Biological Sciences Faculty
Peter B. Berget, PhD
Professor, Biological Sciences
Chair, Department of Biological Sciences
p.berget@usciences.edu | 215.596.7417
Dr. Berget holds a PhD from the University of Minnesota. His current research focus is on the discovery, engineering and development of single-chain variable fragment antibodies (scFvs) that can be used as intracellular and extracellular indicators of gene, pathway and metabolic activity.
Wasim Anwar, BMBS
Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology
w.anwar@usciences.edu | 267.295.3156
Professor Anwar received a BS from Foreman Christian (Pakistan) and a BMBS from Allama Iqbal Medical College (Pakistan).
Natalia Coleman, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
n.coleman@usciences.edu | 215.596.7592
We study the role of neurofibromin (a product of tumor suppressor gene Nf1) in tumorigenesis and learning difficulties associated with Nf1, using mouse embryonic stem cell-derived neurofibromatosis disease model as a pharmacological experimental...
Ara DerMarderosian, PhD
Professor of Pharmacognosy
Research Professor of Medicinal Chemistry
Abraham and Edith Roth Professor in Natural Products
a.dermar@usciences.edu | 215.596.8915
Dr. DerMarderosian earned a PhD from the University of Rhode Island and an MS and BS from the University of Massachusetts. His research interests are the isolation and identification of bioactive substances from natural products, including plants and animals from terrestrial and marine sources; studies of the medical value of foods (nutraceuticals); and genetic and chemical identification of drug plants.
James R. Johnson, PhD
Associate Professor of Biology
Coordinator, BS in Microbiology
j.johnso@usciences.edu | 215.596.8521
Dr. Johnson holds a PhD from Duke University and a BS from Auburn University. His research includes molecular mechanisms regulating gene expression and gene product function; analysis of protein factors and DNA structures, which regulate gene activity in Escherichia coli K-12 and Staphylococcus aureus; and microbial sulfur metabolism.
Margaret R. Kasschau, PhD
Professor Emeritus of Biology
Associate Provost
m.kassch@usciences.edu | 215.596.7558
Dr. Kasschau received her PhD and MS from the University of South Carolina and her BS from the University of Rochester. She studies the cell biology of invertebrates; dynamics of cells from the invertebrate immune system; and the evolution of RGDS binding sites in lower organisms.
Melissa G. Marko, PhD
Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology
m.marko@usciences.edu | 215.596.7437
Current research is focusing on the biosynthetic pathway of the antioxidant carnosic acid found in the herb Rosmarinus officinalis or rosemary. Techniques in cellular and molecular biology are used to elucidate the biosynthetic pathway of carnosic acid from plant tissue, insertion of genes into genetically tractable microbial hosts, such as the bacteria Escherichia coli and the yeast Saccharomyces cervisiae, and the evaluation of the resulting bioengineered products.
William R. Law, PhD
Professor of Biology
Vice Dean of Misher College of Arts and Sciences
Director, Forensic Science Program
w.law@usciences.edu | 215.596.8919
Dr. Law earned a PhD from the University of Illinois and a BA from Augustana College. He explores the hypothesis that a balance between enzymatic and allosteric (non-enzymatic) influences of adenosine deaminase on adenosine actions plays a major role in regulating macrophage and cardiac cytokine signaling.
Vandana Ahuja-Miller, MD
Assistant Professor of Biology
v.miller@usciences.edu | 215.596.7591
Dr. Ahuja-Miller received her MD from Lady Hardinge College, India, and her BS from Hindu College. She studies the immunology of infectious diseases.
Alison M. Mostrom, PhD
Associate Professor of Biology
a.mostro@usciences.edu | 215.895.1137
Dr. Mostrom earned a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and an AB from Mount Holyoke College. Her research includes conservation of neotropical migratory species in Pennsylvania; social behavior and communication of Carolina chickadees in Pennsylvania; social behavior of an orb-weaving spider in Mexico; and scholarship of teaching and learning.
Suzanne K. Murphy, PhD
Professor of Biology
Dean, Misher College of Arts and Sciences
s.murphy@usciences.edu | 215.596.8921
Dr. Murphy holds a PhD from Hahnemann University and a BS from Rosemont College. Her research involves analysis of early expression of the Ras oncogene in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts, with specific emphasis on alterations in signal transduction pathways.
Dana Pape-Zambito
Assistant Professor of Biology
d.dambito@usciences.edu
Lois H. Peck, EdD
Professor of Biology
Director, Science Teacher Certification Program
l.peck@usciences.edu | 215.596.8922
Dr. Peck earned an EdD from Temple University and an MEd and BS from West Chester University. She researches the influence of visual spatial training on science achievement; the impact of teacher development on improved science instruction; and factors affecting attitudinal changes in preservice science teachers.
Bela Peethambaran, PhD
Assistant Professor of Biology
b.peethambaran@usciences.edu | 215.596.8923
Dr. Peethambaran earned a PhD from Mississippi State University working with maize silk proteins. She has completed postdoctoral studies at the University of Minnesota and a teaching postdoctoral appointment at Villanova University. Her research work focuses on the role of 14-3-3 proteins in natural antioxidant production in Arabidopsis thaliana and other plants.
John R. Porter, PhD
Professor of Biological Sciences
Research Professor of Pharmacognosy
Director, Graduate Program in Biological Sciences
j.porter@usciences.edu | 215.596.8917
Dr. Porter received a PhD from the University of Montana and a BS from Pittsburg State University. He studies secondary product and drug production by plants and enhancement through plant tissue, cell and organ cultures; screening of plant/fungal extracts for antimicrobial activities; and plant-microbe interactions.
Catherine Purzycki, MS
Lecturer of Biological Sciences
c.purzyc@usciences.edu | 215.596.8498
Ms. Purzycki holds a BS in Biology from University of the Sciences, and an MS in Biology from Rutgers University. Her research focuses on the relationship between fungal toxins and neurodegenerative disease.
Margaret A. Reinhart, MT, MMA
Lecturer in Biology
Director, Medical Technology Program
m.reinha@usciences.edu | 215.596.8797
Ms. Reinhart earned an MT from ASCP, an MMA from Pennsylvania State University, an MS from Villanova University and a BS from Millersville University. Her research involves invertebrate immune responses and reactions of earthworm coelomocytes to both naturally occurring and induced parasite infections.
Robert A. Smith, MS
Distinguished Assistant Professor of Biology
r.smith@usciences.edu | 215.596.8918
Mr. Smith received his MS and BS from USciences. He studies plant tissue culture as a means of secondary metabolite production; developing models for organogenesis and embryogenesis in plant tissue culture; and anthelmintic screening of natural products using C. elegans as a model.
Kevin C. Wolbach, MS
Lecturer in Biology
Interim Assistant Chair, Department of Biological Sciences
Coordinator, BS in Environmental Science Program
k.wolbac@usciences.edu | 215.895.3129
Mr. Wolbach holds an MS from Lehigh University and a BS from Muhlenberg College. He studies the community ecology of aquatic environments in the Northeast United States; functional morphology and hydromechanics of suspension feeding invertebrates; and natural products found in vertebrates and invertebrates.
Gilbert L. Zink, PhD
Associate Professor of Biology
g.zink@usciences.edu | 215.596.8520
Dr. Zink earned his PhD, MS and BS from Ohio State University. His research interests are the genetics of histocompatibility epitopes and immunological compromise and the aging process.