Research in the Department of Biology is extraordinarily diverse, spanning all major areas of modern biology. Below we describe some broadly defined research areas in which we are well represented, each with a link to a list of more specific topics.
see also:  Graduate Research Areas   &   Undergraduate Research

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Developmental biologists address the mechanisms through which cells acquire specialized functions to elicit complex body plans. These features are accomplished in part through cell proliferation, migration, and shape changes. Our department has a strong research program in these areas, which are major topics in cell biology, as well as in other aspects of developmental biology.

Shawn Ahmed Germline immortality Victoria Bautch Mouse models of blood vessel pattern formation Kerry Bloom Mathematical simulations of microtubule dynamics Gregory Copenhaver Gamete development Frank Conlon Heart developmental: control of proliferation and differentiation Stephen Crews Drosophila CNS development; Transcriptional control of cell migration and fusion Mara Duncan Membrane Traffic in the Late Secretory & Endosomal Pathways Robert Duronio Developmental regulation of cell proliferation Lawrence Gilbert Functional genomics of genes encoding the insect molting hormone Bob Goldstein Using C. elegans to study cell diversification and morphogenesis Albert Harris How embryos form anatomical structures using cell migration and traction forces Alan Jones Trafficking and signal transduction of heterotrimeric G proteins and associated components Joseph Kieber The role of cytokinin in Arabidopsis growth and development Sarah Liljegren Flower patterning and cell separation William Marzluff Regulation of mRNA biosynthesis and translation during early animal development Greg Matera Neuromuscular Development and Germ Cell Specification Mark Peifer The regulation of Wnt signaling, cell adhesion and the cytoskeleton during embryogenesis Jason Reed Flower development and maturation; environmental regulation of plant development Steve Rogers The role of cytoskeletal dynamics in mitosis and directed cell migration Ted Salmon Microtubule dynamics and the role of motor proteins in dynamic instability Kevin Slep Cytoskeletal Structure and Dynamics Elaine Yeh Control of spindle orientation in yeast Return to Top

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Ecology is the study of how organisms interact with each other and their physical environment. Our group has strength in behavioral, conservation, community, and evolutionary ecology.

John Bruno Marine ecology; population & community ecology & conservation of coastal marine ecosystems Lauren Buckley Biogeography of climate change. Allen Hurlbert Community ecology, biogeography. Joel Kingsolver Population ecology and functional biology of insects Charles Mitchell Disease ecology, plant invasions, community ecology, global change Robert Peet Ecology: Plant ecology, vegetation, biogeography, ecoinformatics Charles Peterson Population and community ecology in marine environments David Pfennig Evolutionary ecology Karin Pfennig Evolutionary and behavioral ecology Seth Reice Disturbances & maintenance of biodiversity; urban ecology & land use; sustainable development. Keith Sockman Neural, physiological, and behavioral ecology Alan Weakley Systematics, biogeography, and conservation of Southeastern United States plants and ecosystems. Peter White Plant ecology; conservation ecology Return to Top

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Evolution is heritable change in the characteristics of populations over time. Two major goals of evolutionary biology are to explain the incredible fit of organisms to their environment and the origins of diversity. To this end, we investigate the genetic and ecological mechanisms that shape adaptation with a strong focus on processes that contribute to the origins of species.

Lauren Buckley Biogeography of climate change. Christina Burch Evolutionary genetics, experimental studies of evolution Sabrina Burmeister Neuroethology of animal communication, social control of reproduction Alan Feduccia Evolutionary biology; avian evolution, paleontology, and systematics Patricia Gensel Paleobotany (palynology); plant morphology, evolution Bob Goldstein Evolution and development; tardigrades as a new model for evolution of development Allen Hurlbert Community ecology, biogeography. Corbin Jones Evolutionary genetics and genomics Joel Kingsolver Evolutionary biology, population ecology and functional biology of insects David Pfennig Evolutionary ecology; evolutionary significance of developmental plasticity; speciation Karin Pfennig Evolution of mate choice; hybridization; speciation Maria Servedio evolutionary theory, theoretical studies of behavior and speciation Keith Sockman Neural, physiological, and behavioral ecology Todd Vision Computational genetics, genome evolution and the architecture of complex traits Alan Weakley Systematics, biogeography, and conservation of Southeastern United States plants and ecosystems. R. Haven Wiley Animal behavior, especially communication and social organization. Chris Willett Population genetics, genetics of speciation Return to Top

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Genetics is both a discipline (the study of heredity) and an experimental approach (manipulation of genes or the genetic material). Today, most geneticists include work at the molecular level by manipulating RNA or DNA...or entire genomes. Our group is strong in both model organism genetics and genomics.

