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Research and Adjunct Faculty

The Biology Department is fortunate to have many scientists associated with it who serve in diverse capacities to enhance the department's educational and research missions. In many cases, research, adjunct or visiting faculty members can serve as undergraduate advisors, professors-of-record for graduate or undergraduate independent study, graduate committee members and, at the discretion of a core faculty member, as co-chairs of graduate student committees.

Research Professors

Michael A. Bogan—Ph.D. (Biology), The University of New Mexico, 1973. Research Professor and Curator of Biological Survey Collections. Field Station Project Leader at the USGS Arid Lands Field Station. Vertebrate systematics and ecology, particularly as they relate to research and management needs of Federal agencies. mbogan@unm.edu
Clifford Crawford—Riparian ecology; biogeography of montane myriapods and epigeal beetles. ccbosque@unm.edu
Donald W. Duszynski—Ph.D. (Biology), Colorado State University, 1970. Parasitology, specifically the taxonomy and systematics of the coccidia of wild animals; see http://biology.unm.edu/biology/coccidia/home.html. Biol. 461L, Introduction to Tropical Biology, 1992–2007. eimeria@unm.edu
Mahmood Kassam akassam@unm.edu
Michael E. Seidel—Ph.D. (Biology), The Universiity of New Mexico, 1971. Systematics and ecology of turtles. Department of Biological Sciences, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25701. Phone: (304) 696-2427. m043021@marshall.wvnet.edu
Peter B. Stacey—Ph.D., University of Colorado, 1978. Conservation biology, restoration ecology, behavioral ecology and ornithology. Current projects include metapopulation dynamics and genetic population structure of the Mexican Spotted Owl and the Flammulated Owl, habitat preferences and dispersal in the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, and the restoration of riparian ecosystems. pstacey@unm.edu

Research Associate Professors

Coen M. Adema—Ph.D., Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL), 1992. Comparative immunobiology, molecular aspects and cell biology of parasite/invertebrate host compatibility, digenean/snail interactions, and molluscan genomics. coenadem@mail.unm.edu
Robert W. Dickerman—Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 1961. Avian alpha taxonomist; geographic, age and sexual variation; documentation of subspecific variation in New Mexico avifauna. Sculptur in clay, portraits and torsos. Hedonist. bobdickm@unm.edu
William S. Hlavacek—Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering), University of Michigan, 1996. Member of UNM Department of Biology’s CETI (Center for Evolutionary & Theoretical Immunology) Program. Research interests: models of signal-transduction systems, biophysics of ligand-receptor interactions, design principles of biological regulatory systems, modeling and reconstruction of genetic regulatory and metabolic networks in bacteria, and computational methods and software/database tools relevant for modeling biological systems (BioNetGen). wish@lanl.gov
Esteban H. Muldavin—Ph.D. (Biology) New Mexico State University, 1988. Ecology Group Coordinator for the New Mexico Natural Heritage Program. Conservation biology, vegetation classification and mapping, vegetation dynamics and ecological history. muldavin@sevilleta.unm.edu
Deborah M. Finch—Ornithology, bird migration, threatened and endangered species, and restoration ecology. Project Leader for the Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Rocky Mountain Research Station, 2205 Columbia SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106. Phone: 505-766-1048. Fax 505-766-1046. dfinch/rmrs_albq@fs.fed.us
Ellen Goldberg ellen@santafe.edu
Kristine Johnson—Ph.D., The University of New Mexico, 1986. Senior Research Associate, New Mexico Natural Heritage Program. Avian conservation biology and behavioral ecology. kjohnson@unm.edu
David Lightfoot dlightfo@unm.edu
Robert R. Parmenter—Ph.D. (Biology/Ecology), Utah State University, 1982. Associate Professor of Research; Executive Director, Sevilleta Long-Term Ecological Research Program; Director, Sevilleta Field Research Station. Research interests include biological responses to ecosystem disturbances, patterns and controls of biodiversity, predator-prey interactions, and processes of ecosystem nutrient cycling. Current research projects concern the fire ecology of desert grasslands, long-term vegetation changes resulting from patterns of human land use, and ecological factors influencing human disease epidemiology. parmentr@sevilleta.unm.edu
Paul Polechla—Ph.D. ppolechla@sevilleta.unm.edu
J. Mark Rowland—Ph.D. (Zoology), Texas Tech University, 1976. Clinical and basic research in ocular hydrodynamics, with special reference to the human circadian system, hypothalamic function and neuroendocrine regulation of aqueous humor and intraocular pressure. rowland@unm.edu
Carleton White—Ecology; nutrient cycling; nitrogen cycling; water quality. cswhite@sevilleta.unm.edu

