Many Biology students engage in research experiences during their careers at USM, and those projects provide valuable experience once students graduate and move on to their careers, including professional school or graduate school.
Research opportunities span many disciplines, and some faculty work in multiple areas. Adjunct faculty from other USM departments and from local nongovernmental organizations and federal agencies bring additional expertise. For more information about their work, click on the faculty member’s name below. Then, please reach out to them to discuss specific research options!
In addition, the Biology Department posts internships, seasonal and permanent job openings on its internal website, which current students can access through the MyUSM portal.
Genetics, Molecular Biology, and Physiology
Hormonal control of insect metamorphosis – Dave Champlin
Effects of arsenic on the developing nervous system – Doug Currie
Mosquito and tick vectors that transmit pathogens to humans – Cat Miller
Trade offs between form and function in fishes – Jeff Walker
Role of brown and beige adipose tissue in obesity – Aaron Brown (affiliated faculty)
Signaling mechanisms impacting vascular development and remodeling – Lucy Liaw (affiliated faculty)
Role of bone marrow cells in progression of multiple myeloma – Michaela Reagan (affiliated faculty)
Interactions between immune and cardiac cells after heart injury – Sergey Ryzhov (affiliated faculty)
Ecology and Evolution
Predator-prey dynamics in marine systems – Rachel Lasley-Rasher
Evolution of mammalian social behavior – Chris Maher
Evolutionary models of trade offs between form and function – Jeff Walker
Estuarine ecology, restoration, and protection – Curtis Bohlen (affiliated faculty)
Marine ecology and fisheries in the Gulf of Maine – Marissa McMahan (affiliated faculty)
Mortality threats and factors affecting reproduction in loons – Jim Paruk (affiliated faculty)
Chemical ecology of insects – Joe Staples (affiliated faculty)
Freshwater-marine linkages and salt marsh restoration – Karen Wilson (affiliated faculty)