Biology Faculty

Areas of Expertise

botany, plant reproductive biology, evolutionary biology

Background

Dr. Davis is a plant reproductive biologist who studies the evolution of plant breeding systems and the selective forces that shape them. She was an assistant professor at University of Louisiana at Monroe for five years before moving back to Indiana and taking her current position at University of Indianapolis. She has mentored several students in research projects and has included several as co-authors on publications.

Research Interests

floral color in the protandrous species, Saponaria officinalis; the potential effects of pollinator behavior on floral morphology and the genetic regulation of pigment production

Education

PhD, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Indiana University

Areas of Expertise

molecular genetics, cell biology, cancer biology

Background

Dr. Baker has taught a variety of biology courses throughout her academic career including Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Genetics, Introductory Biology, Developmental Biology and Cancer Biology. She is a molecular geneticist by training and has published research articles on the transcriptional regulation of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes involved in the development and progression of breast cancer. Her current research interest focuses on the use of dietary phytochemicals as a means to suppress breast cancer cell proliferation.

Research Interests

dietary phytochemicals as cancer chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agents; gene regulation and breast cancer

Education

• PhD, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Ohio State University
• MS, Microbiology, Clemson University
• BS, Microbiology, University of Minnesota

Favorite thing about UIndy

The opportunity to work closely with students both in the classroom and research laboratory.

Areas of Expertise

medical microbiology and immunology

Background

Following graduate school, Dr. Cecil taught at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. After having a family and choosing to scale back teaching responsibilities for a few years, Dr. Cecil joined UIndy as an adjunct professor in 2006.

Education

• PhD, Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University
• BS, Biology, University of Southern Indiana

Favorite thing about UIndy

I love the relatively small size and chance to get to know my students.

Areas of Expertise

human anatomy, comparative anatomy, human variation, geometric morphometrics, growth and development, and human evolution

Background

Before joining UIndy, Dr. Amandine Eriksen was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, training in current methods of teaching human anatomy to allied health professional and medical students. Her research explores the patterns and causes of asymmetry in the primate skeleton and how stress impacts bone growth. Using advanced technology, including a 3D scanner, Dr. Eriksen utilizes three-dimensional methods (geometric morphometrics) to study how early life stress and biomechanical stress impact primates, including humans, gorillas, and monkeys. Understanding how much stress living primates experience allows her to work toward (1) helping improve conservation efforts of endangered species and (2) better reconstructing what happened in the past among our recent and distant ancestors. Check out more of Dr. Eriksen’s work and photos

Research Interests

skeletal asymmetry, geometric morphometrics, primate comparative anatomy, human variation, and growth and development 

Education

• PhD, Biological Anthropology, University at Buffalo-SUNY
• MS, Human Biology, University of Indianapolis
• BS, Anthropology & Archaeology, Mercyhurst University

Favorite thing about UIndy

Having the opportunity to work with both undergraduate and graduate students!

Areas of Expertise

laboratory design, biology for elementary education majors, educational science outreach

Background

As UIndy's biology laboratory coordinator for more than 20 years, Mary Gobbett has worked with hundreds of UIndy students as prep room and laboratory assistants. In her role as lab coordinator, biology laboratory instructor, and junior scientist coordinator, she has spent years developing, testing and researching laboratory activities, supplies and experiments. She has presented at a variety of conferences on science activities and has written several grants to support the outreach program.

Research Interests

education for service; science activities for the Junior Scientist program at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School in Perry Township

Education

• MS, Biology, University of Indianapolis
• BS, Biology, University of Indianapolis

Favorite thing about UIndy

I love working with the students and the faculty. Even though I have been at UIndy for many years, I love coming to work everyday.

Areas of Expertise

comparative anatomy and histology, herpetology

Background

Dr. Gribbins has published more than 45 manuscripts and book chapters on the histology of the reproductive system and spermatogenesis in reptiles and amphibians. He enjoys including undergraduates in his research and has had many undergraduates on his research publications. He is an herpetologist by training and has extensive experience handling large or venomous reptiles and also enjoys fieldwork within the area of herpetofauna. Check out Dr. Gribbins' publications, nature photos and more

Research Interests

herpetology; reproductive anatomy and histology of male reproductive systems in reptiles and amphibians; comparative anatomy and physiology; spermatogenesis; and transmission electron microscopy

Education

PhD, Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati

Favorite thing about UIndy

Working with our engaging students.

Areas of Expertise

molecular and forensic anthropology

Background

Dr. Latham has supervised numerous research projects with undergraduate and graduate students investigating the transfer of DNA to objects and how that can impact criminal investigations, as well as various aspects of skeletal analysis. Additionally, she has conducted fieldwork with UIndy students in Santiago, Chile and South Texas. Dr. Latham recently co-edited a book entitled Age Estimation of the Human Skeleton which compiles different techniques used to estimate age at death of the skeleton. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and a Board Certified Forensic Anthropologist (D-ABFA). She currently serves as a Consulting Forensic Anthropologist for police, coroners and pathologists in the Midwestern United States and has delivered numerous lectures for state and local agencies around the country. Dr. Latham also serves as a DNA Expert in the U.S. Federal Court System.