Research Assistant Professors

Becky Bixby—Ph.D. (Biology), University of Michigan, 2001. Periphyton ecology and biodiversity research. bbixby@unm.edu
Sara V. Brant—Ph.D. (Biology), University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 2002. Parasitology, host–parasite interactions and coevolution, parasite systematics. sbrant@unm.edu
Sandra L. Brantley—Ph.D. (Biology), The University of New Mexico, 1997. Arthropod ecology and taxonomy, particularly of mites and spiders, in arid systems. sbrantle@sevilleta.unm.edu
Jean-Luc E. Cartron—Ph.D. The University of New Mexico, 1995. Research interests: raptor ecology and conservation, conservation issues in northern Mexico, macroecology, life history theory. jlec@unm.edu
Jerry Dragoo—Mammalian systematics and ecology. jdragoo@mail.unm.edu
Edwina Fuge efuge@unm.edu
Charles J. Gwo—Ph.D. (Ecology), University of Georgia, 1995. Population ecology. Current research includes the development of the thermodynamic theory of population growth based on integration of biochemistry, physiology, and thermodynamics, and the development of the thermodynamic niche theory, a kinetic and energetic elaboration of the effects of environment on growth. chuckgwo@unm.edu
William Gannon—Ph.D. (Biology), The University of New Mexico, 1997. Currently, Special Assistant, Research Ethics and Integrity Program, VPR Office; Research Curator, Division of Mammals, Museum of Southwestern Biology. Research/teaching focuses on scientific ethics, integrity, and responsible conduct of research. He has several federally funded grants and serves as an editor for Journal of Mammalogy. Of his publications, ~20 are about bats. In the last five years, Bill has been working on projects assessing how bats adjust and use abandoned mines in the Great Basin. He also is involved in projects with prairie dogs and other squirrel species, and has three little hominids of his own. wgannon@unm.edu
Robert Harrison—Conservation biology, ecology of carnivores, design of residential development, and effects of development on wildlife. rharison@unm.edu
Ben Hanelt—Ph.D. (Biology), University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 2002. Parasitology: host–parasite interactions, evolution, and compatibility. bhanelt@unm.edu
Juanita A. R. Ladyman—Ph.D. (Botany & Plant Pathology), Michigan State University, 1982. Plant reproductive biology; cryptogams (particularly terricolous cryptogams); physiological plant ecology; conservation of rare, threatened and endangered plant species. Senior Research Associate, New Mexico Natural Heritage Program. ladyman@unm.edu
Leah Larkin—Ph.D. (Botany), University of Texas at Austin, 2002. Phylogeny and taxonomy of bees; the evolution of specialization in floral use by bees; plant phylogeny; biogeography. llarkin@unm.edu
Gary Miller—Behavioral ecology; seabirds and marine mammals; population genetics; conservation biology. Antarctic research. gdmiller@unm.edu
Megan J. Osborne—Ph.D. (Biology), La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia, 2002. Population genetics, evolution, immunogenetics and conservation biology of fishes. mosborne@unm.edu
Vickie Peck—Ph.D. (Microbiology/Immunology), University of Arizona, 1992. Fungal molecular genetics, specifically cell growth control of stationary phase yeast; genomics and microarray analysis. vpeck@unm.edu
Sonia Santa Anna—Ph.D. (Genetics), University of California–Berkeley, 1991. Fungal molecular genetics, specifically cell growth control of yeast; genomics and microarray analysis. 205 Castetter Hall, Department of Biology, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, 505/277-9339. soniasa@unm.edu
John P. Wares—PhD (Zoology), Duke University, 2000. Population genetics and phylogeography. Applications of coalescent theory to applied conservation and studies of changing population size and/or distribution. jpwares@unm.edu
Paul J. Watson—PhD (Biology), Cornell University, 1988. Behavioral ecology and sexual selection; courtship energetics; tradeoffs between sexual competitiveness and rate of aging; impacts of mate choice on the metabolic, developmental and immunological competence of offspring, and rates of aging. Human evolutionary psychology and implications for psychotherapeutic methods. The evolution of unipolar depresssion. Evolutionary perspectives on religion and spiritual practice. Summer field courses in animal behavior and plant-animal interactions. pwatson@unm.edu
Si-Ming Zhang—PhD. The Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1998. Molecular biology of immune defense in molluscs, mechanisms of invertebrate immunity. zhangsm@unm.edu

Adjunct Distinguished Professor

John Wiens

Adjunct Professors

Karl M. Johnson—MD, University of Rochester, 1956. Zoonotic viral epidemiology and ecology, hantaviruses and arenaviruses. kjohnson@sevilleta.unm.edu
Enrique P. Lessa Universidad de la República, Montevideo,Uruguay.

