University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
College of Biological Sciences
http://www.cbs.umn.edu/

CBS experts directory

Note to media: If you would like to speak to an expert in an area of biological sciences not listed here, contact Peggy Rinard, communications director, at 612-624-0774 or rinar001@umn.edu or Jeff Falk, assistant director, UMNews service at jfalk@umn.edu or 612-626-1720.

Animals

Behavior and biology

Birds

  • Bob Zink, professor, Bell Museum of Natural History, 612-624-7207, zinkx003@umn.edu
    • Birdwatching/Ornithology
    • Crows roosting in cities during winter
    • Lights Out; program in downtown Minneapolis to prevent birds from running into tall buildings at night.

Chimpanzees

  • Mike Wilson, assistant professor, Anthropology and Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-1376, wilso108@umn.edu

Lions

  • Craig Packer, Distinguished McKnight University Professor, 612-625-5729, packer@umn.edu

Communication and cooperation

Blue Jays

  • David Stephens, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-5722, steph031@umn.edu

Chimpanzees

Frogs

  • Mark Bee, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-6749, mbee@umn.edu

Mammals

  • Sharon Jansa, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior; curator of mammals, Bell Museum of Natural History, 612-624-6293, jansa003@umn.edu

Endangered species

Chimpanzees and other primates

Lions, animals of Tanzania

  • Craig Packer, Distinguished McKnight University Professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-5729, packer@umn.edu

Lions, dogs and humans

  • Craig Packer, Distinguished McKnight University Professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-5729, packer@umn.edu

Mammals

  • Sharon Jansa, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior; curator of mammals, Bell Museum of Natural History, 612-624-6293, jansa003@umn.edu

Biofuels/Renewable energy

Biodiesel fuel made from soybeans

Biofuel made from algae

  • Michael Sadowsky, McKnight professor and head, BioTechnology Institute, 612-624-2706, sadowsky@umn.edu

Biohydrocarbon fuels

  • Larry Wackett, McKnight professor of Biochemistry and Biotechnology Institute member, 612-625-3785, wacke003@umn.edu

Cellulosic ethanol made from prairie grasses

  • David Tilman, McKnight Presidential Chair and Regents Professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-5740, tilman@umn.edu

Microbial fuel cells

  • Daniel Bond, assistant professor, BioTechnology Institute, 612-624-8619, dbond@umn.edu

Products made from blue-green algae

Biology basics

Biochemistry

  • Paul Siliciano, associate professor, director of undergraduate studies and associate head, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, 612-625-4928, pauls@umn.edu

Biology

  • Mark Decker, co-director, Biology Program, 612-626-2038, decker@umn.edu
  • Jane Phillips, co-director, Biology Program, 612-624-2789, janep@umn.edu

Ecology

  • Jeannine Cavender-Bares, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-6337, cavender@umn.edu
  • Clarence Lehman, adjunct professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior; resident fellow, Institute on the Environment, 612-625-5734, lehman@umn.edu

Genetics

  • Michael Simmons, professor, Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, 612-624-5354, simmo004@umn.edu
  • Rob Brooker, associate professor, Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, 612-624-3053, brook005@umn.edu

Genomics

Human

  • Judy Berman, professor, Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, 612-625-1971, berma003@umn.edu

Microbial metagenomics

  • Mike Sadowsky, director, BioTechnology Institute, 612-624-2706, sadowsky@umn.edu

Plant

  • Kate VandenBosch, professor and head, Plant Biology, 612-624-2755, vande102@umn.edu

Human genetics and development

  • Michael OConnor, Ordway Chair in Developmental Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, 612-626-0642, moconnor@umn.edu

Biology education

Graduate programs

K-12 science education

  • Jane Phillips, co-director, Biology Program, 612-624-2789, janep@umn.edu

Undergraduate biology curriculum

  • Robin Wright, associate dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs, 612-624-2244 or 612-625-1183, wrightr@umn.edu

Biotechnology

Biodale

Biotechnology Resource Center

Imaging Center [microscopy]

Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics

Bioplastics

  • Friedrich Srienc, professor, BioTechnology Institute, 612-624-9776, srienc@umn.edu

Bioremediation

[Use of microbial organisms to clean up the environment]

