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Biology today is growing on many fronts, and the Pomona College Biology
Department plans to have every graduating student understand the frontiers of
today's biology at the molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecological and
evolutionary levels. In addition, the historical development of biological
thought and the ethical implications of biologists' achievements are
incorporated into many courses. The biologists feel strongly that a broadly
based knowledge of the processes of biology is the best possible preparation for
either further study or employment. Most majors pursue academic careers in
biology or become health professionals. Others work in such diverse fields as
government service, business, law, journalism, public health, teaching, and
environmental consulting.
The department is well equipped for today's laboratory and field work at all
levels of biological organization and expects students to understand the
experimental basis for current ideas in biology and to creatively apply this
understanding to new ideas and research problems. The new Richard C. Seaver
Biology Building, opened in January 2005, contains state-of-the-art research and
teaching facilities. Students have numerous opportunities to undertake
independent research in collaboration with faculty during the academic year and
during the summer.
David Becker, a plant physiologist, studies the molecular details of the effect
of heat stress on photosynthesis. Andre Cavalcanti, a computational biologist,
studies evolution of the genetic code. Clarissa Cheney is a developmental
geneticist interested in rab GTPases and vesicle transport in Drosophila. Gene
Fowler combines field and laboratory approaches in his studies of ecological and
hormonal influences on reproductive behavior in birds and mammals, Fran Hanzawa,
plant population biologist, studies the ecological and population genetic
consequences of seed dispersal. Laura Hoopes is developing a system using yeast
genetics to study the molecular nature of the aging process.
Karl Johnson studies the role of proteoglycans in Drosophila neural development.
Nina Karnovsky is an ecologist studying food web responses to climate change,
foraging behavior of upper trophic predators and polar ocean ecology. Rachel
Levin studies mating strategies and the origin of sex differences in free-living
tropical and temperate animals. Daniel Martinez is an evolutionary biologist who
studies the molecular evolution of embryonic development. Karen Parfitt takes a
molecular approach to understanding communication between neurons in the
mammalian hippocampus, a brain region involved in memory, while Len Seligman
combines molecular and genetic approaches to study enzymes which recognize and
cleave particular, long DNA sequences. Cell biologist Bruce Telzer is
researching the mechanisms by which organelles move within cells. Jonathan
Wright is an invertebrate physiologist interested in comparative physiology and
ecology of invertebrates, particularly crustaceans. Tina Negritto, Molecular
Biology Program coordinator, has her office and research lab in the Biology
Department and studies mechanisms of DNA recombination in yeast.
In recognition of the interdisciplinary nature of much of biology today, members
of the Biology Department also serve in the Molecular Biology, Neuroscience and
Environmental Analysis programs. For more information, please see:
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