Research
Interests: Prof.
Brady studies the ecology and evolution of forest tree species, especially
the pines of western North America. Office:
School of Education, Room 317 Research
Interests: Prof.
Chien is interested in the physiology and ecology of inter-tidal organisms.
His research has involved the transport of amino acids and metal ions
across cell membranes and the detoxification mechanisms of metal ions. Office:
Harney Science Center, Room 307 Research
Interests: Currently, Prof.
Chihara's lab is working on the characterization of a gene, named omega,
which is recessive gene for the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase IV that
functions as a modifier of the third instar cuticle protein #5. They
have not yet determined if this gene is induced by ecdysone. However,
the gene is extremely interesting because it not only modifies a larval
cuticle protein but has been shown in previous studies (done by two
undergraduate students) to effect the time of development of the larvae
and the fertility of the male adult, (only the male, the female is normal).
The enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase IV, is a homolog of human CD26, which
is involved in signal transduction and neural peptide processing in
humans. They have cloned the gene and are characterizing the enzyme.
The enzyme is very similar to human DPPIV, occurs both as a membrane
bound and soluble enzyme in at least two different tissues, testes and
cuticular endothelium. Office:
Harney Science Center, Room 364 Jennifer
A. Dever, Assistant Professor
(2002-) Research
Interests: Prof.
Dever conducts research in the area of conservation genetics. Her interest
lies in exploring population genetics questions regarding the evolutionary
forces of gene flow and genetic drift as well as the impacts of inbreeding
on wild populations. Specifically, she utilizes molecular techniques
to better understand genetic structure in order to conserve endangered
and threatened populations. Office:
Harney Science Center, Room 352 Research
Interests: Prof.
Karentz's research focuses on the ultraviolet photobiology of marine
organisms: identifying strategies for protection from UV exposure and
understanding mechanisms for repair of UV-induced damage. Her most recent
work has focused on investigating the ecological implications of Antarctic
ozone depletion (funded by the National Science Foundation). Office:
Harney Science Center, Room 347 Leslie
King, Instructor (1992-
) Research
Interests: Ms. King's graduate research focused on hemoglobin-oxygen
affinities of adult and fetal swell sharks (C. ventriosum) and
she has participated in field studies of shark behavior and feeding
in the Bahamas. In addition to shark reproduction and behavior, she
is interested in undergraduate laboratory education. Ms. King began
working at U.S.F. in 1992 and currently teaches human physiology for
nursing majors and general biology laboratories. Office:
Harney Science Center, Room 350 Research
Interests: Prof.
Niles is interested in the regulated development of B lymphocytes, a
population of cells critical to protective immunity. Her research focuses
on defining those molecular events that promote the assembly, transport,
and secretion of antibodies. Office:
Harney Science Center, Room 323 Research
Interests: Prof.
Nunes is interested in questions at the interface between physiology,
behavior, and ecology. His studies have examined hormonal and energetic
regulation of dispersal, play, and parental behaviors in mammals. Office:
Harney Science Center, Room 325 Research
Interests: Ms.
Okonek worked as a medical microbiologist in a hospital laboratory for
11 years, 9 of them as microbiology supervisor. Her research concerned
susceptibility testing of rough, smooth, and mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa
isolated from cystic fibrosis patients. Office:
Harney Science Center, Room 513 Research
Interests: Prof.
Schulz is studying cell development in the reproductive structures (ovules
and anthers) of flowering plants using the techniques of electron microscopy
and cytochemistry. Current emphasis is on the study of the effects of
chemical hybridizing agents (spermicides used to produce hybrid wheat
seed) or the development of wheat pollen. Office:
Harney Science Center, Room 315 Research
Interests:
Prof. Spencer is interested in viral pathogenesis and modulation of
the human immune system. She is studying the effects of herpesvirus-encoded
cytokines with the aim of elucidating downstream signaling events that
lead to immune suppression. Present work is focused on determining how
viral cytokines have evolved to selectively retain specific cytokine
functions that are most beneficial to virus Office:
Harney Science Center, Room 323 Research
Interests:
Prof. Stevens' research centers around small mammal demography and environmental
monitoring. His studies have included research in the Arctic, California,
and Papua New Guinea. Office:
Harney Science Center, Room 359 Research
Interests:
Prof. Sullivan investigates the role of the molluscan immune system
in responding to parasitic infection and foreign tissue transplants.
