Research interests of faculty who can accept graduate students in the departments of Biology and Microbiology at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Note that in 1999 the Department of Biology and Microbiology became two departments, but we still maintain a single graduate program. The information on this page supercedes any information on any other pages or brochures.
You can now apply electronically at http://www.uwlax.edu/admissions/html/gradmis.htm
The direct link to the application page is at http://apply.wisconsin.edu/
Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) application deadline is October 1. Clinical Microbiology Program deadline is January 20. All other programs have rolling admissions, and there is no formal deadline, and we can admit you as soon as we have all of the materials described below. Earlier is better.
This page was updated October 10, 2006 and supersedes any information published elsewhere in printed or electronic forms.
Letter sent out to prospective graduate students: Note that this box contains all the requirements for successful admission to our program. Thank you for your interest in Graduate Studies in the Departments of Biology and Microbiology at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. I have enclosed some information and an application as you requested. Note that in 1999 the Department of Biology and Microbiology became two departments, but we still maintain a single graduate program. You will notice our departments offer several formal concentrations for the Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Biology, including Aquatic Sciences, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Clinical Microbiology (in collaboration with Gundersen Lutheran Clinic of La Crosse, the Marshfield Clinic in Marshfield WI, and the State Laboratory of Hygiene in Madison, WI), Microbiology, Nurse Anaesthesia (in cooperation with Franciscan Skemp Healthcare, La Crosse) , and Physiology. You can also design your own plan of study in cooperation with specific faculty members in our departments-- we have faculty engaged in a wide variety of research. There is a great deal of flexibility built into the general MS degree. You can now apply electronically at http://www.uwlax.edu/admissions/html/gradmis.htm The direct link to the application page is at http://apply.wisconsin.edu/ Additional requirements for admittance
Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) application deadline is October 1. Clinical Microbiology Program deadline is January 20. All other programs have rolling admissions, and there is no formal deadline, and we can admit you as soon as we have all of the materials above. Earlier is better. If you would like to be considered for a Graduate Assistantship (which includes involvement in Introductory Biology labs), please fill out the
information form at the above page and return to Tom Volk by February 1 to ensure consideration.
Biology http://www.uwlax.edu/Biology/
If you have further questions please feel free to contact me. Sincerely,
Thomas J. Volk
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Please see the web pages of our departments: for more information
Microbiology http://www.uwlax.edu/microbiology/
Biology http://www.uwlax.edu/Biology/
Collaboration is also possible with researchers from other
area agencies, such as the upper Mississippi Science Center. Admittance
to the Nurse Anesthesia program in cooperation with Franciscan Skemp
Healthcare does not require a faculty mentor. Clinical Microbiology
program projects with adjunct professors from the Gunderson Lutheran Clinic,
Marshfield Clinic, or State laboratory of hygiene could include: molecular
detection of bacterial, viral, or fungal pathogens, Molecular analysis
of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, an analysis
of Ehrlichia, Detection of viruses in ground water plus many others
Research interests of faculty who can accept graduate students in the departments of Biology and Microbiology at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Please contact prospective faculty mentors personally
to see if they have space to accept students for the coming year.
Faculty in the Microbiology Department
Faculty in the Biology Department
| Bonnie Jo Bratina, bratina.boni@uwlax.edu,
608-785-6994
Microbial Ecology - Research in my lab is currently focused on: (1) microbial interactions with manganese cycling in Antarctic and temperate lakes, (2) nitrifiers and denitrifiers in the Upper Mississippi River and in an urban wetland, Myrick Marsh and (3) identifying and characterizing the intestinal microbial flora of the recently discovered aquatic banded slug. |
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| Michael Hoffman, hoffman.mic2@uwlax.edu,
608- 785-6984
Research in my laboratory focuses primarily on the gene expression and assembly of human parainfluenza virus type 3, a common cause of lower respiratory tract infections. Recently however, we began a separate project to characterize potentially novel viruses isolated from fish.
Current students
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| S.N. Rajagopal, rajagopa.s@uwlax.edu,
608- 785-6976
Development and evaluation of starter media for the cultivation of lactic acid starter cultures used in dairy and meat fermentations, isolation and identification of probiotic cultures, evaluation of bio-preservatives to control the foodborne spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms.
