Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Faculty
Program advisors
- Craig Tepper
Core faculty
Barbara Christie-Pope
Professor of Biology
Teaches courses in biology, including Neurobiology, Immunology, and Human Anatomy and Physiology. She has research interests in neuropharmacology and degenerative diseases of the brain, and recent studies with students and University of Iowa researchers are examining zebrafish for a potential link between pigment producing melanocytes in the skin and dopaminergic neurons in the brain. Ph.D., pharmacology, University of South Alabama.
Brian Nowak-Thompson
Associate Professor of Biology and Chemistry
Teaches courses in biology and chemistry, including Organic Chemistry Lab, Biochemistry, and the BMB elective Chemical Ecology. Students in his lab study the production of bacterial metabolites that inhibit plant pathogens and are sometimes used in place of agricultural pesticides. Ph.D., biochemistry and biophysics, Oregon State University.
Craig Tepper
Professor of Biology
Teaches courses in biology, including Cell and Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Developmental Biology. His research with students focuses on molecular genetics and marine symbionts, and includes collaborations on coral bleaching and the loss of reef habitat in the Caribbean. Ph.D., molecular plant pathology, Utah State University.
Catherine Volle
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry
Teaches introductory and advanced courses in biology and chemistry with an emphasis in biochemistry. She and her students use chemical techniques to investigate biological problems. They investigate new and exciting ways to kill bacteria and how viral proteins can disrupt non-canonical DNA structures. Ph.D., molecular and cellular biology and biochemistry, Brown University.
Affiliated faculty in biology
Marty Condon
Professor of Biology
Teaches the capstone course Biological Problems. Ph.D., University of Texas.
Andy McCollum
Professor of Biology
Teaches Foundations: Organismal Biology. Ph.D., zoology, Duke University.
Tammy Mildenstein
Assistant Professor of Biology
Teaches Foundations: Organismal Biology. Ph.D., zoology, Duke University.
Affiliated faculty in chemistry
Charley Liberko
Professor of Chemistry
Teaches courses in organic chemistry and Chemical Principles I and II. Ph.D., philosophy, organic chemistry, University of Minnesota.
Jai Shanata
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Teaches courses in organic chemistry and Chemical Principles I and II. Ph.D., chemistry, California Institute of Technology.
Cindy Strong
Professor of Chemistry
Teaches Chemical Principles I and II, Accelerated General Chemistry, and Analytical Chemistry. Ph.D., chemistry, California Institute of Technology.
Craig Teague
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Teaches Chemical Principles I and II, Accelerated General Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, and the BMB elective Physical Chemistry. Ph.D., chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.