  • Michael Sadowsky, McKnight professor and head, BioTechnology Institute, 612-624-2706, sadowsky@umn.edu
  • Lawrence Wackett, Distinguished McKnight University Professor and head, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, 612-625-3785, wacke003@umn.edu

BioTechnology Institute

Ecology

Ecology (general questions)

  • Jeannine Cavender-Bares, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-6337, cavender@umn.edu
  • Bob Sterner, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-6790, stern007@umn.edu
  • Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu

Field biology

  • Jeff Corney, manager, Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, 1-763-434-5131, jcorney@umn.edu
  • David Biesboer, professor, Plant Biology; director, Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories, 612-625-1799, biesboer@umn.edu

Lake Superior and other Minnesota lakes

  • Robert Sterner, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-6790, stern007@umn.edu
  • James Cotner, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, and Moos Chair in Limnology, 612-625-1706, cotne002@umn.edu

Plant disease

  • Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu

Prairie plants and ecology

  • Ruth Shaw, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-7206, shawx016@umn.edu
  • Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu

Restoration ecology

  • Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu

Rivers and streams

  • Jacques Finlay, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-4672, jfinlay@umn.edu

Tropical dry forests

  • Jeannine Cavender-Bares, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-6337, cavender@umn.edu
  • Jennifer Powers, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Plant Biology, 612-625-5721, powers@umn.edu

Tropical rain forests

  • George Weiblen, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-3461, gweiblen@umn.edu
  • Jennifer Powers, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Plant Biology, 612-625-5721, powers@umn.edu

Environmental issues

Biodiversity

  • David Tilman, McKnight Presidential Chair and Regents Professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-5740, tilman@umn.edu
  • Ruth Shaw, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-7206, shawx016@umn.edu
  • Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu

Carbon cycling

  • Sarah Hobbie, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-6269, shobbie@umn.edu
  • Jennifer Powers, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Plant Biology, 612-625-5721, powers@umn.edu

Climate change

  • Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu

Conservation biology

  • Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu

Endangered plant species

  • Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu

Environmental cleanup using micro-organisms

  • Lawrence Wackett, Distinguished McKnight University Professor and head, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, 612-625-3785, wacke003@umn.edu
  • Michael Sadowsky, McKnight professor and head, BioTechnology Institute, 612-624-2706, sadowsky@umn.edu

Fossil fuels and increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

  • David Tilman, McKnight Presidential Chair and Regents Professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-5740, tilman@umn.edu
  • Sarah Hobbie, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-6269, shobbie@umn.edu

Human impact on global ecosystems

  • Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu
  • Jennifer Powers, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Plant Biology, 612-625-5721, powers@umn.edu
  • David Tilman, McKnight Presidential Chair and Regents Professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-5740, tilman@umn.edu

Invasive plants in prairies

  • Diane Larson, adjunct professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-9271, dllarson@umn.edu

Invasive species

  • Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu
  • Ruth Shaw, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-7206, shawx016@umn.edu

Invasive species in lakes

  • Robert Sterner, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-6790, stern007@umn.edu
  • Jacques Finlay, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-4672, jfinlay@umn.edu

Nitrogen fertilizers and diminishing global biodiversity

  • David Tilman, McKnight Presidential Chair and Regents Professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-5740, tilman@umn.edu
  • Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu

Ozone depletion and increased ultra-violet radiation: Impact on aquatic ecosystems

  • James Cotner, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-1706, cotne002@umn.edu

Tropical rain forests

  • George Weiblen, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-3461, gweiblen@umn.edu
  • Jennifer Powers, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Plant Biology, 612-625-5721, powers@umn.edu

Evolution

Evolution, teaching in schools

  • Randy Moore, professor, Biology Program, 612-626-4458, rmoore@umn.edu
  • Mark Borrello, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-7079, borrello@umn.edu
  • Sehoya Cotner, associate professor, Biology Program, 612-626-2385, harri054@umn.edu
  • Scott Lanyon, head, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-6291, lanyo001@umn.edu

Evolutionary biology

Darwin, history of evolution

  • Mark Borrello, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-7079, borrello@umn.edu
  • Randy Moore, professor, Biology Program, 612-626-4458, rmoore@umn.edu
  • Mark Decker, co-director, Biology Program, 612-626-2038, decker@umn.edu

