Faculty Directory
Alejandro Acevedo-Gutierrez, PhD
he/him/his
360-6503653 | Biology 309
I was born and raised in México City. My siblings and I are first-generation college students whose parents encouraged and supported their dreams. I have always wanted to learn about animal behavior. I vividly remember the empty lots surrounding my house: turning over rocks to look for snakes or lizards, looking at the grass in search of grasshoppers, and... (read more in my profile)
Research interests: Role of marine mammals in their environment and their interactions with humans.
Shawn Arellano, PhD
she/her
360-6503634 | Zoom
Deep-sea, larval ecologist from Kansas!
Elizabeth Binney, PhD
| BI 365
Research interests: Ecology, general biology, plant biology, biostatistics.
Marion Brodhagen, PhD
she/her
360-6502920 | Online via Zoom; please email me for link
Research interests: 1) Secondary metabolites; 2) biodegradable plastics
Georgianne Connell
she/her
360-6506796 | BIO 338
One of my favorite things about science education research is seeing the impact of pedagogy on how students perceive and incorporate science into their worldview. Teaching science to students who will not go on to major in STEM fields is an incredibly worthy mission and I strive to find innovative ways to provide equitable access to science so that every student can be successful.
Research interests: Biology education
W. James Cooper, PhD
he/him/his
360-6506551 | Appointments via Zoom (please email to schedule)
Research interests: Evo-Devo of Fish Bite Mechanics
Lina Dahlberg, PhD
She/her/hers
360-6504671 | BI 306
I study neuronal pathways of protein quality control and I do research in Biology education. I hope my students will explore as they learn, and I strive to make science at WWU and beyond more inclusive and accessible to anyone who is interested in how life works.
Research interests: Protein stability, turnover, and trafficking in neurons.
Eric DeChaine, PhD
he/him/his
360-6506575 | Biology 237
I am a naturalist at heart, striving to better understand the natural world: the diversity of species, their environments, and their interactions.
Deborah Donovan
she/her
360-6507251 | BI 310
I’ve been a member of the Biology Department and the Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Group since Fall 1998. I completed my Master’s degree in Ecology at the University of California, Davis and my PhD in Zoology at the University of British Columbia. Prior to graduate school, I was a science teacher in a large, urban high school in Southern California. (More info in my profile)
Research interests: Physiological ecology of marine invertebrates; Biology education
Nick Galati, PhD
360-6502869 | BI 331
Oddly enough, my passion for science came about after I graduated from college, when I worked as a research technician in a biochemistry lab at the University of Pennsylvania. Fortunately for me, my mentor in this lab looked past my lack of research experience and hired me based on my references as a landscaper, and I am so grateful that he did.... (read more in my profile)
Research interests: Cilia and centrosome biology; Digital image analysis in microscopy
David Hooper, PhD
360-6503649 | BI 307
Research interests: Ecosystem ecology, biodiversity effects on carbon and nitrogen cycles, plant community ecology, effects of riparian restoration on stream water quality
Janice Lapsansky
she/her/hers
360-650-7337 | BI 305
Preparing WWU students and the surrounding community for a healthier life
Research interests: Scholarship in STEM education. Pre-hospital emergency medical research in cardiovascular care.
Suzanne Lee, PhD
she/her/hers
360-6506795 | Biology 413
My interests include nucleic acid biology, equity and inclusion in STEM, the outdoors and the performing arts (More info in my profile)
Research interests: Eukaryotic Gene Regulation; RNA biology and biochemistry; Cell Biology
Benjamin Miner, PhD
he/him/his
360-6503640 | Biology 315
I hope the information in this biography provides you with a better understanding of me as person and instructor. Students, staff, and faculty all have such interesting and unique paths, and I hope that sharing information helps us understand the importance of diverse perspectives and the need to work together to move forward. I was born in New York but grew up in southern California.
Research interests: Evolutionary ecologist interested in phenotypic plasticity of marine organisms
Adam Moles, PhD
360-6507464 | BI 367
I love microbes of all sorts! For 40 years, I was a research marine biologist with NOAA in Alaska - authoring over 75 papers on the interaction of disease and pollution. Done climbing ladder, helping others up.
Craig Moyer, PhD
360-6507935 | BI 406
My speciality is the marine microbial ecology and geomicrobiology of hydrothermal vent systems.
Research interests: Marine Microbial Ecology and Geomicrobiology
Brady Olson
360-6507478 | BI 366
I was born and raised in the far southeastern corner of Washington State. This region is a high plains desert, shrub-steppe ecosystem.
Merrill Peterson, PhD
he/him/his
360-6503636 | BI 410 (working remotely while on sabbatical in AY 2020-21 during COVID containment)
I identify as a husband, father, member of a multiracial family, naturalist, entomologist, and geeky nerd hellbent on spreading my love of insect diversity...(click to read more in my profile)
Research interests: Entomology; Ecology; Evolutionary Biology; Biodiversity Informatics
Lynn Pillitteri, PhD
360-6506599 | BI 407
My research focuses on plants! My love of plants started with some inspiring professors in college at the University of New York, Binghamton and continued afterwards as I worked a few years after graduation at a local landscaping nursery learning the basics of plant horticulture. Working at the nursery made me think a lot of the enormous variety in plant traits... (read more in my profile)
Research interests: Plant genetics, Developmental mechanisms, Transcriptional regulation, Microscopy
Dan Pollard, PhD
He/Him/His
360-6502152 | BI 414
I am a husband, dad, musician, social justice advocate, runner, and rock climber who took a long time to see himself as a biologist
Research interests: Genetics; Cell Biology; Bioinformatics; Protein Expression; Yeast; Mating Pheromone Response
Sandra Schulze, PhD
360-6507267 | BI409
Background in music, art and science
Research interests: Molecular biology and genetics using Drosophila and Passiflora as a model
Dietmar Schwarz
360-6503641 | BI 411
Research interests: Evolutionary Biology,Evolutionary Ecology, Molecular Ecology
Jose Serrano-Moreno, PhD
360-6503633 | BI161
Research interests: Biology Education; Student Advising; Structure and Function of Ion Channels
Myron Shekelle, PhD
360-6507464 | BI 231
Research interests: Evolution, ecology, and conservation, primates, Tarsiidae
Dan van Hees, PhD
he/him/his
360-6507400 | BI 231 (Online during COVID)
Research interests: Seaweed physiology and ecology; chemical acclimation strategies; marine dispersal and population connectivity
Adrienne Wang, PhD
360-6507484 | BI312
Research interests: Molecular mechanisms of aging and neurodegeneration
George Wilkinson, PhD
he/him/his
| BI-231
Born near Washington, D.C. Instructor at WWU since 2019.
Research interests: Neuroscience, Cell Biology, Human Physiology
Michael Williams, PhD
(360) 650-7483 | Biology 231
Research interests: Systematics of the Berberidaceae, ecological role of apomixis, restoration ecology
Jeff Young, PhD
360-6503638 | CB 283
Research interests: Plant Physiology and Biochemistry
Matthew Zinkgraf
360-6504885 | BI 408
Research interests: Genetics of forest trees, genomics, bioinformatics