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Faculty and Staff

Arielle Cooley, Ph.D. (Duke University) cooleya@whitman.edu

Assistant Professor.
Research Interests: genetic basis of the evolution of diversity, particularly in Mimulus.

Courses: Evolutionary Developmental Biology, Plant Physiology, Genetics.

Heidi E. M. Dobson, Ph.D. (University of California, Berkeley) dobsonhe@whitman.edu

Professor.
Research Interests: botany, ethnobotany, pollination systems.

Courses: Biology 112, Plant Biology, Plants and Peoples.

Nancy Forsthoefel, M.S. (University of Arizona) forsthn@whitman.edu

Research Specialist.
Research Interests: plant molecular biology, developmental genetics, functional genomics .

Courses: Genetics Labs.

Kendra Golden, Ph.D. (The Pennsylvania State University) golden@whitman.edu

Associate Professor.
Research Interests: varied aspects of microbiology, including biofilms, antobiotic resistance, and phage therapy.

Courses: Microbiology, Cell Biology, Nutrition.

Emily Hamada, B.S. (Gonzaga University) hamadaeo@whitman.edu

Biology Technician.

Martha Holt, B.A. (Whitman College) holtma@whitman.edu

Department Technician and Lab Coordinator:

Delbert Hutchison, Ph.D. (Washington University in St. Louis) hutchidw@whitman.edu

Associate Professor and Chair.
Research Interests: phylogeography and population genetics; natural history of the Blue Mountains.

Courses: Conservation Biology, Evolutionary Biology, Biostatistics, Natural History, Genetics.

Kate Jackson, Ph.D. (Harvard University) jacksok@whitman.edu

Assistant Professor.
Research Interests: Snake morphology, evolution, and taxonomy.

Courses: Biology 112, Comparative Anatomy, Amphibians and Reptiles.
On leave Fall 2012

Leena Knight. Ph.D. (University of Washington) knightls@whitman.edu

Assistant Professor.
Research Interests: cellular neurophysiology.

Courses: Cell Signalling, NeuroPhysiology, Biology 111.

Thomas Knight, Ph.D. (University of Washington) knightt@whitman.edu

Assistant Professor.
Research Interests: cognitive neuroscience, systems neurophysiology.

Courses: Biology 111, Pathophysiology, Biostatistics.

Tim Parker, Ph.D. (University of New Mexico) parkerth@whitman.edu

Assistant Professor.
Research Interests: evolution and ecology, especially of birds.

Courses: Ecology, Regional Natural History, Introduction to Environmental Studies, Biodiversity.

Michelle Shafer, M.S. (Washington State University) shafermr@whitman.edu

Lab and Imaging Coordinator for Cell and Molecular Biology.

Courses: Biology 111 labs, Cell Biology labs.

Heidi Schutz, Ph.D. (University fo Colorado, Boulder) schutzh@whitman.edu

Visiting Assistant Professor.
Research Interests: mammalian functional morphology, evolution, and life history.

Courses: Biology 112, Physiology.

Daniel M. Vernon, Ph.D. (Universoty of Arizona) vernondm@whitman.edu

Professor.
Research Interests: plant molecular biology, developmental genetics, functional genomics.

Courses: Molecular Biology, BBMB Senior Seminar, Genetics.
on leave Spring 2013.

Christopher Wallace, Ph.D. (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) wallaccs@whitman.edu

Dr. Robert F. Welty Associate Professor.
Research Interests: neuroplasticity, neuron development.

Courses: Biology 111, Neurobiology, Developmental Biology.

Ginger Withers, Ph.D., (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) withergs@whitman.edu

Dr. Robert F. Welty Associate Professor.
Research Interests: cellular processes involved in brain cell deveopment.

Courses: Neurobiology, Developmental Biology:

C. Susan Weiler, Ph.D., (UC San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography) weilercs@whitman.edu

Senior Research Scientist.
Research Interests: Earth system science and initiatives to foster interdisciplinary research and collegial networking related to climate change and impacts; see disccrs.org:

Paul H. Yancey, Ph.D., (UC San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography) yancey@whitman.edu

Professor and Carl E. Peterson Endowed Chair of Sciences. Research Interests: deep-sea adaptations, coral osmotic balance and cryopreservation, mammalian kidney osmoregulation.

Courses: Physiology, Marine Biology, Bioethics.
on leave Fall 2012