Adjunct Associate Professors

Lawrence Mallory—PhD (Ecology), University of Tennessee, Knoxville 1980. Microbial ecology, life in extreme environments. Current research includes the detection and characterization of unique Eubacteria (Bacteria) and Archaebacteria (Archaea) in the deep subsurface. Special emphasis is being made on cells capable of sulfur, iron, and/or manganese metabolism. lawrence_mallory@gallup.com
David J. Hafner—PhD (Biology), University of New Mexico 1981. Chair, Bioscience Department, New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science . Phylogeography of mammals; evolution of North American deserts; conservation issues in southwestern North America. dhafner@nmmnh.state.nm.us
Jeff Nekola—PhD (Ecology), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 1994. Species coexistence patterns and mechanisms; conservation biology; terrestrial gastropod/plant/lepidoptera community and landscape ecology. jnekola@unm.edu

Adjunct Assistant Professors

Carlos Blanco—Ph.D. (Biology), The University of New Mexico, 1993. Insect Ecologist. Southern Insect Management Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, The United States Department of Agriculture, Stoneville, MS. cblanco@ars.usda.gov
Richard Byles richard_byles@mail.fws.gov
Mark A. DiMenna—Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2005. Manager, Vector-Borne & Zoonotic Disease Division, City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department. Vector control, surveillance and investigation of vector-borne and zoonotic disease for Albuquerque/Bernalillo Co., including West Nile virus, plague and tularemia. Ecology of mosquitoes and wildlife species involved in maintenance and transmission of disease Public health and emergency planning involvement at local government level. mdimenna@cabq.gov
Lee Fitzgerald—Conservation biology; Herpetology; Ecology. Assistant Professor, Curator of Amphibians and Reptiles, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station TX 77843-2258. Phone: 409-845-5777. lfitzgerald@tamu.edu
William S. Hlavacek—Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering), University of Michigan, 1996. Member of UNM Department of Biology’s CETI (Center for Evolutionary & Theoretical Immunology) Program. Research interests: models of signal-transduction systems, biophysics of ligand-receptor interactions, design principles of biological regulatory systems, modeling and reconstruction of genetic regulatory and metabolic networks in bacteria, and computational methods and software/database tools relevant for modeling biological systems (BioNetGen). wish@lanl.gov
Mimi E. Lam—Ph.D. (Theoretical Chemistry and Physics), Dalhousie University, 1995. Current research explores the epistemological convergence of evolutionary human cognition and traditional ecological knowledge with quantum and statistical mechanics. Educational philosophies incorporate culturally responsive, holistic, experiential curricula within a meta-institutional ecosystem-themed research and educational paradigm. mlam@unm.edu
Patricia Mehlhop—Conservation biology; animal ecology; monitoring populations for change; avian and invertebrate community structure. pmehlhop@unm.edu
Alan Perelson—Ph.D. (Biophysics), University of California at Berkeley, 1972. Member of UNM Dept. of Biology's CETI Program. Member of the Science Board and head of the Theoretical Immunology Program at the Santa Fe Institute. Mathematical and theoretical biology, with an emphasis on problems in immunology, virology, and cell and molecular biology. asp@lanl.gov
Deborah Ulinski Potter—PhD (Biology), The University of New Mexico, 1996. Physical Scientist/Ecology and Air Resources, USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Watershed and Air Management, 333 Broadway Blvd. SE, Albuquerque, NM. Phone: 842-3143. Ecosystem ecology, limnology, landscape ecology, global change, natural resource management. ulinski@unm.edu
Janet Yagoda Shagam—PhD (Biology), University of New Mexico, 1986. A/S Faculty Albuquerque TVI. Freelance Medical and Science Writer. Curriculum Development for BioQuest. Editorial Advisory Board for the DNA Learning Center at Cold Spring Harbor. Medical and Biological Photography. Current research projects in applied environmental microbiology, public health aspects of water microbiology. shagam.abq@worldnet.att.net
Ursula Shepherd—Community ecology and biogeography of mammals; biodiversity and evolutionary biology. ursula@sevilleta.unm.edu
Ernest W. Valdez—Ph.D. (Biology), The University of New Mexico, 2006. Wildlife biologist, U.S.G.S. Arid Lands Field Station. Natural history, taxonomy, functional morphology, food habits, ectoparasites, and ecology of small mammals, with an emphasis on bats. ernie@usgs.gov
Patricia G. Wilber—Adjunct Assistant Professor. pwilber@unm.edu

Visiting Professors, Scholars, Research Scientists

Sujata Guha—Visiting Assistant Professor. sujatag@unm.edu
Timothy Keitt—Visiting Assistant Professor. PhD (Biology), University of New Mexico, 1995. Former Fellow of the Santa Fe Institute. Landscape and theoretical ecology. keitt@nceas.ucsb.edu

This page is intended to include all Research and Adjunct Faculty and Visiting Professors currently associated with the UNM Biology Department. If you have questions about the Research and Adjunct Faculty page, or if you would like to add or update any information, please contact the Webmaster.

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Updated July 2008