Biology

Overview
Faculty
Biology
Environmental Studies
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Medical Technology
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Overview
The Department of Sciences offers instruction in the areas of Biology, Chemistry, Physical Sciences, and Environmental Studies. Bachelor of Science degrees are offered in Biology, Environmental Studies, and Medical Technology.

Instruction occurs in Cannon Hall, a three-story air-conditioned building containing a large lecture hall, five classrooms, seven laboratories, and faculty offices. The building is named for Annie Jump Cannon, Dover native and Wesley alumnus (class of 1880), who became the first female astronomer in the country. A modern computer lab is located on the main floor. A small greenhouse, located beside Cannon Hall, houses a plant collection and is used for research.

Biology teaching labs are equipped with microscopes, balances, electronic equipment, and glassware as needed to conduct lab exercises. Anatomy & Physiology courses utilize computer-interfaced physiographs to record and analyze a variety of inputs such as muscle contraction, ECG, and gas exchange. Advanced biology courses make use of oil immersion, phase-contrast, darkfield, and fluorescence microscopes, and can use a microscope with video camera for class presentations. Additional laboratory equipment includes a high-speed refrigerated centrifuge, scanning UV-Visible spectrophotometers, several types of electrophoresis chambers, and growth facilities for bacteria and plants. Analytical instruments in chemistry include a high-pressure liquid chromatograph, gas chromatographs, atomic absorption and infrared spectrometers.

Environmental Studies teaching labs are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment such as YSI water quality meters, GPS instruments, data loggers, and air emissions detectors. Students are exposed to techniques and methods used to study the complexities of humans in the environment. A modern GIS lab is available to complete comprehensive environmental analyses using digital and satellite data.

Wesley College is a member of the Wallops Island Marine Science Consortium (WIMSC). The campus, about 100 miles south of Dover, consists of over 57 acres containing classrooms, we and dry laboratories, a computer laboratory, residence buildings, cafeteria, and library. Wesley students can gain first-hand experience in the marine sciences during weekend field trips or in the College Summer Program.

Faculty

Bruce E. Allison, Ph.D.
Professor of Environmental Science
Wesley College E-Mail: allisobr@wesley.edu
Office Telephone: (302) 736-2349

Education
Ph.D. Kansas State University
M.S. University of Nevada Reno
B.S. California Polytechnic University

Teaching Responsibilities Seminar on the Environment, Introduction to Environmental Science, Introductory Soil Science, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Senior Project, Environmental Modeling Applications, and Soils and Environmental Quality.

Research Interests Computer modeling and GIS applications in soil and water management. Undergraduate students at Wesley College have be engaged in computer modeling activities at the state and national level. Two students have been selected for national scholarships based on their modeling applications projects. Currently an undergraduate student is using a riparian buffer computer model in her guided independent research.

Recent Publications
Simon, Susan, B.E. Allison, David Wolanski. 2002 The use of the SWAT model to predict the long-term-impact of urban development on surface water quality. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the International Erosion Control Association.

Allison, B.E. 2001. Methods to detect environmental change. Agronomy Abstracts.

Allison, B.B. 2000. Integrating Computer models and GIS into undergraduate lectures and labs. Agronomy Abstracts.

Allison, B.E. 2000. The effectiveness of vegetative filter strips in reducing sediment yield: A GLEAMS simulation. Proceedings of Conference 2000 - Urban erosion, sediment and stormwater management.

Allison, B.E. 1999. Simulating the Loading of Soil Sediments and Phosphates to Surface Waters and Wetlands. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the International Erosion Control Association.

Allison, B.E. 1997. Integrating Computer Models in Undergraduate Environmental Science Curricula. 1997 Symposium Proceedings of the American Water Resources Association and the University Council On Water Resources.

Allison, B.E. 1997. The Use of the NLEAP Model to Predict Ground Water Contamination. 1997 Symposium Proceedings of the American Water Resources Association and the University Council On Water Resources.

