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.

I have three main areas of interest; (1) plant-herbivore interactions, (2) seed banks and seed dispersal, and (3) competition and allelopathy. I am conducting studies examining latitudinal gradients in defenses against herbivores in common sunflowers, effect of the seed bank of an invasive species on the germination and seedling establishment of several native species, the effects of competition on herbivore defense, and the ability of plants to acclimatize to a particular competitor.

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 theories on the 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.