Biology & Biochemistry Faculty & Staff
The biology and biochemistry faculty are committed to excellence in teaching and scholarship with a Christian worldview. They represent a diversity of graduate training, experiences, and perspectives in the sciences.
Because of the demanding and highly competitive nature of science, we provide special guidance in course choices, research projects, field experience, future education and career choices.
Faculty
John M. Schmitt, PhD
Director, School of Natural Sciences
Professor of Biology
Research Interests
- Cell growth, survival and oncogenesis (cancer)
Nkem Azike, PhD
Visiting Associate Professor of Chemistry
Research Interests
- Isolation and characterization of essential oils from spices
- Cation exchange capacity of soils
- Heavy metal risks from edible plants, soils and water
R. Carlisle Chambers, PhD
Professor of Chemistry
Research Interests
- Novel chemical systems for applications in nanotechnology and medicine
Micah Donor, PhD
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry
Research Interest
- Development and application of native mass spectrometry methods for structural biology
Jeffrey M. Duerr, PhD
Professor of Biology
Research Interests
- Membrane transport proteins
- Cellular respiration
Donald R. Powers, PhD
Professor of Biology
Research Interests
- Energetic costs & water regulation of animals, especially hummingbirds
Amanda Robert, MS
Assistant Professor of Biology
Research Interests
- Human function, biology concepts, and environmental science
Matthew Stump, PhD
Chair, Department of Biological and Molecular Sciences
Associate Professor of Biology
Research Interests
- Long QT syndrome, a life-threatening cardiac disorder
Aaron Sullivan, PhD
Professor of Biology
Research Interests
- Animal behavior
- Animal ecology
- Biodiversity
Jeff Vargason, PhD
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Research Interests
- Protein-nucleic acid interactions
- Protein and nucleic acid structure determination
- RNA silencing suppression mechanisms
Professor Emeriti
Staff
Tennille Hostetler
Laboratory Coordinator
Science Outreach Administrator