Shawn Ahmed Telomeres and telomerase Kerry Bloom Structure and function of a eukaryotic kinetochore Christina Burch Experimental evolution of microorganisms Frank Conlon Heart developmental: control of proliferation and differentiation Greg Copenhaver Regulation of meiotic recombination and crossover interference Stephen Crews Global analysis of Drosophila CNS midline cell development and transcription Jeff Dangl Global analysis of plant immune system function Mara Duncan Membrane Traffic in the Late Secretory & Endosomal Pathways Robert Duronio Cell cycle control of histone biosynthesis and DNA replication Lawrence Gilbert The Halloween gene family in arthropods Bob Goldstein Using C. elegans to study cell diversification and morphogenesis Sarah Grant Evolution of virulence strategies in bacterial plant pathogens Alan Jones Genetics of G-protein signaling pathways Corbin Jones Comparative and population genetics Joseph Kieber Genomic analysis of cytokinin responses Jason Lieb How protein-genome interactions specify transcriptional programs Sarah Liljegren Genetics of plant development and flower patterning William Marzluff Mechanisms of cell cycle regulated histone mRNA biosynthesis Greg Matera RNA Processing and Spinal Muscular Atrophy Steven Matson Roles of helicases in DNA metabolism Mark Peifer The regulation of Wnt signaling, cell adhesion and the cytoskeleton during embryogenesis Patricia Pukkila Meiotic chromosome pairing Jason Reed Evolution of auxin response; mechanisms of outcrossing vs. selfing in plants Steve Rogers Regulation of the cytoskeleton Jeff Sekelsky Genetic and molecular analyses of DNA repair and recombination Lillie Searles Regulation of gene expression in Drosophila Kevin Slep Cytoskeletal Structure and Dynamics Todd Vision Molecular determinants of adaptive divergence and reproductive isolation Chris Willett Molecular evolution and the genetics of speciation Return to Top

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Organismal biologists seek to understand the remarkable diversity of life forms on Earth by analyzing organismal structure and function. We take an integrative approach to this research, combining analyses at levels ranging from molecules to whole organisms. Our group also endeavors to understand the evolution and mechanisms of behavior. We use theoretical, observational, and experimental approaches in a variety of species, from crawling behavior in sea slugs to social communication in primates.

Sabrina Burmeister Neuroethology of animal communication, social control of reproduction Stephen Crews Molecular genetics of nervous system development Patricia Gensel Paleobotany (palynology); plant morphology, evolution Tyson Hedrick Biomechanics of flight William Kier Functional morphology of invertebrates; biomechanics Joel Kingsolver Evolutionary biology, population ecology and functional biology of insects Sarah Liljegren abscission and cell separation; flower patterning; plant genetics and development Kenneth Lohmann Neuroethology, sensory biology, and behavior of marine animals Charles Mitchell Disease ecology, plant invasions, community ecology, global change Karin Pfennig Behavioral ecology Maria Servedio Evolutionary theory, theoretical studies of behavior and speciation Keith Sockman Neural, physiological, and behavioral ecology R. Haven Wiley Animal behavior, especially communication and social organization Return to Top

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We have an active and diverse group that studies features specific to plants or that uses plant models to address questions of broad interest, such as host-pathogen interactions, signal transduction, development, and genomics.

Gregory Copenhaver Meiosis, meiotic recombination and chromosome biology Jeff Dangl Molecular genetics of the plant immune system Patricia Gensel Paleobotany (palynology); plant morphology, evolution. Sarah Grant Interaction of bacterial plant pathogens with plant hosts Alan Jones Signal transduction modulating cell division, expansion, and differentiation Joe Kieber Understanding the function of the hormones cytokinin and ethylene Sarah Liljegren Flower development and plant separation Ann Matthyssee Mechanisms by which Agrobacterium recognizes plant suraces and binds to them Charles Mitchell Disease ecology, plant invasions, community ecology, global change Robert Peet Plant ecology, vegetation, biogeography, ecoinformatics Jason Reed Auxin responses and development Todd Vision Phylogenomics of land plants Alan Weakley Systematics, biogeography, and conservation of Southeastern United States plants and ecosystems. Peter White Plant ecology; conservation ecology. Return to Top

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