Research Interests

investigation of different aspects of skeletal biology; population genetics; skeletal DNA

Education

• PhD, Anthropology, Temple University
• MA, Anthropology, Temple University
• MS, Human Biology, University of Indianapolis
• BS, Biology, University of North Texas

Favorite thing about UIndy

The people!

Areas of Expertise

Spider taxonomy and ecology

Background

Dr. Milne studies the taxonomy of spiders, largely within the family Linyphiidae. He has described multiple new species to science and has added hundreds of spider distribution records to Indiana. He also works on the ecology of spiders in habitats throughout the eastern US. His undergraduate students have worked on projects dealing with the collection of spiders in nearby Indiana forests, the extraction of spider DNA to create phylogenetic trees, the identification of spiders to species, and the illustration of new species of spiders. He currently teaches General Biology within the Biology department.

Visit uindyspiderlab.org

Research Interests

Spider taxonomy, ecology, illustration, identification, and conservation

Education

• PhD, Ecology, Old Dominion University
• BS, Biology, University of North Florida

Favorite thing about UIndy

The students and their enthusiasm for science.

Areas of Expertise

skeletal biology; forensic anthropology; human taphonomy; osteoarcheology; skeletal age estimation; biostatistics; historic cemeteries

Background

Dr. Nawrocki has taught full-time at the University of Indianapolis since 1991, where he is currently a tenured professor of biology and anthropology, serves as the Director of Osteology at the Archeology & Forensics Laboratory, and is also the Director of the Master of Science in Human Biology program. One of only 60 board-certified forensic anthropologists in North America, Dr. Nawrocki has served as a consultant on hundreds of human remains cases in Indiana and Illinois and has delivered numerous lectures at educational seminars around the country. In 1999, Dr. Nawrocki was named "Teacher of the Year" at the University of Indianapolis, where he also received the Booker Teaching Award for the Sciences in 1993. Dr. Nawrocki has authored several books and has published in journals including the Journal of Forensic Sciences and Florida Anthropologists.

Research Interests

analysis and identification of human skeletons; environmental processes affecting buried and scattered bones (taphonomy); evidence recovery from outdoor crime scenes (forensic archeology)

Education

• PhD, Anthropology, State University of New York at Binghamton
• MA, Anthropology, State University of New York at Binghamton
• BA, Anthropology & Psychology, University of Maine at Orono

Areas of Expertise

bacteriological, biochemical, biotechnological and molecular biology techniques

Background

Dr. Stemke has taught for 16 years outside of graduate school-two years at University of Minnesota Morris, two years at Hanover College, four years at Elon University and eight years at UIndy. He has also completed five years of postdoctoral training - one year at the Center of Marine Biotechnology at Maryland Biotechnology Institute, one year the Pharmacy School at University of Maryland, and two years at the Biological Process Technology Institute. He is a member of the national branch of the American Association for Microbiology, has been president of the Indiana College Biology Teachers Association, and will be president of the Indiana Branch of the American Association for Microbiology in 2015. He is currently writing a book on Anthropogenic Pathogenicity and developing educational case studies to teach biology students.

Research Interests

environmental and industrial microbiology; investigating infectious disease processes in natural systems influenced or directly caused by human activities

Education

• PhD, Molecular Microbiology/Biochemistry, Louisiana State University
• BS, Microbiology/Chemistry, Texas State University

Favorite thing about UIndy

I appreciate being part of UIndy's supportive community.

Areas of Expertise

ecology, evolutionary biology, ornithology

Research Interests

diatom ecology in Oregon lakes; pollen analysis from sediments recovered near mastodon skeleton; effectiveness of rain gardens

Areas of Expertise

physiology, cell biology, pathophysiology, pharmacology

Background

Before arriving at UIndy, Dr. Dean Wiseman was a research assistant professor at Indiana University School of Medicine, studying causes of Type 2 diabetes. During his time at IUSM, he took part in the discovery of a number of proteins in pancreatic insulin-secreting cells (beta cells) which are modified when the cells are stimulated with glucose, indicating their role in the mechanism of insulin release (J Biol Chem. 2011 May 6; 286(18):16344-54; Curr Diabetes Rev. 2012 Jul 1;8(4):303-15). What makes these proteins interesting is that the nature of the modifications could make these proteins vulnerable to stressful events, which could cause incorrect cellular function-leading to diabetes.

Research Interests

the role of protein changes in the development of diabetes and cancer; cave-related research involving water quality, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and cave-dwelling animals.

Education

• PhD, Biological Science, Purdue University
• MS, Biological Science, Purdue University
• BA, Biology, DePauw University

Favorite thing about UIndy

The students!