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| Marc A. Rott rott.marc@uwlax.edu
608- 785-6965, http://www.uwlax.edu/microbiology/marc.htm
Current research interests include genomic mapping in bacterial species, alcohol metabolism in bacteria and the role of Ureaplasma and Mycoplasma ssp. in sexually transmitted disease.
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| William Schwan, schwan.will@uwlax.edu,
608-785-6980
Regulation of type 1 pilus expression in uropathogenic Escherichia coli; role of proline transport in Staphylococcus aureus; community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus virulence; antibacterial drug discovery from plants and fungal fruiting bodies
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| Bernadette C. Taylor-Winfrey, taylor.bern@uwlax.edu, 608-785- 6990
Research interests are in immunology. Current research focus is on the investigation of the human immune response to low-dose intradermal influenza vaccination. Other projects include assessment of novel substances derived from fungi for immunomodulatory activities and ongoing analysis of antibody levels in Southern sea otter.
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| Michael R. Winfrey, Chair, winfrey.mich@uwlax.edu,
608- 785-6964, http://www.uwlax.edu/microbiology/winfrey.htm
My research interests involve the biogeochemical cycling of mercury by bacteria, molecular microbial ecology, and microbial diversity. Current projects involve examining expression of mercury resistance genes (mer) in natural environments, characterization of novel mer operons, and potential use of mercury resistant bacteria in bioremediation
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| Mike Abler, abler.mich@uwlax.edu,
608-785-6962, http://www.uwlax.edu/biology/faculty/abler.htm
Students use modern molecular and classical genetic techniques to investigate 1) mRNA decay mechanisms in plants, 2) developmental mutants, and 3) genetic engineering using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model system.
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| Scott Cooper, cooper.scot@uwlax.edu,
608-785-6983 http://www.uwlax.edu/biology/faculty/Cooper/cooper.htm There are two major themes of my research. The first theme is on understanding the inhibition of blood clotting at a molecular level. We are studying how ground squirrels reduce their blood clotting rates during hibernation when their blood slows dramatically, a condition that would trigger clotting in humans. The second theme is the use of molecular tools in answering environmental questions. One such project is studying the effect of methyl mercury exposure on zebrafish in collaboration with Dr. Mark Sandheinrich. |
| Nick Downey, 608-785-6975, downey.nich@uwlax.edu,
My research focuses on the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of the parasite Trypanosoma brucei. Trypanosomes have only one mitochondrion, and it is attached to the flagellum of the cell. My students and I use bioinformatic approaches to identify candidate proteins that may be involved in mitochondrial segregation and mtDNA replication. We express candidates as fusion proteins and observed their localization using fluorescence microscopy. Finally we disrupt gene expression with RNA interference and infer protein function from the phenotype of the cell. We hope this will identify new approaches to develop effective anti-trypanosomal drugs. |
| Anne M. Galbraith, galbrait.anne@uwlax.edu,
608- 785-8246, http://www.uwlax.edu/biology/faculty/Galbraith/Galbraith.htm
Determination of the roles of two cell cycle genes in yeast meiosis: Projects include characterization of mutant phenotypes as well as analysis of gene expression during meiosis.
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| D Timothy Gerber, gerber.dani@uwlax.edu,
608-785-6977
I am interested in determining distributions of invasive plants in aquatic habitats in western Wisconsin and eastern MN. |
| Roger J. Haro, haro.roge@uwlax.edu
Phone: 608- 785-6970 http://www.uwlax.edu/Biology/Aquatics/rjharo01.html
My research interests include freshwater ecosystems, the biology of benthic invertebrates and fish, and landscape ecology. My primary research examines the behavioral ecology of benthic macroinvertebrates. I am also interested in how landscape change affects the connectivity of freshwater ecosystems and the biological consequences of non-point source pollution. I will be on sabbatical at the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (USGS) between January 1 and August 24, 2007. My current research projects include:
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| David R. Howard, howard.davi@uwlax.edu
608- 785-6455 http://www.uwlax.edu/biology/faculty/Howard/howard.htm
Research in my lab investigates how organisms generate and control movement at the cellular and molecular levels. Most of my work is focused on understanding what controls the speed and strength of beating in cilia and flagella. Defects in cilia and flagella cause numerous human diseases, but biologists still do not know much about how movements in cilia & flagella are controlled. Three major projects are currently underway in my lab:
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| Margaret A. Maher, Ph.D. R.D. 608-785-6967, maher.marg@uwlax.edu,
http://www.uwlax.edu/biology/faculty/maher/maher.htm
Research interests include:
1) Causes and effective management of eating and metabolic disorders and 2) Nutrient and hormonal regulation of hunger, satiety, and metabolism.