Personal Interests
Bicycling, sailing, backpacking, gardening, antiquing, furniture refinishing, and cooking

Keka Biswas , Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies
Wesley College Email : BiswasKe@wesley.edu
Office Telephone: (302) 736-2335

Education:
Ph.D University of New Mexico
M.S University of Nagpur, India
B.Ed University of Nagpur, India
B.S University of Nagpur, India

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Environmental Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder,CO

Research Interests :

My research interest is in Environmental Toxicology with concentration towards human and veterinary pharmaceuticals. These are organic contaminents in the environment and I am particularly interested on the biomedical implications, specifcally human and animal health risks associated with antibiotic resistant bacteria, steroidal hormones in poultry litter and heavy metal toxicity. Animal excreted steroidal estrogenic hormones, enter into the environment and this widespread environmental contamination may put human and animal health at high risk. Exposure to steroidal hormones has been associated with widespread physiological and reproductive disorders.

Kathleen L. Curran, Ph. D.
Chairperson, Associate Professor of Biology
Wesley College E-Mail: curranka@wesley.edu
Office Telephone: (302) 736-2456

Education Ph.D Entomology The Ohio State University
M.S. Biology Fordham University
B.S. Biology Fordham University

Teaching Responsibilities
Introduction To Biology, Ecology, Limnology and Senior Seminar In Biology I and II

Research Interests
Tick Ecology

Recent Publications Curran, K.L., J.B. Kidd, J. Vassallo, and V.L. Van Meter. 2000. Borrelia burgdorferi and the causative agent of human granulocytic erlichiosis in deer ticks, Delaware. Emerg Infect Dis.6:408-411.

Curran, K.L. and G.R. Needham. 1996. The effects of temperature and humidity on laboratory survival and development of nymphal Ixodes scapularis Say (Ixodidae). In: Acarology IX: Volume 1, Proceedings. R. Mitchell, D.J. Horn, G.R. Needham and W.C. Welbourne Eds.

Daniels, T.J., R.C. Falco, K.L. Curran and D. Fish. 1996. Timing of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) oviposition and larval activity in southern New York. J. Med. Entomol. 33:140-147.

Personal Interests
Gardening, watercolor painting

Malcolm J. D'Souza, Ph.D.
Professor of Chemistry
Wesley College E-Mail: dsouzama@wesley.edu
Office Telephone: (302) 736-2528

Education
Ph.D. Physical Organic Chemistry, Northern Illinois University, 1992
M.S. Organic Chemistry, Northern Illinois University,1989
M.S. Inorganic Chemistry, University of Bombay, India, 1985
B.S. Chemistry (major), Physics & Math (minors), University of Bombay, India, 1985

Teaching Responsibilities
Introductory Chemistry, Organic Chemistry I, Organic Chemistry II, Biochemistry, Chemistry for Allied Health, Introduction to Environmental Sciences, Independent Study

Research Interests
Dr. D'Souza's major focus is in the field of solution chemical kinetics. The projects are of basic importance to organic chemistry because they study the bond making and bond breaking process of a great many reactions that are used in the synthesis of useful compounds. The proposed experiments may lead to better ways to measure and understand the effects of the solvent (medium) in which these reactions take place and this would increase our understanding of their reaction mechanisms.

Publications (in refereed journals)
"Correlation of the Rates of Solvolysis of n-Octylfluoroformate and a Comparison with n-Octylchloroformate Solvolysis." Kevill, D.N.; D'Souza, M. J. Journal Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 2 2002, Vol. 14, 240

"Concerning the Extent of Nucleophilic Participation in Solvolyses of Glucopyranosyl Derivatives." Kevill, D. N.; D'Souza, M. J. Journal of Physical Organic Chemistry 2001, Vol. 14, 819

"Solvolysis of N, N-dimethylthiocarbamoyl Chloride: Effect of sulfur-for-oxygen substitution upon kinetics and product partitioning." Kevill, D. N.; Rudolph, T. M.; D'Souza, M. J. Journal of Physical Organic Chemistry 2000, Vol. 13, 192

