Faculty

Associate Professor and Chair of the Department

Ph.D., Molecular and Cell Biology, Brandeis University
B.S., Biology, Bates College
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Dr. Corrette-Bennett joined the Westminster Department of Biology in the fall of 2001. He teaches Molecular Genetics & Heredity and Recombinant DNA as well as a number of introductory courses for the major and the Westminster liberal arts curriculum. His research interests focus on inhibition of microbial pathogens using oligonucleotides and expression of Hox genes during salamander limb regeneration. Areas of teaching interest include scientifc literacy and enhanced dissemination and understanding of the Human Genome Project (HGP). He is also co-coordinator of the molecular biology major and currently serves as Co-Chair of the Medical Professions Advisory Committee (MedPAC).

Associate Professor

Ph.D., Ecology, The Pennsylvania State University
M.S., Ecology, The Pennsylvania State University
B.S., Biology, The Pennsylvania State Univesity at Erie
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Assistant Professor

Ph.D., Natural Resources, University of Vermont
M.S., Biology, Villanova University
B.A., Biology, Hartwick College

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Assistant Professor

Ph.D., Biology, University of Ottawa
B.Sc., Biology, University of Ottawa
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Professor, emeritus - Director of the Field Stations

Ph.D., University of Minnesota

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Dr. Harms joined the Westminster Department of Biology in the fall of 1969 and served as Chair of the biology department for 23 years.  He retired from the classroom in 2003, but continues to serve as Director of the Westminster Field Station (a position held since 1983).  His scholarly work has centered on field biology (local and the tropics) and fish parasitology.  His travels while on sabbatical or leading travel courses with students have taken him to Pakistan, Alaska, the Caribbean, the Florida Everglades, Hawaii, Ecuador (Amazonia and the Galápagos) and Tanzania.  His passions include sustainability, environmental education for children and the relationship between faith, evolution and life.  His hobbies include scuba diving (with or without sharks), photography, woodworking and restoring an old Jeep.

Visiting Assistant Professor

Ph.D., Cell and Molecular Biology, Kent State University
B.S., Molecular Biology, Westminster College

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Assistant Professor

Ph.D., Molecular Biology and Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University
B.S., Biology, The College of William and Mary
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Dr. Resendes joined the Westminster Department of Biology in the fall of 2009. She teaches Cell and Molecular Biology, Cancer Biology as well as a number of introductory courses for the major and the Westminster liberal arts curriculum. Her biological research interests focus on the process of nuclear export, using human tissue culture cells to study how proteins and mRNA exit the nucleus via the nuclear pore.  She also has a strong interest in educational research, and her studies involve comparing both majors and non-majors introductory biology courses at small liberal arts schools with those taught much larger state schools. She also serves on the Research Professions Advisory Committee (ResPAC).

Associate Professor (on sabbatical, Fall 2011)

Ph.D., Arizona State University
M.S., Fisheries, Aquaculture and Pathology, University of Rhode Island
B.S., Zoology, University of Massachusetts
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John Robertson has been a member of the Department of Biology faculty since 2000. In addition to Anatomy & Physiology and Evolution, he teaches introductory and non-majors courses. His research interests center on comparative structure/function questions, ranging in scale from molecules and cells up the level of the organism. He has a particular interest in fish; for example, current ongoing projects are exploring functional anatomy of the paddlefish, Polyodon spathula. He is also C0-Chair of the Medical Professions Advisory Committee (MedPAC).

Associate Professor

Ph. D. Developmental Biology from the University of London, UK
M. Sc. Immunology, University of London, UK
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Professor of Biology

Ph.D., Insect Population Ecology, Florida State University
M.S., Plant Ecology, Fort Hays State University
B.A., Biology and English, Hastings College
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Dr. Throckmorton joined the Westminster Department of Biology in 1990.  She teaches Freshwater Biology, Biostatistics and Experimental Design, Marine Biology, Introduction to GIS, the Environmental Science Capstone, and various introductory and non-majors courses. Her research focuses on two areas:   behavioral ecology of parasitic insects – how mate selection and host choice affect lifetime fitness – and the antimicrobial properties of natural dyes derived from plants.  She is also a member of the Environmental Science Committee which coordinates the environmental science major and Associate Director of the College’s Field Station.