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
Genetic determinants of wing shape in Drosophila – Ken Weber
Role of brown and beige adipose tissue in obesity – Aaron Brown (adjunct faculty)
Signaling mechanisms impacting vascular development and remodeling – Lucy Liaw (adjunct faculty)
Role of bone marrow cells in progression of multiple myeloma – Michaela Reagan (adjunct faculty)
Interactions between immune and cardiac cells after heart injury – Sergey Ryzhov (adjunct 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
Long term selection for wing shape and flight performance in Drosophila – Ken Weber
Estuarine ecology, restoration, and protection – Curtis Bohlen (adjunct faculty)
Marine ecology and fisheries in the Gulf of Maine – Marissa McMahan (adjunct faculty)
Mortality threats and factors affecting reproduction in loons – Jim Paruk (adjunct faculty)
Chemical ecology of insects – Joe Staples (adjunct faculty)
Ecology of pelagic seabirds – Iain Stenhouse (adjunct faculty)
Freshwater-marine linkages and salt marsh restoration – Karen Wilson (adjunct faculty)