann’s lab is currently investigating reproductive biology, population dynamics and genetic introgression. Dr. Fritz’s research is currently melding behavior, morphology, and molecular methods to address hypotheses on the dynamics of sperm storage and use in female insects affecting paternity outcomes. Insects are ideal study subjects since there is often a temporal separation between insemination and fertilization allowing greater potential for female manipulation of sperm.  Female control over fertilization outcomes adds a new dimension to understanding the evolutionary conflict between the sexes, thus changing our views on the degree to which females influence male reproductive success.  Dr. Fritz also has collaborative projects on microbial constituents of the gut and reproductive tracts of flies, and with institutions in Brazil and Bolivia on the population biology/genetics of fruit flies of economic importance. 

Dr. Sanghoon Kang Dr Kang's  research focuses on the topics of ecology of microbial communities, aka microbiomes as they are measured by DNA sequencing.  His research lab works on environmental microbiome in an ecological context, i.e., the relationships with other biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem.  Currently, we are investagationg the structures,  dymanics and functions of the microbiomes of river systems, wastewater and urban aquatic ecosystems, and plant-soil system under a climate change scheme using metagenomics and metatranscriptiomics approaches along with bioinformatics and multivariate statistics. 

Dr. Zhiwei Liu Dr. Liu's primary research interest is in the field of phylogenetic systematics, including revisionary work and discovery of new species, particularly of the cynipoid wasps (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Cynipoidea). In recent years, Dr. Liu has expanded his research interests to include related fields under the umbrella theme of evolution, including mating pattern and population structure of the American beaver, population genetics and conservation of red squirrels in Eastern Illinois, phenotypic plasticity and adaptation of grasshoppers, and diversity and evolution of Wolbachia associated with cynipid gall communities, and host plant mediated speciation in Cynipidae. 

Dr. Eloy Martinez Dr. Martinez's research is centered on understanding how biochemical processes in ectotherm animals respond and adapt to natural and human-based stressors. In particular, he is interested in the nexus between bioenergetics and life-history traits of ectotherms currently experiencing warming trends associated with global climate change and how these processes are governed by the powerhouse of the cell, the mitochondrion. Using study models ranging from tropical insects to polar fishes, he applies cutting edge molecular biological methods to investigate how climate change can influence the energy balance of ectotherms. On a broader scale, Dr. Martinez integrates physiological performance data with climate trends to better understand the role physiological resilience has on the survival of key species in aquatic and terrestrial habitats.

Currently, his students are focused on evaluating the effects of chronic heat exposure on mitochondrial bioenergetics and life history traits of fishes (e.g. growth, lifespan), using bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) as a study model. In addition, Dr. Martinez and his group actively investigate the linkages between temperature, mitochondrial function and whole-organism growth in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta. Prospective students that are interested in Dr. Martinez's research are highly encouraged to contact him directly at emartinez9@eiu.edu for questions and requests. 

Dr. Scott J. Meiners  Dr. Meiners’ research interests generally revolve around factors that influence the dynamics and regeneration of plant communities, though he is interested in a wide variety of topics in community ecology . Most of this  research has been conducted in abandoned agricultural land and other disturbed areas. While not the most exotic of research sites, the abundance of these areas makes it an important part of our modern landscape. By understanding factors that influence the dynamics of vegetation change in these areas, we may be able to improve land management strategies and restoration efforts. Recently, his  research has expanded to include investigating chestnuts and hazelnuts as sustainable crops for Central Illinois as well as the ecology of riverine fish communities. 

Dr. Britto Nathan Dr. Nathan's research centers around neuroscience with special interest in neurological diseases. His current research is aimed at understanding the pathological pathways that lead to death of brain cells in aging humans, and predisposes them to dementia such as Alzheimer's disease. A wide range of molecular, biochemical and cellular techniques are used in his laboratory.  

Dr. Paul Switzer Dr. Switzer's interests are in animal behavior and behavioral ecology. Currently, he is investigating (1) aggressive and territorial behavior; (2) the choice of roosting, foraging, and breeding habitat and (3) mating behavior under scramble competition. In particular, he is interested in how an individual's previous experience affects these aspects of its behavior. Although he works mostly with arthropods, he has studied a wide variety of taxa.  

Dr. Gordon Tucker Dr. Tucker is a vascular plant systematist.  He has interest in trees and shrubs, sedges, and medicinal plants.

Dr. Yordan S. Yordanov My research interests are related with genetics and physiology of plant growth and development, and the mechanisms of plant adaptation to abiotic stresses. I believe these scientific areas are of significant theoretical and practical importance for the world today. I have been involved in functional genetic characterizations of many plants including sunflower, tomato, wheat, and Populus tree.  In my research, I employ different contemporary molecular genetics and functional genomics approaches like microarray and ChIP-Seq analyses, generation and testing of insertional mutagenesis lines, and molecular characterizations of the mutants, all aimed for dissecting different plant traits related with stem properties, root architecture, leaf growth, bud dormancy, cereals development, response and adaptation to drought and nitrogen deficiency.