My main research interest involves investigating developmental patterns of blister beetles, meloids, under certain environmental conditions. I also have an interest in applications of statistical analysis to biological data, including epidemiological data.

I am the faculty advisor for the Plant Club at York College, growing plants with students in the greenhouse.

The main focus of my laboratory is to understand events leading to programmed cell death (apoptosis) in developing T-cells in the thymus. We are currently using several genetically modified mice to determine the role of Beclin 1, a gene implicated in autophagy and apoptosis, in intrathymic T-cell development. My long term goal is to develop a mouse model in which the Beclin 1 gene will be inactivated in lymphoid cells. This will provide an excellent system to study different aspects of T-cell biology in which Beclin 1 could play an important role.

My research program encompasses three main areas: seed dispersal and seed bank ecology, invasive plants, and disturbed habitats. I am conducting a study that examines an alternative role for high seed production with limited dispersal. I plan to expand this research to include examinations of mycorrhizal colonization rates, pollinator attraction, and the soil microbial community. I am also interested in examining the Evolution of Increased Competitive Ability hypothesis using an ecogenomic approach. Finally, I am interested in studying how the urban environment affects plant species composition in waste areas, like roadsides, and plant pollen production.

1. How do some fish maintain an internal ion homeostasis when the environmental salinity changes?

2. How are environmental contaminants of emerging concern impacting early developmental processes, such as retinal patterning, in local aquatic species?

We use biochemical, molecular and immunohistochemical techniques to address these questions using species of local interest, as well as laboratory fish colonies of species such as stickleback and zebrafish.

For more information, see the Christensen lab web site

Using the techniques of electrophysiological recording and microinjection, Dr. Hua studies synaptic transmission, the means by which neurons communicate with each other. She is particularly interested in the speed of neuronal communication and the theories on signal processing capacity of neural networks.

Dr. Levinger studies RNA-Protein interactions using biochemistry and molecular biology. The reaction he investigates is the 3 end processing of tRNA precursors. All RNAs are transcribed as precursors and undergo maturation. Mature tRNAs are essential for protein synthesis. In this research project we construct mutations in both the enzyme and substrate and analyze their effects on this important reaction.

Dr. MacNeil joined the York College faculty in 2000. She is interested in the neuroanatomy of the vertebrate retina. The goal of her current research is to identify microcircuits between neurons that synapse in the inner plexiform layer of the retina.

My background and current research focus on the role of RNA-binding proteins in the regulation of important developmental events using Drosophila melanogaster as a model system. Although RNA-binding proteins have been shown to regulate the translation, stability, and localization of mRNAs during development, little is known of potential regulation at the level of transport and splicing events in the nucleus. I am currently focusing on identifying RNA targets of a nuclearly localized RNA-binding protein called Lark that is required for progression through oogenesis. It is likely that Lark is required at the level of RNA-splicing or nuclear-cytoplamic transport.

Dr. Schlein joined the York faculty in 1971. He is interested in the structure and function of chemoreceptors in invertebrates. He has also been heavily involved in science education for teachers and children from grades 3-9. He has had numerous grants from NASA, NY State Dept. of Education and NSF for these projects.