• Skip to main content
  • Skip to main navigation
Baylor University
Department of Biology
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
      • COVID-19 Statement
    • Administrative Faculty
    • Baylor's Caring Community
    • Contact Us
      • Contact Us Form
    • News
    • Quick Facts
    • Social Media
    • Employment
  • Events
  • Biology Seminars
    • Spring 2025 Seminars
    • Fall 2024 Seminars
    • Spring 2024 Seminars
  • Faculty & Staff
    • Research Faculty
    • Research Faculty Secondary Appointments
    • Teaching Faculty
    • Post-Doctoral Fellows
    • Research Staff
    • Teaching Staff
    • Departmental Staff
    • Financial Services
    • Faculty Emeriti
    • Employment
  • Research
    • Faculty Research
      • CMHD
      • EEO
    • Graduate Research
    • Undergraduate Research
      • CURES in BIO
      • BIO V9R: Research
      • B-TRUE
    • Undergraduate Student Research Grants
      • 2024-25 Folmar Research Awards
    • Facilities
      • C.E.N.T.R.
      • Center for Microscopy and Imaging
      • Center for NMR Spectroscopy
      • Mass Spectrometry Center
      • Molecular Biosciences Center
      • Vivarium
      • Shared Equipment
    • Publications
      • 2023 Publications
      • 2022 Publications
      • 2021 Publications
      • 2020 Publications
      • 2019 Publications
  • Graduate
    • Programs and Degrees
      • PhD in Biology
      • MS in Biology
      • MA Health Professions
    • FAQs
    • Graduate Student Handbook
      • Archived Handbooks
    • Graduate Catalog
    • Student Organizations
      • CEGSS
      • PYPhD
      • Ramm Scholars
      • WISE
    • Travel Procedures and Funds
    • Registration
      • PhD Registration
      • MS Registration
      • MA Registration
  • Undergraduate
    • Undergraduate Programs and Degrees
    • Financial Aid and Scholarships
    • Biology Student Ambassadors
      • Biology Student Ambassadors Profiles
      • Contact Information
    • Learning Assistant (LA) Program
    • Undergraduate Student Organizations
      • Beta Beta Beta
    • Biology Careers
    • Undergraduate Catalog
  • Student Resources
    • Academic Success
      • Faculty Mentors
      • Graduate Writing Center
      • International Student Academic Support
      • Learning Lab
      • Office of Access and Learning Accommodation
      • Paul L. Foster Success Center
      • Study Strategies
      • Tutoring
      • Academic Planner and GPA Calculator
      • Graduate Mentoring
    • Health and Wellbeing
      • Campus Recreation
      • Care Team
      • Counseling Center
      • Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX
      • Food Security
      • Graduate Student Resources
      • Graduate Student Short-Term Leave
      • Health Services
      • Massage Therapy
      • McLane Student Life Center
      • Spiritual Life
      • Student Emergency Fund
      • The Store
    • Professional Development
      • BCU Scholars
      • Baylor University Career Center
      • Doctoral Admin Fellow
      • GPS Workshops
      • Handshake
      • Mock Interviews
      • Postdoctoral Teaching Fellowship Program
      • Present Your PhD
    • Research Funding
      • Fulbright Scholars Program
      • NIH Grant Funding
      • NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
      • NSF Grant Funding
    • Teaching Resources
      • Academy for Teaching and Learning
      • GPS "Practical Pedagogy" Workshop Videos
      • Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award
      • Postdoctoral Teaching Fellowship Program
      • Seminars for Excellence in Teaching
      • TeaCHE Capstone in Higher Education
      • Teacher of Record Training
      • Teaching in English
  • Make a Gift
    • Biology Giving
    • Walter Holmes Memorial Fund
Baylor BU Department of Biology Research Faculty Research EEO
  • Faculty Research
    • CMHD
    • EEO
  • Graduate Research
  • Undergraduate Research
  • Undergraduate Student Research Grants
  • Facilities
  • Publications

Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology

Wetland Ecology

Robert D. Doyle, Ph.D.

The Doyle lab is interested in the structure and function of shallow water systems- especially wetlands. One focus of our lab is on rooted aquatic plants, including impacts of invasive plant species, species flood tolerance, plant competition and restoration of native communities for habitat. Additionally, we are interested in nutrient cycling- especially the process of nitrogen fixation as well as determination of bioavailable carbon within surface waters. We are interested in both basic and applied science issues related to wetland systems. More recently I’ve become involved with science education and outreach for K-12 as well as the general public.

Wetland Ecology - Doyle

Aquatic Microbial Ecology

Katelyn McKindles, PhD.

The McKindles Lab utilizes a combination of environmental sampling and lab culturing to explore fundamental ecological processes in aquatic microbial systems and applications for harmful algal bloom mitigation and control. Lab members will become familiar with molecular techniques such as PCR, qPCR, RT-PCR, DNA/RNA extraction, metagenomics and metatransciptomics. They will also learn how to sample in the field, generate novel model systems from the environment, and generate and maintain laboratory cultures.  

McKindles Lab

Global Change, Aquatic Ecosystem Analysis

Stephen Powers, PhD.

