Meet the instructors | College of Biological Sciences

Dr. Brian Wisenden – EEB 3811W: Animal Behavior in the Field

Brian earned his B.S. in Fisheries Biology from the University of Guelph, his M.S. in Biology from Lakehead University, and his Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Western Ontario. He focused on chemical ecology and behavioral ecology in his post-doc positions. He is currently a professor in the Biosciences Department at Minnesota State University, Moorhead, and has taught at Itasca since 2000. Brian studies the behavioral ecology of fish, and his interests include kayaking, sailing, hiking, guitar, and spending time with his spouse, Bee.

Dr. Joseph Whittaker – EEB 4839: Field Studies in Mammalogy

Joe earned his B.S. at DePauw University, his M.S. from UMN Duluth, and his Ph.D. at Southern Illinois University. He is currently a professor in the Department of Biology and Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program at Concordia College. Joe began teaching at Itasca in 2004, but his first station experience was in 1989 as a student in the Field Studies in Mammalogy course. Joe studies vertebrate ecology with a mammalogy focus, particularly on rodents and shrews, and he enjoys working in the Elsie Welter Natural History Museum to prepare specimens and educational displays.

Dr. Frederic Beaudry – EEB 4844: Field Ornithology

Fred earned his B.S. in Biology from the Université du Québec à Rimouski, his M.S. in Natural Resources from Cal Poly Humboldt, and his Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Maine. He is currently a professor in the Environmental Studies & Geology Division at Alfred University and has taught at Itasca since 2023. Fred studies the population ecology of songbirds, and his interests include life histories, habitat ecology, and population ecology of vertebrates, especially in the context of broad spatial scales.

Dr. Trinity Hamilton – PMB 3802/5802: Field Microbiology

Trinity earned two B.S. degrees – one in Biological Sciences and one in Chemistry – before earning her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Montana State University. She is a professor at the UMN in Plant and Microbial Biology and has taught at Itasca since 2024. Trinity studies microbial ecology and geobiology. She is broadly interested in addressing outstanding questions in microbial ecology, physiology, and evolution, including the form and function of the Earth’s earliest phototrophs and the contribution of photosynthesis to biogeochemical cycling on Earth in its past, present, and future.

Dr. Jonathan Schilling – PMB 3812/5812: Field Mycology

Jonathan earned his bachelor's degree from Rhodes College and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of Maine. He is a professor at the UMN in Plant and Microbial Biology and has been Station Director since 2018. Jonathan studies microbial decomposers, most often the fungi and their biology/biochemistry. He is broadly interested in how this biology relates both to biotechnological potential (applications) and to ecological dynamics (implications), including their role in carbon cycling and their potential inclusion in Earth Systems Models.

Dr. Christine Salomon – PMB 3812/5812: Field Mycology

Christine earned her B.Sc. in Marine Biology from Southampton College, Long Island University, and her Ph.D. from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego. She is an Associate Professor in the Center for Drug Design at UMN, and has co-taught at Itasca since 2024. Christine’s research program is focused on the discovery and characterization of secondary metabolites from bacteria, fungi, and plants. Her recent work is focused on understanding and harnessing the chemistry of microbial biological control in agricultural and animal infectious diseases.