Our department is made up of highly skilled faculty with national and international recognition as researchers in their fields. Information about their research areas can be found below, or the faculty’s individual websites. Our faculty conduct research on campus in many different facilities: the Microscopy and Microanalysis Research Laboratory, the Institute for Sustainability Studies, and the New Jersey Center for Water Science and Technology. Our reach extends beyond the campus in diverse locations both nearby and abroad in Ireland and St. Johns.
Faculty Research Interests
Assistant Professor
- Phone
- 973-655-3584
- aardemam@montclair.edu
- Location
- Science Hall, 129
- Research Interests
- Ecology and evolution of arthropod vectors and the pathogens they transmit
- Research Interests
- Molecular virology, molecular biology, and biology education.
- Research Interests
- Understanding how sharp shifts in selective pressure act to reshape highly conserved gene networks, and through the proteome.
- Research Interests
- Seagrass Ecosystems: New Jersey and in the U.S. Virgin Islands
- Stinging Sea Nettles: Population Biology and Impacts on food webs in New Jersey; Invasive Jellyfish in New Jersey
- Research Interests
- Molecular genetics
- Population genetics, phylogenetics, and molecular evolution.
- Research Interests
- Utilizing in vitro techniques to study the effects of environmental chemicals on toxicity, mutagenicity or carcinogenicity. All projects study cells or organs grown in culture under normal conditions as well as conditions of stress. All research falls within the area of “Alternatives to Whole Animal Testing” and strives to reduce the need for, and use of, excessive numbers of animals in scientific research. These projects all are within the scope of my expertise and continued research interest in the study of the effects of stress on in vitro systems as an indicator of the effects of stress on the human population. The ability to withstand and cope with environmental insult from xenotoxic agents has been seen to diminish with the added insult of either mental or physiological stress.
- Research Interests
- Bioinformatics
- Evolutionary Genomics
Assistant Professor
- Phone
- 973-655-4248
- feehanc@montclair.edu
- Location
- Science Hall, 132
- Research Interests
- Marine ecosystems
- Host-pathogen interactions
- Climate-change ecology
- Research Interests
- Molecular biology of Cnidarians
- Jellyfish venomics
- Research Interests
- Induction of lysosomal-mediated cell death in apoptosis-resistant human breast and prostate cancer cells using triptolide (Thunder God Vine), a Chinese herb that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over two centuries.
- Research Interests
- Conservation physiology and physiological ecology
- Reptile and amphibian physiology, ecology, and natural history (emphasis on northeastern and southwestern U.S. fauna)
- Research Interests
- Neuroimaging
- Self-awareness and theory of mind
- Deception and deception detection
- Evolutionary cognitive neuroscience
- Research Interests
- Microbial Ecology
- Biodiversity
- Food web ecology
- Research Interests
- Molecular Microbiology
- Medical Microbiology
- Environmental Microbiology
- Heavy metal effects on cyanobacteria
Associate Professor
- Phone
- 973-655-7800
- meredithr@montclair.edu
- Location
- Science Hall, 133
- Research Interests
- Vertebrate evolution, bristletail evolution, molecular and morphological systematics including the incorporation of extinct organisms, paleontology/paleobiology, biogeography, molecular dating, molecular evolution with particular interest in teeth, olfactory, and eye genes, pseudogene evolution, morphological evolution
Professor
- Phone
- 973-655-3302
- molinac@montclair.edu
- Location
- Center for Environmental & Life Sciences, 400
- Research Interests
- Cancer Research
- Biology of Reproduction
Associate Professor
- Phone
- 973-655-7788
- monsenk@montclair.edu
- Location
- Science Hall, 135
- Research Interests
- Conservation Genetics
- Molecular Ecology
- Wildlife Disease
Assistant Professor
- Phone
- 973-655-5337
- ohaganr@montclair.edu
- Location
- Science Hall, 130
- Research Interests
- Molecular genetics of the nematode C. elegans, most interested in sensory neurobiology.
Associate Professor
- Phone
- 973-655-2027
- petroffe@montclair.edu
- Location
- Science Hall, 110
- Research Interests
- Molecular Neuroscience
- Ion Channel Physiology
Assistant Professor
- Phone
- 973-655-7191
- schulerm@montclair.edu
- Location
- Science Hall, 113
- Research Interests
- Community ecology
- Freshwater biology
- Limnology
- Physiological ecology
Associate Professor
- Phone
- 973-655-5345
- smallwoodj@montclair.edu
- Location
- Science Hall, 117
- Research Interests
- Ornithology
- Ecology
- Animal behavior
- Conservation biology.
- Research Interests
- Cellular Signal Transduction
- Research Interests
- The impact of Japanese knotweed (an invasive plant) on our water supply, how carbon and water cycle through a thinned and unthinned hardwood forest, what is the status of the street trees in Montclair, NJ, and how to help first-year first generation students succeed in science and college.
Professor
- Phone
- 973-655-7117
- wum@montclair.edu
- Location
- Center for Environmental & Life Sciences, 100D
- Research Interests
- Human impacts on aquatic ecosystems, such as impacts of urban development on rivers and watersheds
- Watershed management, nonpoint source pollution reduction, storm water management and green infrastructures.
- Flood prevention/mitigation strategies for NJ vulnerable communities
The Department of Biology is housed in Science Hall, a facility that includes well-equipped research laboratories, teaching laboratories and prep rooms, a greenhouse, and faculty/staff offices. Research is funded by agencies including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), SeaGrant, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). It’s important to know the safety protocols when in the lab.
Student Research Opportunities
As a student in our department, you have many opportunities to pursue independent scientific research with faculty members. The first step is to find faculty members that are doing research exciting to you. Each faculty member has a web page that describes their research and publications. Contact and visit those faculty members you find interesting – you might get a chance to conduct exciting new experiments!
Undergraduates can get academic credit for independent research by enrolling in Biology Independent Research (BIOL-418). Alternatively, utilize Externship in Biological Research (BIOL-409) for real-world career experience in addition to research credit. You can also participate in research through the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program.
Graduate students can take Introduction to Biological Research (BIOL-599) or Master’s Thesis (BIOL-698). Both involve independent research under the direction of a faculty member; the thesis involves a longer, more in-depth research experience. Graduate students in our programs are strongly encouraged to conduct thesis research.
Scholarships may be available to support students conducting research; see our scholarship page to see available scholarships. Student researchers have the opportunity to present their findings at local, regional, national and even international research conferences. They have also authored and co-authored papers published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.