Dr. Powers Lab at Baylor University studies global change, with emphasis on surface water bodies and watersheds, using data-intensive approaches to understand large-scale pattern and process. Interests include freshwater-climate interactions, watershed biogeochemistry, river-lake connections, environmental data synthesis methods, dams, seasonal cycles, and the “food-energy-water nexus.”

Global Change, Freshwater Ecosystem Analysis

Limnology and Aquatic Biogeochemistry

J. Thad Scott, Ph.D.

The Scott lab conducts research on the reciprocal relationship between aquatic microorganisms (phytoplankton, bacterioplankton, periphyton) and their chemical environment across spatiotemporal scales from populations to ecosystems. Our work involves both basic and applied questions such as the role of diazotrophs in controlling the nitrogen pool of lakes and the causes and effects of harmful algal blooms, respectively. We are interested in applying limnology to understand general ecological patterns and processes in nature, and to understand how microbial biogeochemistry impacts human welfare through water quality.

Limnology and Aquatic Biogeochemistry

EEO Faculty with Secondary Appointments in Biology


Mary Lauren Benton, Bioinformatics

The explosion of biological data generated in ever larger populations and across multiple -omic platforms holds great promise in understanding the how DNA sequence is tied to both genome function and disease risk. In addition, increasingly sophisticated experimental techniques requires the development of new computational approaches that can handle the scale of such data. The Benton Lab develops integrative computational approaches to mapping the relationship between gene regulatory sequences, gene expression levels, and disease risk.

Bryan Brooks, Environmental Health

Researchers in my group are engaged in interdisciplinary projects that often incorporate laboratory and field studies in aquatic, environmental and comparative toxicology, environmental risk assessment, and water resources research.

Ramon Lavado, Environmental Toxicology

Dr. Lavado is an environmental toxicologist that is working toward investigating biological mechanisms involved in the biotransformation of legacy compounds and advancing in vitro approaches to enable resource-efficient environmental monitoring of the aquatic system. His three main research areas within his overall program are: 1) advancement of in vitro approaches to enable efficient environmental monitoring and a reduction in the use of animals in toxicology; 2) endocrine disruption determination in wildlife associated with environmental pollutants; and 3) drug-metabolizing enzymes and their role in the biotransformation of contaminants of emerging concern and their metabolites in vertebrates, including fish and humans.

Cole Matson, Environmental Toxicology

Matson is an environmental toxicologist specializing in the genetic effects of contaminants on wildlife. His research focus is currently the genetic and developmental impacts of environmental contaminants on fish, with a particular interest in how environmental gradients affect the toxicity of nanomaterials and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Ryan McManamay, Human-Environmental Systems

The McManamay Lab seeks to understand how humans alter landscapes and we seek to find balances between societal demands and ecosystem needs. We answer these questions through the lens of spatial analysis and modeling that integrates biophysical and socioeconomic systems. Our work includes aspects of resource assessments (e.g., renewable energy potential), land use and land cover change, hydrology, biogeography, ecosystem assessment, and decision-support, spans a number of scales, and includes both field and modeling.

Elizabeth Petsios, Invertebrate Paleontology

Broadly, my research interests lie in understanding ecological and evolutionary trends across dynamic periods in Earth’s history, as they relate to marine benthic invertebrate communities. Specifically, I am interested in ecosystem responses during interval of mass extinctions (e.g. the Permian-Triassic extinction) and mass radiations (e.g. the Mesozoic Marine Revolution), and I incorporate both paleobiological and paleoenvironmental data into understanding these events and their consequences.

Samuel Urlacher, Human Evolutionary Biology and Health

Members of the Urlacher Lab investigate the evolved bio-energetic pathways that drive variation in human development, metabolism & health. Our integrated field (e.g., Ecuador, Papua New Guinea, USA) and lab (e.g., stable isotope, immunoassay) research program spans the fields of human biology, behavioral ecology, evolutionary medicine, and global health. We are particularly interested in how children allocate calories between competing physiological tasks (e.g., growth, immune activity, brain development) and the impact of early adversity on lifetime metabolic disease risk.