He is specifically interested in the interaction between the schistosome
parasite, a major cause of human disease, and the snail intermediate
host (Funded by the National Institutes of Health). Office:
Harney Science Center, Room 361 Research
Interests:
Dr. Tzagarakis-Foster is interested in studying the Dax-1 (Dosage Sensitive
Sex Reversal, Adrenal Hypoplasia Congenita, critical region on the X
chromosome, gene 1) protein, a member of a large group of eukaryotic
transcription factors called the nuclear hormone receptors. She has
found that Dax-1 is a potent transcriptional repressor and is able to
block the growth of breast cancer cells using a mouse model system.
Currently, Dr. Tzagarakis-Foster's research is focused on investigating
the mechanism of repression by Dax-1 as well as examining the role of
Dax-1 in preventing breast tumor formation in women. Office:
Harney Science Center, Room 327
Timothy
J. Brady, Assistant Professor (1999-
)
B.A. and B.S., University of Washington, 1984; M.S. University
of Washington, 1987; Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1996.
Phone: 415 422-5741
E-mail: brady@usfca.edu
Paul
K. Chien, Professor
(1973- )
BS, Chung Chi College, N.T., Hong Kong, Chemistry, 1962;
BS, Chung Chi College, NT, Hong Kong, Biology, 1964; Ph.D.,University
of California, Irvine, 1971.
Phone:
415 422-6345
E-mail: chienp@usfca.edu
Carol
J. Chihara, Professor Emeritus
(1975-
)
BS, University of California, Berkeley, 1962; M.A., San
Francisco State College, 1967; Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley,
1972.
Phone:
415 422-6531
E-mail: chihara@usfca.edu
BS, Ball State University, 1992; MA, Ball State University,
1994; Ph.D., Texas Tech University, Lubbock, 2000.
Phone:
415 422-5481
E-mail: jadever@usfca.edu
Deneb
Karentz, Professor (1991-
)
BS, University of Rhode Island, 1973; MS, Oregon State
University, 1976; Ph.D., University of Rhode Island, 1982.
Phone:
415 422-2831
E-mail: karentzd@usfca.edu
BS, U.C. Davis, 1989; MS San Francisco State, 1993.
Phone:
415 422-5704
E-mail: kingle@usfca.edu
Mary
Jane Niles, Professor
(1992- )
BS, San Francisco State University, 1985; Ph.D., University
of California, Berkeley, 1992.
Phone:
415 422-2354
E-mail: niles@usfca.edu
Scott Nunes, Associate
Professor (2000-
)
BA University of California, Santa Cruz, 1986; Ph.D.
Michigan State University, 1997.
Phone:
415 422-5645
E-mail: nunes@usfca.edu
Bonnie
A.B. Okonek, Instructor
BA San Jose State College; MA San Jose State University.
Phone:
415 422-5331
E-mail: okonek@usfca.edu
Patricia
J. Schulz, Professor
(1978- )
BA, Rosary College, 1959; MS, Fordham University, 1962;
Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1966.
Phone: 415 422-6367
E-mail: schulzp@usfca.edu
Juliet
Spencer, Assistant Professor
(2003-)
BS, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 1993; Ph.D., University
of Virginia, 1998.
persistence.
Phone:
415 422-5470
E-mail: jspencer@usfca.edu
Gary
L. Stevens, Professor (1970-)
BS, California State University, Long Beach, 1964; MA,
University of California, Davis, 1966; Ph.D., University of California,
Davis, 1970.
Phone:
415 422-6276
E-mail: stevens@usfca.edu
John
Sullivan, Professor, Department Chair and Fletcher Jones Endowed Chair
(2000-)
AB, Dartmouth College, 1968; MS, Lehigh University, 1974;
Ph.D., Lehigh University, 1976.
Phone:
415 422-5975
E-mail: sullivan@usfca.edu
Christina
Tzagarakis-Foster, Assistant Professor,
(2005-)
BS University of San Francisco, 1990; Ph.D. Microbiology
U.C. Davis, 1999.
Phone:
415 422-6820
E-mail: ctzagarakis@usfca.edu
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