"Application of the NT Solvent Nucleophilicity Scale to Attack at Sulfur: Solvolyses of Benzenesulfonyl Chlorides." Kevill, D. N.; D'Souza, M. J. Collection Czechoslovakia Chemical Communications 1999, Vol. 64, 1790

"Concerning the Extents of Nucleophilic Participation in Slovolyses of p-Methoxybenzyl Halides. " Kevill, D. N.; D'Souza, M. J. Journal Chemical Research (S) 1999, 336

"Correlation of the Rates of Solvolysis of Phenyl Chlorothionoformate and Phenyl Chlorodithioformate. " Kevill, D. N.; D'Souza, M. J. Canadian Journal of Chemistry 1999, 1118

"Application of the Aromatic Ring Parameter (I) to solvolyses of extremely crowded alkyl derivatives." Kevill, D. N.; D'Souza, M. J. Tetrahedron Letters 1998, 39, 3973

"Correlation of the Rates of Solvolysis of Arylmethyl p-toluenesulfonates: Application of the Aromatic Ring Parameter and a Discussion of Similarity Models." Kevill, D. N.; Ren, H.; D'Souza, M. J. Canadian Journal of Chemistry 1998, 751

"Concerning the Two Reaction Channels for the Solvolyses of Ethyl Chloroformate and Ethyl Chlorothioformate." Kevill, D. N.; D'Souza, M. J. Journal Organic Chemistry 1998, 63, 2120

"Correlation of The Rates of Solvolysis of the N,N-Diphenylcarbamoylpyridinium Ion." Kevill, D.N.; Bond, M. W.; D'Souza, M. J. Journal of Physical Organic Chemistry 1998, Vol. 11 273

"Correlation of the Rates of Solvolysis of N-Methyl-N-Phenylcarbamoyl Chloride." Kevill, D. N.; Best, B. J.; D'Souza, M. J. Organic Reactivity 1997, Vol. 31 No.1 (104), 55

"Dual Pathways in the Solvolyses of Phenyl Chlorothioformate." Kevill, D. N.; Bond, M. W.; D'Souza, M. J. Journal of Organic Chemistry 1997, 62, 7869

"Correlation of the Rates of Solvolysis of Phenyl Chloroformate." Kevill, D. N.; D'Souza, M. J. Journal Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 2 1997, 1721

"Application of the Aromatic Ring Parameter (I) to Solvolyses of ß-arylalkyl p-Toluenesulfonates." Kevill, D. N.; D'Souza, M. J. Journal Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 2 1997, 257

"An Unusually Large Kinetic Br/Cl Leaving Group Effect for the Solvolysis of 1-Halospiro[adamantane- 2,2'-adamantane]." Kevill, D. N.; Lomas, J. S.; D'Souza, M. J. Journal Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 2 1997, 131

Lynn M. Everett, Ph.D.
Department of Sciences
Associate Professor of Biology
Wesley College E-Mail: everetly@wesley.edu
Office Telephone: (302) 736-2310

Education
Ph.D. Indiana University Graduate School, Indianapolis, Indiana B.S. Indiana University

Teaching Responsibilities
Human Anatomy and Physiology and Introduction to Human Biology/Research Interests - genetic variability in bacteria causing lyme disease

Recent Publications
Everett, L.M. & Bigsby, R.M., "Mesenchymal-Epithelial Interactions in an in Vitro Model of Neonatal Mouse Uterus", Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., 214:49-53, 1997

Everett, L.M., Li, A., Devaraju, G., Caparell-Grant, A. & Bigsby, R.M., "A Novel Estrogen-enhanced Transcript Identified in the Rat Uterus by Differential Display", Endocrinology 138(9):3836-3841, 1997

Stewart, M.J., Dipple, K.M., Estonius, M., Nakshatri, H., Everett, L.M., & Crabb, D.W., "Binding and Activation of the Human Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 2 Promoter by Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4", Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1399:181-186, 1998