Science of evolution

  • Sehoya Cotner, associate professor, Biology Program, 612-626-2385, harri054@umn.edu
  • R. Ford Denison, adjunct professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, denis036@umn.edu
  • Scott Lanyon, head, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-6291, lanyo001@umn.edu

Tree of Life/Macroevolution

Birds

  • Scott Lanyon, head, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-6291, lanyo001@umn.edu
  • Bob Zink, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-7207, zinkx003@umn.edu

Fungi/mushrooms

  • David McLaughlin, professor, Plant Biology; curator of fungi, Bell Museum of Natural History, 612-625-5736, davem@umn.edu

Genetics

  • Keith Barker, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-2737, barke042@umn.edu

Mammals

  • Sharon Jansa, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior; curator of mammals, Bell Museum of Natural History, 612-624-6293, jansa003@umn.edu

Plants

  • George Weiblen, Packard Fellow, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-3461, gweiblen@umn.edu

Food/Agriculture

The Department of Plant Biology conducts a variety of federally funded research to make crop plants more productive and more resistant to disease, pests, and temperature extremes. Following are a few key areas of research.

Corn genomics

  • Nathan Springer, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-6241, springer@umn.edu

Epigenetics

  • Nathan Springer, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-6241, springer@umn.edu

Evolution and agriculture

  • Peter Tiffin, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-7406, ptiffin@umn.edu
  • R. Ford Denison, adjunct professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, denis036@umn.edu

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

  • Dan Voytas, professor, Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, 612-626-4509, voytas@umn.edu
  • Jane Glazebrook, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-5194, jglazebr@umn.edu

Hemp as a fiber and oil crop

  • George Weiblen, Packard Fellow, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-3461, gweiblen@umn.edu

Nitrogen fixation

The unique ability of legumes to capture nitrogen (an essential nutrient) from the environment.

  • Kate VandenBosch, professor and head, Plant Biology, 612-625-1234, vande102@umn.edu
  • Michael Sadowsky, McKnight professor and head, BioTechnology Institute, 612-624-2706, sadowsky@umn.edu
  • R. Ford Denison, adjunct professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, denis036@umn.edu

Plant disease resistance

  • Fumi Katagiri, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-5195, katagiri@umn.edu
  • Jane Glazebrook, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-5194, jglazebr@umn.edu

Human health

Aging

  • James Curtsinger, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-6746, jwcurt@umn.edu

Autoimmune diseases

Myasthenia gravis

  • Bianca Conti-Fine, Distinguished McKnight Professor, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, 612-624-6796, conti001@umn.edu

Blood coagulation diseases

  • Gary Nelsestuan, professor, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, 612-624-3622, nelse002@umn.edu

Cancer biology

  • Brian Van Ness, professor, Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, 612-624-9944, vanne001@umn.edu
  • Anja Bielinsky, associate professor, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, 612-624-2469, bieli003@umn.edu

Diabetes and metabolism

  • David Bernlohr, Distinguished McKnight University Professor and head, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, 612-624-2712, bernl001@umn.edu

Ecology of human disease

  • Susan Jones, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior and History of Science and Technology, 612-624-9636, jone0996@umn.edu

Proteomics

[Study of proteins produced by an organism's genome and the role of those proteins in health and disease]

  • Gary Nelsestuen, professor, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, 612-624-3622, nelse002@umn.edu
  • Timothy Griffin, associate professor, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, 612-624-5249, tgriffin@umn.edu

Zoonotic diseases

[Transmission of infectious diseases from animals to humans]

  • Craig Packer, Distinguished McKnight University Professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-5729, packer@umn.edu
  • Mike Wilson, assistant professor, Anthropology, 612-625-1376, wilso108@umn.edu

Plant biology

Aquatic plants

Fungi/mushrooms

  • David McLaughlin, professor, Plant Biology; curator of fungi, Bell Museum of Natural History, 612-625-5736, davem@umn.edu

Native plants of Minnesota

  • David Biesboer, professor, Plant Biology; director, Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories, 612-625-1799, biesboer@umn.edu

Plant systems

Tropical rain forests

  • George Weiblen, Packard Fellow, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-3461, gweiblen@umn.edu