- Animals
- Biofuels/Renewable Energy
- Biology Basics
- Biology Education
- Biotechnology
- Ecology
- Environmental issues
- Evolution
- Food/Agriculture
- Human Health
- Plant Biology
Animals
Behavior and biology
Birds
Bob Zink, professor, Bell Museum of Natural History, 612-624-7207, zinkx003@umn.edu
Birdwatching/Ornithology
Crows roosting in cities during winter
Lights Out; program in downtown Minneapolis to prevent birds from running into tall buildings at night.
Chimpanzees
Mike Wilson, assistant professor, Anthropology and Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-1376, wilso198@umn.edu
Lions
Craig Packer, Distinguished McKnight University Professor, 612-625-5729, packer@umn.edu
Communication and cooperation
Blue Jays
David Stephens, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-5722, steph031@umn.edu
Chimpanzees
Mike Wilson, assistant professor, Anthropology, 612-625-1376, wilso108@umn.edu
Frogs
Mark Bee, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-6749, mbee@umn.edu
Mammals
Sharon Jansa, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior; curator of mammals, Bell Museum of Natural History, 612-624-6293, jansa003@umn.edu
Endangered species
Chimpanzees and other primates
Mike Wilson, assistant professor, Anthropology, 612-625-1376, wilso108@umn.edu
Lions, animals of Tanzania
Craig Packer, Distinguished McKnight University Professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-5729, packer@umn.edu
Lions, dogs and humans
Craig Packer, Distinguished McKnight University Professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-5729, packer@umn.edu
Mammals
Sharon Jansa, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior; curator of mammals, Bell Museum of Natural History, 612-624-6293, jansa003@umn.edu
Biofuels/Renewable energy
Biodiesel fuel made from soybeans
Sue Gibson, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-7408, gibso043@umn.edu
Biofuel made from algae
Michael Sadowsky, McKnight professor and head, BioTechnology Institute, 612-624-2706, sadowsky@umn.edu
Biohydrocarbon fuels
Larry Wackett, McKnight professor of Biochemistry and Biotechnology Institute member, 612-625-3785, wacke003@umn.edu
Cellulosic ethanol made from prairie grasses
David Tilman, McKnight Presidential Chair and Regents Professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-5740, tilman@umn.edu
Microbial fuel cells
Daniel Bond, assistant professor, BioTechnology Institute, 612-624-8619, dbond@umn.edu
Products made from blue-green algae
Florence Gleason, professor, Plant Biology, 612-625-4275, iqa6016@umn.edu
Biology basics
Biochemistry
Paul Siliciano, associate professor, director of undergraduate studies and associate head, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, 612-625-4928, pauls@umn.edu
Biology
Mark Decker, co-director, Biology Program, 612-626-2038, decker@umn.edu
Ecology
Jeannine Cavender-Bares, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-6337, cavender@umn.edu
Clarence Lehman, adjunct professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior; resident fellow, Institute on the Environment, 612-625-5734, lehman@umn.edu
Genetics
Rob Brooker, associate professor, Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, 612-624-3053, brook005@umn.edu
Genomics
Human
Judy Berman, professor, Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, 612-625-1971, berma003@umn.edu
Microbial metagenomics
Mike Sadowsky, director, BioTechnology Institute, 612-624-2706, sadowsky@umn.edu
Human genetics and development
Michael O'Connor, Ordway Chair in Developmental Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, 612-626-0642, moconnor@umn.edu
Biology education
Undergraduate biology curriculum
Robin Wright, 612-625-1183, wrightr@umn.edu
Graduate programs
Clarence Lehman, associate dean for graduate education, 612-625-1839, lehman@umn.edu
Biotechnology
Biodale
Biotechnology Resource Center
Tim Tripp, assistant department director, 612-624-6758, tripp006@umn.edu
Imaging Center [microscopy]
Mark Sanders, program director, 612-624-3454, msanders@umn.edu
Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics
Thomas Krick, program director, 612-624-7715, krick001@umn.edu
Bioplastics
Friedrich Srienc, professor, BioTechnology Institute, 612-624-9776, srienc@umn.edu
Bioremediation
[Use of microbial organisms to clean up the environment]
Michael Sadowsky, McKnight professor and head, BioTechnology Institute, 612-624-2706, sadowsky@umn.edu
Lawrence Wackett, Distinguished McKnight University Professor and head, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, 612-625-3785, wacke003@umn.edu
BioTechnology Institute
Michael Sadowsky, director, 612-624-2706, sadowsky@umn.edu
Tim Tripp, assistant department director, 612-624-6758, tripp006@umn.edu
Ecology
Ecology (general questions)
Jeannine Cavender-Bares, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-6337, cavender@umn.edu
Bob Sterner, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-6790, stern007@umn.edu
Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu
Field biology
Jeff Corney, manager, Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, 612-301-2601, jcorney@umn.edu
David Biesboer, professor, Plant Biology; director, Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories, 612-625-1799, biesboer@umn.edu
Lake Superior and other Minnesota lakes
Robert Sterner, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-6790, stern007@umn.edu
James Cotner, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, and Moos Chair in Limnology, 612-625-1706, cotne002@umn.edu
Plant disease
Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu
