Department of Biology
Faculty Research Interests:
Dr. George Diggs (Plant Systematics,
Tropical Botany, Flora of Texas) Field and laboratory studies on tropical and
North American Ericaceae (blueberry family) including numerical systematics,
enzyme electrophoresis, tropical exploration, and population studies in the
field. Dr. Diggs is coauthor (with colleagues at the Botanical Research
Institute of Texas in Fort Worth) of Shinners and Mahler's Illustrated Flora of
North Central Texas, published in 1999. Current activities are focused on the
floristics of East Texas, with the publication of Volume 1 of the Illustrated
Flora of East Texas expected in 2003. Austin College students, acting as research
assistants, have traveled with Dr. Diggs to ten countries in Central and South
America and Africa.
Dr. John Enwright (Neurobiology,
Cell Biology) Regulation of tissue-specific gene expression. Dr.
Enwright is working to elucidate the mechanisms of tissue-specific gene
expression. He is studying changes in neural gene expression elicited by drugs
of abuse. His research utilizes many standard molecular biological
techniques to examine DNA/protein interactions (and uncover the various
functional domains of these proteins) involved in regulation of gene expression.
In addition he makes us of fluorescent microscopy (using the jellyfish green
fluorescent protein as a protein tag) to investigate these interactions in
living cells.
Dr. Steven Goldsmith (Behavioral
Ecology, Entomology) Ecology of insect mating systems; field
investigations of male mate location tactics, male reproductive competition,
and female reproductive behaviors. Ecology of Hawaiian montane wet forest; the
ecological relationships between endemic wood-boring longhorned beetles, Koa
(the dominant canopy tree of montane wet forest), and 'akiapola'au, and endemic
and endangered bird that feeds like a woodpecker on longhorned beetle larvae.
This research is being conducted at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, on
the slopes of Mauna Kea on the Big Island.
Dr. Wayne Meyer (Environmental
Physiology, Ornithology) Studies in environmental physiology of birds.
Dr. Meyer and students are working toward an assessment of the role of the
hormone melatonin in the reproductive cycle of Japanese quail. They are also
working on studies of the interaction between daylength and reproduction,
attempting to determine the mechanism of seasonal photostimulation. Dr. Meyer
also collaborates with Kim Snipes in studying the physiology of body
temperature regulation in young birds, comparing precocial birds which can
regulate body temperature immediately with altricial birds which must be kept
warm by a parent for the first days of life.
Dr. Jack Pierce (Marine
Parasitology) During summers Dr. Pierce studies parasitic infections of
marine crabs, fishes, and clams at Oregon State University's Hatfield Marine
Science Center in Newport Oregon. Dr. Pierce also serves as the college's
Director of Health Sciences, advising pre-medical and pre-dental students as
well as students pursuing other health-related professions. During January
Term, he organizes local hospital experiences, independent studies, and a
medical internship program at a clinic in Yucatan, Mexico for pre-professional
students. He is an active member and past Chair of the Texas Association of
Advisors for the Health Professions.
Dr. Peggy Redshaw (Microbial
Genetics, Molecular Biology) Study of the urease enzyme in bacteria.
Development of investigative laboratories for cell biology, genetics, and
molecular biology. History of Science in Texas in the mid-1800s. Co-author with
Austin College colleagues of two books on the correspondence of Dr. Gideon
Lincecum (1793-1874), a naturalist and physician, who lived in Mississippi,
Texas, and Mexico.
Dr. Kelly Reed (Pathogenic
Microbiology, Molecular Biology) Identification and characterization of
virulence factors responsible for pathogenic effects in enteric bacteria such
as enteroinvasive Escherichia coli and Shigella flexneri. Determination
of the role of bile salts in triggering virulence gene expression.
Research methods include general microbiological methods, isolation of
bacterial mutants, DNA cloning, protein expression, and assays to measure
invasion of human tissue culture cells by invasive bacteria.
Dr. Peter Schulze (Ecology,
Environmental Science) Ecological research focused on predatory and
competitive interactions within aquatic food webs. Environmental science
research focused on questions at the boundaries of the traditional disciplines
of ecology, economics, and engineering. Recent publications include a
study of competition among dominant zooplankton, an analysis of novel
agroforestry options for Borneo, and a consideration of the ecological
constraints to be considered in engineering projects. Dr. Schulze is
editor of the Engineering within Ecological Constraints (1996), and Measures of
Environmental Performance and Ecosystem Condition (1999) published by the
National Academy Press.
Ms. Kim Snipes (Physiological
Ecology, Ornithology) Determination of the metabolic responses of birds
to environmental conditions. Student research projects completed include
oxygen consumption of adult Zebra Finches over the physiological range of
ambient temperatures and microhabitat utilization by birds as a function of
climatic variables. Current projects are focusing on the development of
thermoregulatory ability in neonatal birds and the modeling of microclimates at
the College's field laboratories.
Student Research Opportunities:
The Biology Department offers a Biology
Summer Research Program that sponsors student research in collaboration
with Austin College Biology faculty.
The Howard McCarley Biology Student Research Endowment, the Andy and Narcadean Buckner Biology
Scholars Program, and the
Brittain Biology Student Research Endowment
support student research projects, student travel to scientific meetings, and
other student research-related activities.
The M.D. (Bud) Bryant Fellowship is
awarded each year to an academically outstanding biology major.