Abdalla Aldras
Faculty
 
Jennifer White
Faculty
 
Thomas LaDuke
Faculty
 
Name
Abdalla Aldras
Title
Associate Professor of Biology

B.S., 1981, Jordan University
M.S.P.H., 1987, Tulane University
Sc.D., 1991, Tulane University

Phone
(570) 422-3704
Campus Address
SciTech 226

Dr. Aldras directs ESU’s programs in Biotechnology and Medical Technology, and he also serves as the advisor for the Laboratory Medicine concentration. He teaches courses in Mechanisms of Disease, Immunology, and Parasitology, and his research interests are in host-parasite interactions and immune responses to pathogens.

Name
James Hunt
Title
Professor of Biology, Director of the Marine Science Program

B.S., 1988, University of Rochester
Ph.D., 1996, University of California, Los Angeles

Phone
(570) 422-3715
Campus Address
SciTech 225

Dr. Hunt directs ESU's Marine Science program and teaches a range of courses in marine biology, both at ESU and at the Chincoteague Bay Field Station. His research is on the ecology and behavior of marine invertebrates.

Name
Christopher L. Kavanau
Title
Assistant Professor of Biology, Pre-PT Program Coordinator

B.S., 2004, California State University Los Angeles
Ph.D., 2010, The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, of New York University

Phone
(570) 422-2215
Campus Address
Moore Biology Hall 105

Dr. Kavanau directs ESU’s Pre-Physical Therapy concentration and teaches courses in Human Anatomy & Physiology and Animal Physiology. He is a computational neuroscientist, with a special interest in artificial neural networks.

Name
Thomas C. LaDuke
Title
Associate Professor of Biology

B.S., 1981, Michigan State University
M.S., 1983, Michigan State University
Ph.D., 1991, City University of New York

Phone
(570) 422-3520
Campus Address
Moore Biology Hall 128

Dr. LaDuke is a broadly-trained organismal biologist who teaches courses in Field Zoology, Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, Herpetology, and Tropical Ecosystems. He has research interests in herpetology, vertebrate anatomy, vertebrate paleontology, and tropical biology.

Name
Joshua Loomis
Title
Associate Professor of Biology

B.A., 1998, University of Florida
Ph.D., 2003, Pennsylvania State University

Phone
(570) 422-2708
Campus Address
SciTech 224

Dr. Loomis is a microbiologist and virologist who teaches courses in Microbiology, Applied Microbiology, and Virology. He conducts research on mixed microbial biofilms, antibiotics, and the history of epidemic diseases.

Name
J. Bernardo Mesa Cruz
Title
Assistant Professor

B.V.M., 2006, Universidad Nacional de Colombia
M.Sc., 2014, Virginia Tech
Ph.D., 2018, Virginia Tech

Phone
(570) 422-3321
Campus Address
SciTech 332

Dr. Mesa is a physiological ecologist who teaches Animal Physiology and Introductory Biology. His research assesses responses of terrestrial vertebrates to environmental change, including anthropogenic ecological modifications. He works across multiple disciplines to develop molecular, cellular, and organismal monitoring techniques to inform conservation programs.

Name
Emily Rollinson, Co Department Chair
Title
Associate Professor of Biology

B.A., 2009, Skidmore College
Ph.D., 2016, State University of New York at Stony Brook

Phone
(570) 422-3971
Campus Address
Moore Biology Hall 103

Dr. Rollinson serves as the Biology Graduate Program Coordinator and she teaches courses in General Ecology, Plant Ecology, and Biogeography, and also a graduate course in Research Design and Analysis. She is a plant ecologist and her research focuses on plant community ecology, riparian habitats, and invasive plant species.

Name
Thomas Tauer
Title
Professor of Biology

B.S., 1990, St. Cloud State University
Ph.D., 1996, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Phone
(570) 422-3142
Campus Address
SciTech 227

Dr. Tauer is a cell and molecular biologist who teaches courses in introductory biology, biotechnology, and eukaryotic cell culture.

