Our Faculty - Biological Sciences

Ken Adams joined the Department of Biological Sciences at Bridgewater State University in 2013. He teaches General Biology I, Cell Biology, Cell Signaling, and Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration. Dr. Adams’ research interests lie in the molecular mechanisms that regulate cell behavior and misbehavior in disease. Current projects are focused on: (1) characterizing the cell signaling events and transcription networks underlying neuronal differentiation; (2) investigating novel mechanisms through which Bcl-2 family proteins regulate cell survival and apoptosis; and (3) examining molecular interactions and events that are linked to Alzheimer Disease pathology. These projects are pursued using mammalian cell culture as a model system alongside a variety of cellular, molecular, and biochemistry techniques. In addition to his teaching and research, Dr. Adams is chair of the Health Professions Advisory Committee, which provides support and guidance to BSU students considering and/or pursuing a career in the health professions.

Dr. Carson joined Bridgewater State University in 2000. His expertise is with both classical genetic analysis and molecular genetics and he teaches Genetics and Human Genetics for majors, Human Heredity, and other non-majors biology courses. Dr. Carson’s research relates to proteins that control cell division in the bacterial species, Escherichia coli. Approaches to this problem include isolation of new mutants, a technique that is very amenable to involving undergraduate students in research projects. His additional interests are in bioinformatics and the social and medical implications of genetic and molecular genetics technologies such as DNA fingerprinting, genetic testing for human disease and gene therapy. Dr. Carson spends off-hours with his family, numerous animals and loves the beaches and whales of New England.

M. Caitlin Fisher-Reid joined the faculty of Bridgewater State University in the Fall of 2014. Her research focuses on the beginning stages of speciation, phylogenetics, and population genetics. She is particularly interested in ecological speciation, in which divergent natural selection leads to reproductive isolation within a population. Dr. Fisher-Reid is currently exploring questions related to these topics in Plethodontid salamanders, in particular the very common eastern red-backed salamander, Plethodon cinereus. She has done extensive lab and field work to examine the genetics and ecology behind the separation of the two color morphs of P. cinereus, the red and the lead morph, on Long Island, NY. She is continuing this work in the southeastern Appalachians and in the northeast, where the morphs separate on elevational gradients. Her broader goal with this research is to explore the relationship between different kinds of genetic variation (e.g., adaptive, neutral) and environmental gradients, which has implications for conservation and speciation research. Dr. Fisher-Reid has also worked on phylogenetic methods, the phylogenetic history of the genus Plethodon, and climatic-niche evolution in the salamander family Plethodontidae, to which the genus belongs. You can learn more about Dr. Fisher-Reid and her research at http://webhost.bridgew.edu/mfisherreid/ .

Heather Marella joined the Department of Biological Sciences in 2011.  Dr. Marella’s teaching responsibilities include General Biology II, Genetics, Plant Physiology and Parasitology. Dr. Marella’s research focuses on the interaction between plants (Arabidopsis thaliana and tomato) and a nematode parasite (Meloidogyne incognita).  Meloidogyne incognita is a microscopic roundworm that penetrates the root of a host plant, where it establishes a feeding site; draining the plant of nutrients and altering the structure of the root.  These devastating parasites cause an economic loss in the billions annually.  Using a combination of genetics, cell and molecular biology, Dr. Marella and her undergraduate students investigate the function of plant transporter genes in establishing and maintaining the parasitic infection. Additional projects examine the role of plant hormones and mycorrhizal fungi in the plant-parasite interaction. Students have the opportunity to present their data at local, regional and national conferences.

Jenna Mendell joined the faculty of the Department of Biological Sciences in 2009, where she teaches General Biology I, General Microbiology and Medical Microbiology. Jenna’s research involves analysis of the microbial community present in drinking water sources from Cambodia, and how these organisms can affect the overall health of the individuals consuming them. This work has allowed her to combine her love of microbial ecology, medical microbiology and community service and she routinely brings students to Cambodia to conduct research addressing clean water issues. Jenna is also researching the epidemiology of the pathogens Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease and Anaplasma spp, the causative agent of Anaplasmosis, in the tick vector, Ixodes scapularis and their prevalence in Plymouth County. Jenna enjoys mentoring and advising undergraduates and serves as the Honors Chair for the Department of Biological Sciences as well as the Faculty Advisor for the Biology Club and Beta, Beta, Beta, the National Biological Honor Society. In her spare time she is an avid hiker, gardener and is actively involved in dog rescue across the country, specializing in senior and hospice rescue.

Jonathan Roling’s teaching responsibilities include Toxicology, Genetics, Cell Biology, Winter Ecology and Marine Biology. As an environmental toxicologist, Dr. Roling’s research focuses on the molecular response to toxicants in the environment. Currently, one focus is on honeybees and how anthropogenic influences decrease hive health. Gene regulation changes due to pesticides or altered diet is being monitored. A separate project is evaluating the ability for environmental bacteria to gain tolerance to triclosan. He actively includes Bridgewater students in his research projects. Students are involved in exposures, RNA extractions, QPCR analysis of gene expression, and bacterial tolerance assays. Students present this data at local, regional and national conventions.