Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research

During the course of their studies, biology majors may choose to participate in the Undergraduate Research Program in Biology (URPB). The URPB offers motivated students an opportunity to conduct original laboratory and/or field research in a variety of different areas of biology under the guidance of a faculty mentor.

For additional information or questions, feel free to contact the following faculty members:

Christopher W. Appelt, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Biological Sciences
Warde Academic Center
Phone: 773-298-3521
E-mail: appelt@sxu.edu 
Research Interests: Animal behavior, ecology, conservation
Ongoing Projects:

  • Examining the role of play behavior on the development of predatory behavior of grasshopper mice
  • Examining the impacts of non-native feral Monk Parakeets on native bird species in the Chicago area

Liane Cochran-Stafira, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Biological Sciences
Warde Academic Center
Phone: 773-298-3513
E-mail: cochran@sxu.edu
Research Interests: Community and Evolutionary Ecology, Aquatic Ecology, Microbial Ecology
Ongoing projects:

  • Study of metacommunity dynamics in the community of invertebrates and microbes found in the water-filled leaves of the carnivorous pitcher plant Sarracenia purpurea
  • Study of dispersal dynamics for the pitcher plant rotifer Habrotrocha rosa
  • Analysis of genetic and phenotypic variation among clones of the H. rosa across multiple spatial and temporal scales
  • Is there evidence for co-evolution in the S. purpurea system?
  • Characterization and examination of the functional role of 
    photosynthetic bacteria in S. purpurea pitchers

Randy Krohmer, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Biological Sciences
Warde Academic Center
Phone: 773-298-3527
E-mail: krohmer@sxu.edu
Research Interests: Neuroendocrine control of courtship behavior in a species exhibiting a dissociated reproductive pattern, the red-sided garter snake
Ongoing projects:

  • Distribution of aromatase immunoreactive cells in the forebrain of the red-sided garter snake
  • The role of sex steroids and hibernation on the development of brain nuclei
  • The reproductive biology of the eastern garter snake
  • Distribution of aromatase immunoreactive cells in the spinal cord of the garter snake
  • Population analysis: A mark-recapture study
  • Is courtship behavior in the male red-sided garter snake regulated by aromatase activity during low temperature dormancy

Tatiana C. Tatum, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences
Warde Academic Center
Phone: 773-298-3408 
E-mail: tatum@sxu.edu
Research Interests: Cytogenetics, environmental science
Ongoing Projects:

  • Effects of diesel fuel contamination on the physical characteristics of brine shrimp and Forage Kochia
  • Examining the effects of environmental contaminants on various animal and plant species

Other Contacts

David Elmendorf
Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences
Warde Academic Center
Phone: 773-298-5243
E-mail: elmendorf@sxu.edu		 Joseph Dertien
Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences
Warde Academic Center
Phone: 773-298-5262
E-mail: dertien@sxu.edu		 Rick Monzon
Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences
Warde Academic Center
Phone: 773-341-5241
E-mail: monzon@sxu.edu

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