These are the Biology Graduate faculty in whose labs M.S. and M.A. students can conduct independent research projects.  Click on the faculty members’ names for a more detailed description of their research interests and for links to their research group’s web pages (if available). Graduate faculty participating in the SJU GK-12 graduate student training program are also noted.

Jonathan T. Fingerut, Assistant Professor
Ph.D. University of California, 2003
Development and behavior of aquatic insects.

Eileen D. Grogan, Professor
Ph.D. College of William and Mary, 1994
Study of chondrichthyan evolution. Functional and developmental morphology of the cranium and vascular system.

Christina King Smith, Associate Professor - GK-12 faculty
Ph.D. University of Maryland, 1992
The cytoskeleton, mechanisms of intracellular motility in teleost retinal epithelial cells, and regulation of organelle motility.

Julia Lee, Assistant Professor
Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania, 2002
The genetics and cell biology of ageing.

Michael P. McCann, Professor, Assistant Chair - GK-12 faculty
Ph.D. Stanford University, 1992
Gene regulation during development in the plant pathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis

Scott P. McRobert, Professor, Environmental Sciences Program Director - GK-12 faculty
Ph.D. Temple University, 1988
Studying the relationships between animal behavior, ecology, and evolution,  using Drosophila, fresh-water fish and turtles as experimental organisms.

Karen M. Snetselaar, Professor, Biology Graduate Director - GK-12 faculty and Program Director
Ph.D. Univ. of Georgia, 1993
Developmental biology of the plant pathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis, its behavior during mating and its interactions with the host plant.

Paul M. Tefft, Associate Professor and Chair - GK-12 faculty
Ph.D. Southern Illinois University, 1984
Development, control and behavior of plant parasitic nematodes.

John J. Tudor, Professor - GK-12 faculty
Ph.D. Univ. of Kentucky, 1977
Molecular basis of interaction between the predacious bacterium Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus and its prey cells.

James J. Watrous, Professor - GK-12 faculty
Ph.D. Georgetown University, 1972
Computer modeling of biological systems and chaotic interactions.