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Meet the Staff (above image)
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Department of Biology and Environmental Science, front row from left: Roman Zajac, professor and chair; Eva Sapi, associate professor; Carmela Cuomo, associate professor; Nina Flay, instructor; Jennifer Diana, lab manager; Charles Vigue, professor. Back row from left: Michael Rossi, associate professor; Hank Voegeli, professor; R. Laurence Davis, professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
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An Interview with Dr. Roman Zajac, Department professor and chair
What purpose does the Department serve, and what are its goals?
The Department of Biology and Environmental Science provides the education, technical tools and opportunities needed for students to develop the expertise and know-how to pursue careers in the diverse fields of biology, marine biology and environmental science that focus on understanding the natural world, solving related issues and extending this knowledge to others.
Tell us a little bit about your staff.
The department is comprised of nine full-time faculty and a lab manager and three practitioners in residence. The faculty have expertise in a wide array of fields including cell and molecular biology and genetics (Chuck Vigue, Mike Rossi, Eva Sapi, Nina Flay), microbiology (Henry Voegeli), ecology and marine biology (Roman Zajac, Carmela Cuomo, Jim Ayers) and geology and biogeochemistry (Larry Davis, Carmela Cuomo). Our lab manager, Jen Diana, provides critical logistical expertise to keep the teaching laboratories functioning smoothly and up to date on regulatory and safety requirements. Our practitioners in residence teach courses in specialty fields including geographic information systems (Dan Depodesta), bioinformatics (Tony Mellilo) and anatomy and physiology (Norm Abell).
Many faculty participate in student-related activities on campus as well as community-service related organizations such as town governance, science advisory boards for the Norwalk Aquarium, Quinnipiac Watershed Association and Regional Growth Partnership. The faculty conduct active research programs into such varied topics as understanding the complexities of Lyme disease, the genetic basis of certain diseases, how low oxygen conditions can affect the ecosystem dynamics of coastal areas, why marshes are being lost and the consequences of that loss, the patterns of development in different organisms and hydrologic cycles, and dynamics in tropical island environments.
These projects and others are providing unique and exciting opportunities for undergraduate and graduate student research. Several of our students have recently presented or will be presenting talks and posters at national meetings.
Faculty also pursue a variety of interests such as car racing, caving, growing chilis and photography.
Department life is good, and everyone is deeply committed to proving the best education that we can for our students.
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