Prairie plants and ecology
Ruth Shaw, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-7206, shawx016@umn.edu
Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu
Restoration ecology
Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu
Rivers and streams
Jacques Finlay, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-4672, jfinlay@umn.edu
Tropical dry forests
Jeannine Cavender-Bares, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-6337, cavender@umn.edu
Jennifer Powers, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Plant Biology, 612-625-5721, powers@umn.edu
Tropical rain forests
George Weiblen, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-3461, gweiblen@umn.edu
Jennifer Powers, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Plant Biology, 612-625-5721, powers@umn.edu
Environmental issues
Biodiversity
David Tilman, McKnight Presidential Chair and Regents Professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-5740, tilman@umn.edu
Ruth Shaw, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-7206, shawx016@umn.edu
Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu
Carbon cycling
Sarah Hobbie, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-6269, shobbie@umn.edu
Jennifer Powers, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Plant Biology, 612-625-5721, powers@umn.edu
Climate change
Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu
Conservation biology
Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu
Endangered plant species
Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu
Environmental cleanup using micro-organisms
Lawrence Wackett, Distinguished McKnight University Professor and head, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, 612-625-3785, wacke003@umn.edu
Michael Sadowsky, McKnight professor and head, BioTechnology Institute, 612-624-2706, sadowsky@umn.edu
Fossil fuels and increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
David Tilman, McKnight Presidential Chair and Regents Professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-5740, tilman@umn.edu
Sarah Hobbie, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-6269, shobbie@umn.edu
Human impact on global ecosystems
Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu
Jennifer Powers, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Plant Biology, 612-625-5721, powers@umn.edu
David Tilman, McKnight Presidential Chair and Regents Professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-5740, tilman@umn.edu
Invasive plants in prairies
Diane Larson, adjunct professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-9271, dllarson@umn.edu
Invasive species
Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu
Ruth Shaw, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-7206, shawx016@umn.edu
Invasive species in lakes
Robert Sterner, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-6790, stern007@umn.edu
Jacques Finlay, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-4672, jfinlay@umn.edu
Nitrogen fertilizers and diminishing global biodiversity
David Tilman, McKnight Presidential Chair and Regents Professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-5740, tilman@umn.edu
Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu
Ozone depletion and increased ultra-violet radiation: Impact on aquatic ecosystems
James Cotner, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-1706, cotne002@umn.edu
Tropical rain forests
George Weiblen, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-3461, gweiblen@umn.edu
Jennifer Powers, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Plant Biology, 612-625-5721, powers@umn.edu
Evolution
Evolution, teaching in schools
Randy Moore, professor, Biology Program, 612-626-4458, rmoore@umn.edu
Mark Borrello, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-7079, borrello@umn.edu
Sehoya Cotner, associate professor, Biology Program, 612-626-2385, harri054@umn.edu
Scott Lanyon, head, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-6291, lanyo001@umn.edu
Evolutionary biology
Darwin, history of evolution
Mark Borrello, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-7079, borrello@umn.edu
Randy Moore, professor, Biology Program, 612-626-4458, rmoore@umn.edu
Mark Decker, co-director, Biology Program, 612-626-2038, decker@umn.edu
Science of evolution
Sehoya Cotner, associate professor, Biology Program, 612-626-2385, harri054@umn.edu
R. Ford Denison, adjunct professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, denis036@umn.edu
Scott Lanyon, head, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-6291, lanyo001@umn.edu
Tree of Life/Macroevolution
Birds
Scott Lanyon, head, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-6291, lanyo001@umn.edu
Bob Zink, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-7207, zinkx003@umn.edu
Fungi/mushrooms
David McLaughlin, professor, Plant Biology; curator of fungi, Bell Museum of Natural History, 612-625-5736, davem@umn.edu
Genetics
Keith Barker, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-2737, barke042@umn.edu
Mammals
Sharon Jansa, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior; curator of mammals, Bell Museum of Natural History, 612-624-6293, jansa003@umn.edu
Plants
George Weiblen, Packard Fellow, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-3461, gweiblen@umn.edu
Food/Agriculture
The Department of Plant Biology conducts a variety of federally funded research to make crop plants more productive and more resistant to disease, pests, and temperature extremes. Following are a few key areas of research.
