Joseph M. Balczon

Education

Ph.D., Ecology – The Pennsylvania State University
M. Sc., Ecology – The Pennsylvania State University
B.S. Biology – The Pennsylvania State University at Erie – The Behrend College

Professional Training

Postdoctoral Research Associate, John Carroll University

Areas of Expertise

Microbial Ecology
Aquatic Toxicology

Courses Taught

Ecology
Microbiology
Foundations of Biology
Biology Travel - Ecuador

Research Interests

Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria  
Aquatic Toxicology

Personal

I joined the faculty of Westminster in 1997. I am a faculty member in the Department of Biology and I am a member of the Environmental Science Committee. I teach upper-level courses in ecology and microbiology in addition to teaching Foundations of Biology courses. In Fall 2017 I co-taught a travel seminar entitled "Ecology and Geology of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands," and travelled with Dr. Furimsky and 30 students to Ecuador in December/January 2017/2018.  My research interests are in the distribution and maintenance of antibiotic resistance determinants by bacteria and environmental toxicology. Currently, my students use immunofluorescence and selective culturing techniques to determine the presence and absence of bacterial antibiotic resistance determinants. My aquatic toxicology research program uses the alga Selenastrum capricornutum, the invertebrate Daphnia magna, and the vertebrate fish Pimephales promelas to estimate the acute and chronic toxicity of anthropogenic compounds.