Name
Matthew Wallace, Co Department Chair
Title
Professor of Biology

B.S., 1995, University of Connecticut
M.S., 1999, North Carolina State University
Ph.D., 2003, North Carolina State University

Phone
(570) 422-3720
Campus Address
Moore Biology Hall 201

Dr. Wallace serves as Department Chair for Biological Sciences and teaches Insects and Human Life, General Entomology, and Insect Systematics. He does research on insect diversity and classification, with a specific interest in the systematics of treehoppers.

Name
Howard P. (Sandy) Whidden
Title
Professor of Biology

B.S., 1981, Hobart College
M.S., 1987, University of Vermont
M.S., 1989, University of Florida
Ph.D., 1995, University of Massachusetts

Phone
(570) 422-3714
Campus Address
Moore Biology Hall 130

Dr. Whidden advises the Integrative Organismal Biology concentration and teaches Introductory Biology, Human Ecology, Mammalogy, and Conservation Biology. His research is on the natural history, conservation, and systematics of mammals.

Personal Webpage
Name
Jennifer White
Title
Associate Professor of Biology

B.A., 1986, Dartmouth College
Ph.D., 1993, State University of New York at Stony Brook

Phone
(570) 422-3712
Campus Address
Moore Biology Hall 129

Dr. White advises the Pre-Physician Assistant concentration and teaches Human Anatomy I & II, Embryology, and Histology. Her research is on vertebrate anatomy with a focus on functional and developmental morphology.

Name
Tracy Whitford
Title
Assistant Professor of Biology

B.S., 1984, Wright State University
Ph.D., 1993, State University of New York at Stony Brook

Phone
(570) 422-3713
Campus Address
Moore Biology Hall 104

Dr. Whitford advises the Biology Secondary Education majors and teaches courses in Genetics, Invertebrate Zoology, and Molecular Biology. Her research is on the biology of regeneration in marine annelids.

Name
Paul Wilson
Title
Associate Professor of Biology

B.S., 1988, Lafayette College
Ph.D., 1996, Washington University

Phone
(570) 422-3212
Campus Address
SciTech 229

Dr. Wilson directs ESU’s Environmental Studies program and teaches courses in environmental science, evolutionary biology, and ecology. He has done research on the biogeography of freshwater fishes and is currently involved with monitoring of aquatic ecosystems as part of the Delaware River Watershed Initiative (DRWI). He also performs community service related to freshwater ecology.

Name
Shiqi Zhang
Title
Assistant Professor of Biology

B.S., 2012, Northwest A&F University, China
Ph.D., 2018, University of California, Davis

Phone
(570) 422-3705
Campus Address
Moore Biology Hall 102

Dr. Zhang is a plant physiologist who teaches courses in Introductory Biology, Plant Physiology, and Plant Responses to Environmental Stress. Her research is in plant physiology, and in particular intracellular phosphate dynamics in roots during arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.

Personal Webpage
Name
Heather Dominguez
Title
Biology Secretary

 

Phone
(570) 422-3725
Campus Address
Moore Biology Hall 126

Heather assists current and incoming biology majors with questions on the department's course offerings, faculty, and student employment.

Name
Kathryn (Ryn) McLane
Title
Laboratory Technician

B.S., 2024, East Stroudsburg University

Phone
(570) 422-3716
Campus Address
Moore Biology Hall 127

Ryn prepares and sets up course labs, oversees chemical inventory, and cares for laboratory equipment. She also assists in care of our greenhouse space and animal care facilities.

Contact Us

For additional information about our programs, please contact the department secretary at (570) 422-3725 or email at hdominguez@esu.edu or Co Department Chair Emily Rollinson

Contact Information

Campus Address
Monroe Biology Hall 208
Phone:
(570) 422-3725
Fax:
(570) 422-3724 (Fax)
Title of Department Leader
Co Department Chair
Name
Matthew Wallace
Phone:
(570) 422-3720