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| Jennifer Miskowski, miskowsk.jenn@uwlax.edu,
608- 785-6456, www.uwlax.edu/faculty/miskowski
My laboratory is interested in understanding the molecular basis of organ formation. To that end, we are studying gonad formation in the model system, Caenorhabditis elegans. Although part of a simple organism, the C. elegans gonad is a complex organ with multiple tissue types that each has its own distinct morphology and function. We hope that information learned about organ development in C. elegans will be applicable to more complicated systems, namely humans. There are already several examples of molecular pathways elucidated in the C. elegans gonad that have shed light on human development and disease. Specifically, our work is focused on the NUD-1 protein. NUD-1 orthologs are found in species ranging from yeast to humans, although the exact function of NUD-1 is unknown. In C. elegans, animals depleted of the NUD-1 protein exhibit sterility, demonstrating a need for NUD-1 during gonad development. Humans with a mutation in the nud-1 gene have defects in brain development that cause Miller-Dieker lissencephaly. Several projects are underway to determine the exact role of NUD-1 in the C. elegans gonad which will further our understanding of organ formation and of NUD-1 function, in general. (1) Use RNAi to deplete NUD-1 protein levels in developing worms and characterize the resulting phenotypes
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| Mark Sandheinrich, sandhein.mark@uwlax.edu,
(608) 785-8261, www.uwlax.edu/biology/RiverCntr/
Areas of study: Effects of contaminants on behavior, physiology, and ecology of freshwater fish and invertebrates; aquatic ecology.
Recent publications:
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| Greg Sandland, sandland.greg@uwlax.edu,
608- 785-8238
Parasitology |
| Brad Seebach, seebach.brad@uwlax.edu,
608- 785-6966
http://www.uwlax.edu/biology/faculty/Seebach2/seebach.htm
Research focus is the development and circuitry of spinal cord central pattern generators associated with locomotion. Primary techniques include electrophysiology, pharmacology, and cell culture. |
| Eric Strauss strauss.eric@uwlax.edu,
608- 785-8262
http://www.uwlax.edu/faculty/strauss/strauss.html My research interests can be broadly classified into aquatic ecosystem ecology and I am almost always in the market for a good graduate student. I would be interested in advising students wanting to study primary production, decomposition/respiration, or other biogeochemical processes in freshwater ecosystems. I would also be interested in students who want to study patterns of phytoplankton or zooplankton abundance in the Mississippi River. Potential research topics could be (but are not limited to):
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| Meredith Thomsen, thomsen.mere@uwlax.edu, 608-785-8245
My research interests focus on plant community ecology, with an emphasis on understanding how invasive plants (particularly grasses) spread and how to restore invaded ecosystems. I am establishing research projects in two local ecosystems: 1. Floodplain forests of the Upper Mississippi River, with an emphasis on patterns of distribution of reed Canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) in forest sites, and on the effectiveness of management strategies to reduce Phalaris cover and facilitate the establishment of tree seedlings. Current projects are collaborations with Eileen Kirsch (US Geological Survey) and Kurt Brownell (US Army Corps of Engineers). 2. Sand prairies of the Wisconsin Driftless Region, with an emphasis on the restoration of sandy sites dominated by smooth brome (Bromus inermis) and the effects of restoration on soil microbial communities. Current experiment is the Master’s thesis project of my graduate student, Jessica Bolwahn (Mississippi Valley Conservancy). I am also continuing a limited amount of work on the effects of global climate change (specifically altered patterns of precipitation) on community dynamics in California annual grassland, in collaboration with Blake Suttle (UC Santa Cruz). |
| Rob Tyser, tyser.robi@uwlax.edu,
608-785-6992
Areas of study: Ecological applications of GIS in the Upper Mississippi River region, alien flora that invade grasslands, prairie restoration
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| Tom Volk, volk.thom@uwlax.edu,
608-785-6972, http://TomVolkFungi.net
Our lab is open to research in just about anything that has to do with fungi, including general mycology, medical mycology, and plant-fungi interactions. Traditional and molecular systematics of basidiomycetes, especially wood decay fungi. Several fungal biodiversity projects, including work in Wisconsin and Israel. Morel ecology, life cycle, and speciation Natural products discovery.
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