Department of Biology

College of Arts & Sciences

B.207 Baylor Science Building 

One Bear Place #97388
Waco, TX 76798-7388

BU_Biology@baylor.edu
(254) 710-2911
Apply
Visit
Make a Gift
Baylor BU Department of Biology Research Faculty Research EEO
  • About Us
    Back
    • Who We Are
      Back
      • COVID-19 Statement
    • Administrative Faculty
    • Baylor's Caring Community
    • Contact Us
      Back
      • Contact Us Form
    • News
    • Quick Facts
    • Social Media
    • Employment
  • Events
  • Biology Seminars
    Back
    • Spring 2025 Seminars
    • Fall 2024 Seminars
    • Spring 2024 Seminars
  • Faculty & Staff
    Back
    • Research Faculty
    • Research Faculty Secondary Appointments
    • Teaching Faculty
    • Post-Doctoral Fellows
    • Research Staff
    • Teaching Staff
    • Departmental Staff
    • Financial Services
    • Faculty Emeriti
    • Employment
  • Research
    Back
    • Faculty Research
      Back
      • CMHD
      • EEO
    • Graduate Research
    • Undergraduate Research
      Back
      • CURES in BIO
      • BIO V9R: Research
      • B-TRUE
    • Undergraduate Student Research Grants
      Back
      • 2024-25 Folmar Research Awards
    • Facilities
      Back
      • C.E.N.T.R.
      • Center for Microscopy and Imaging
      • Center for NMR Spectroscopy
      • Mass Spectrometry Center
      • Molecular Biosciences Center
      • Vivarium
      • Shared Equipment
    • Publications
      Back
      • 2023 Publications
      • 2022 Publications
      • 2021 Publications
      • 2020 Publications
      • 2019 Publications
  • Graduate
    Back
    • Programs and Degrees
      Back
      • PhD in Biology
      • MS in Biology
      • MA Health Professions
    • FAQs
    • Graduate Student Handbook
      Back
      • Archived Handbooks
    • Graduate Catalog
    • Student Organizations
      Back
      • CEGSS
      • PYPhD
      • Ramm Scholars
      • WISE
    • Travel Procedures and Funds
    • Registration
      Back
      • PhD Registration
      • MS Registration
      • MA Registration
  • Undergraduate
    Back
    • Undergraduate Programs and Degrees
    • Financial Aid and Scholarships
    • Biology Student Ambassadors
      Back
      • Biology Student Ambassadors Profiles
      • Contact Information
    • Learning Assistant (LA) Program
    • Undergraduate Student Organizations
      Back
      • Beta Beta Beta
        Back
        • Contact Us
    • Biology Careers
    • Undergraduate Catalog
  • Student Resources
    Back
    • Academic Success
      Back
      • Faculty Mentors
      • Graduate Writing Center
      • International Student Academic Support
      • Learning Lab
      • Office of Access and Learning Accommodation
      • Paul L. Foster Success Center
      • Study Strategies
      • Tutoring
      • Academic Planner and GPA Calculator
      • Graduate Mentoring
    • Health and Wellbeing
      Back
      • Campus Recreation
      • Care Team
      • Counseling Center
      • Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX
      • Food Security
      • Graduate Student Resources
      • Graduate Student Short-Term Leave
      • Health Services
      • Massage Therapy
      • McLane Student Life Center
      • Spiritual Life
      • Student Emergency Fund
      • The Store
    • Professional Development
      Back
      • BCU Scholars
      • Baylor University Career Center
      • Doctoral Admin Fellow
      • GPS Workshops
      • Handshake
      • Mock Interviews
      • Postdoctoral Teaching Fellowship Program
      • Present Your PhD
    • Research Funding
      Back
      • Fulbright Scholars Program
      • NIH Grant Funding
      • NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
      • NSF Grant Funding
    • Teaching Resources
      Back
      • Academy for Teaching and Learning
      • GPS "Practical Pedagogy" Workshop Videos
      • Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award
      • Postdoctoral Teaching Fellowship Program
      • Seminars for Excellence in Teaching
      • TeaCHE Capstone in Higher Education
      • Teacher of Record Training
      • Teaching in English
  • Make a Gift
    Back
    • Biology Giving
    • Walter Holmes Memorial Fund
  • General Information
  • Academics & Research
  • Administration
  • Admissions
  • Gateways for ...
  • About Baylor
  • Athletics
  • Ask Baylor
  • Bookstore
  • Calendar
  • Campus Map
  • Directory
  • Give to Baylor
  • News
  • Search
  • Social Media
  • Strategic Plan
  • College of Arts & Sciences
  • Diana R. Garland School of Social Work
  • George W. Truett Theological Seminary
  • Graduate School
  • Hankamer School of Business
  • Honors College
  • Law School
  • Louise Herrington School of Nursing
  • Research at Baylor University
  • Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences
  • School of Education
  • School of Engineering & Computer Science
  • School of Music
  • University Libraries, Museums, and the Press
  • More Academics
  • Athletics
  • Compliance, Risk and Safety
  • Human Resources
  • Marketing and Communications
  • Office of General Counsel
  • Office of the President
  • Office of the Provost
  • Operations, Finance & Administration
  • Senior Administration
  • Student Life
  • University Advancement
  • Undergraduate Admissions
  • goBAYLOR
  • Graduate Admissions
  • Baylor Law School Admissions
  • Social Work Graduate Programs
  • George W. Truett Theological Seminary Admissions
  • Online Graduate Professional Education
  • Virtual Tour
  • Visit Campus
  • Alumni & Friends
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Online Graduate Professional Education
  • Parents
  • Prospective Faculty & Staff
  • Prospective Students
  • Students
  • Anonymous Reporting
  • Annual Fire Safety and Security Notice
  • Cost of Attendance
  • Digital Privacy
  • Legal Disclosures
  • Mental Health Resources
  • Notice of Non-Discrimination
  • Report It
  • Title IX
  • Web Accessibility
 
Baylor University
Copyright © Baylor® University. All rights reserved.
Baylor University • Waco, Texas 76798 • 1-800-229-5678