Corn genomics
Nathan Springer, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-6241, springer@umn.edu
Epigenetics
Nathan Springer, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-6241, springer@umn.edu
Evolution and agriculture
Peter Tiffin, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-7406, ptiffin@umn.edu
R. Ford Denison, adjunct professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, denis036@umn.edu
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
Dan Voytas, professor, Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, 612-626-4509, voytas@umn.edu
Jane Glazebrook, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-5194, jglazebr@umn.edu
Hemp as a fiber and oil crop
George Weiblen, Packard Fellow, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-3461, gweiblen@umn.edu
Nitrogen fixation
The unique ability of legumes to capture nitrogen (an essential nutrient) from the environment.
Kate VandenBosch, professor and head, Plant Biology, 612-625-1234, vande102@umn.edu
Michael Sadowsky, McKnight professor and head, BioTechnology Institute, 612-624-2706, sadowsky@umn.edu
R. Ford Denison, adjunct professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, denis036@umn.edu
Plant disease resistance
Fumi Katagiri, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-5195, katagiri@umn.edu
Jane Glazebrook, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-5194, jglazebr@umn.edu
Human health
Aging
James Curtsinger, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-6746, jwcurt@umn.edu
Autoimmune diseases
Myasthenia gravis
Bianca Conti-Fine, Distinguished McKnight Professor, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, 612-624-6796, conti001@umn.edu
Blood coagulation diseases
Gary Nelsestuan, professor, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, 612-624-3622, nelse002@umn.edu
Cancer biology
Brian Van Ness, professor, Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, 612-624-9944, vanne001@umn.edu
Anja Bielinsky, associate professor, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, 612-624-2469, bieli003@umn.edu
Diabetes and metabolism
David Bernlohr, Distinguished McKnight University Professor and head, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, 612-624-2712, bernl001@umn.edu
Ecology of human disease
Susan Jones, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior and History of Science and Technology, 612-624-9636, jone0996@umn.edu
Proteomics
[Study of proteins produced by an organism's genome and the role of those proteins in health and disease]
Gary Nelsestuen, professor, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, 612-624-3622, nelse002@umn.edu
Timothy Griffin, associate professor, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, 612-624-5249, tgriffin@umn.edu
Zoonotic diseases
[Transmission of infectious diseases from animals to humans]
Craig Packer, Distinguished McKnight University Professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-5729, packer@umn.edu
Mike Wilson, assistant professor, Anthropology, 612-625-1376, wilso108@umn.edu
Plant biology
Aquatic plants
Florence Gleason, professor, Plant Biology, 612-625-4275, iqa6016@umn.edu
Fungi/mushrooms
David McLaughlin, professor, Plant Biology; curator of fungi, Bell Museum of Natural History, 612-625-5736, davem@umn.edu
Native plants of Minnesota
David Biesboer, professor, Plant Biology; director, Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories, 612-625-1799, biesboer@umn.edu
Plant systems
Georgiana May, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-6737,
Neil Olszewski, professor, Plant Biology, 612-625-3129, neil@umn.edu
Tropical rain forests
George Weiblen, Packard Fellow, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-3461, gweiblen@umn.edu