Everett, L.M. & Crabb, D.W., "Sensitivity of Virally-Driven Reporter Plasmids to Members of the Steroid/Thyroid/Retinoid Family of Nuclear Receptors", J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. 70:197-201, 1999

Pinaire, J., Chou, W.Y., Morton, M., You, M.,Zeng, Y., Cho, W.K., Galli, A., Everett, L., Breen H., Dumanual, N. Smith And, J.R., Crabb, D., “Identification of a Retinoid Receptor Response Element in the Human Aldehyde Dehydrogenase-2 Promotor”, Alcohol: Clinical & Experimental Research 27(12):1860-6, 2003

Personal Interests
Gardening, reading, and my two dogs - Joe and Bonnie

Richard J. Kashmar, Ph.D.
Department of Sciences
Associate Professor of Chemistry and Physics
Wesley College E-Mail: Kashmari@wesley.edu
Office Telephone: (302) 736-2530

Education
Ph.D. Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh (1984)
M.S. Chemistry, University of Rochester (1976)
B.S. Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University (1974)

Responsibilities
General Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, and Introductory Chemistry.

Research Interests
His research training was in spectroscopy of excited state molecules, and his teaching and laboratory experience has included analytical and inorganic chemistry, as well as physical chemistry. His research interests include the application of optical spectroscopy to chemical analysis and to the study of molecular interactions.

Personal Interests
His personal interests include hiking, photography, the study of jazz, and cooking

Jonathan B. Kidd, M.S.
Professor of Biology
Wesley College E-Mail: kiddjo@wesley.edu
Office Telephone: (302) 736-2337

Education
M.S. in biology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Pursued a Ph.D. in microbial ecology at the University of Maryland on a part-time basis.

Teaching Responsibilities
Microbiology, Genetics, Cell Biology, Immunology, Environmental Microbiology, and Bioremediation.

Research Interests
Professor Kidd has years of experience as a microbiologist in laboratory and clinical settings. His research interests are focused in the ecology of infectious diseases, particularly cholera and tick-born infections such as Lyme disease. He also spent several summers at the Naval Research Lab in Washington, D.C. working on the bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons http://pony.nrl.navy.mil/eqshome.html Prof. Kidd serves on the Board of Directors of the Wallops Island Marine Science Consortium (MSC) http://www.msconsortium.org/ and is currently Vice President for Research of MSC.

Personal Interests
Outside interests include photography, a vegetable garden, and music. He is Board Chair of Delaware Friends of Folk http://www.delfolk.org/. and a member of the internationally famous Dover Mountain Band http://www.dol.net/~mike.nielsen/dmb.htm

William K. Kroen, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology
Wesley College E-Mail: kroenwi@wesley.edu
Office Telephone: (302) 736-2570

Education
Ph.D. Botany 1989 Duke University
M.S. Botany 1984 Washington State University
B.S. Biology 1981 The Pennsylvania State University

Teaching Responsibilities
The Scientific Process, Biology I & II, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Human Sexuality, Plant Biology, Plant Physiology, and Invertebrate Zoology.

Research Interests
His training and experience is in plant physiology, particularly photosynthesis, of both algae and agricultural crops. His present interests include the need for excellent writing skills by students, since communicating the results and interpretation of one's work is an integral part of the scientific process. He presented two posters at national meetings on this topic recently. "Using Laboratory Reports to Improve Writing Skills." National Association of Biology Teachers Annual Meeting, Orlando FL., October 2000.
"Beginning Science Seminars for College Students." National Association of Biology Teachers Annual Meeting, Ft. Worth, TX., October 1999.

Personal Interests
He is a SCUBA diver and photographer who uses these hobbies for his courses.

Current Publications
Kroen, W. K. (1998). A Simple End-Point Assay for Starch-Degrading Enzymes. American Biology Teacher 60:140-143.

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