Biology Faculty & Staff

Courses:

Biol 2002 - Genetics
Biol 2004 - Evolution
Biol 3510 - Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles
Biol 4502 - Animal Behavior
Biol 4998 - Senior Seminar

Dr. Bastiaans completed her B.A. at the University of Chicago, her Ph.D. at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. She is a behavioral ecologist primarily interested in mating behavior, life history, and the application of behavioral ecology to conservation. She joined the Oneonta faculty in 2015 and teaches classes in Evolution, Animal Behavior, and Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles. At SUNY Oneonta, Dr. Bastiaans has mentored students studying turtle conservation biology, salamander behavioral and population ecology, and beetle mating behavior. She also continues to collaborate with researchers in Mexico whom she met during her dissertation research on sexual signal variation in montane lizards.

Dr. Bastiaans' website

Courses:

Biol 1001 - Investigative Biology
Biol 2000 - Cell and Molecular Biology
Biol 4998 - Senior Seminar
Biol 3094 - Special topics: Avian Physiology and Behavior

Dr. Coomes received her B.A. in Biology from Transylvania University and her Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. She joined the faculty in 2021 as a Visiting Instructor and PRODiG Fellow. She teaches Investigative Biology Labs and Cell and Molecular Biology Labs and is developing and Avian Physiology and Behavior course. Dr. Coomes’ research focuses on the effects of heatwaves on songbird behavior. While at Oneonta, she will continue this line of research, expanding into local songbird species. She also plans to continue collaborations with researchers in Tennessee and in Florida.

Courses:

Biol 1001 - Investigative Biology
Biol 2000 - Cell and Molecular Biology (Lab)
Biol 2010 - Elementary Microbiology
Biol 3100 - Molecular Biology
Biol 3106 - Microbiology
Biol 3102 - Cell Biology
Biol 4900 - Biology of Cancer

Dr. Fielhaber earned a B.Sc. in Biology from Concordia University of Edmonton  and a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from McGill University in 2011.  She joined the Biology Department at SUNY Oneonta in 2012. Her research focuses on determining how nutrients and mitogens impact cell survival, proliferation, and death decisions, and determining the molecular mechanisms that control these choices.  Her research involves using molecular techniques and in vitro mammalian cell culture. In addition, Dr. Fielhaber also mentors the SUNY Oneonta iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) team. This team competes in an annual international synthetic biology competition, where the team designs, builds, and tests the function of a genetically engineered machine that addresses an important need of the students choosing and investigate the bigger picture issues that the machine is intended to address.  

Rufus J. Thayer Chair for Otsego Lake Research
Director, Biological Field Station

No course responsibilities. Dr. Harman is Director of the SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station, located near Cooperstown, NY and he also serves as the Rufus J. Thayer Endowed Chair for Otsego Lake Research. Dr. Harman mentors two faculty offering Biol 690 Lake Management and Biol 691, Management of the Aquatic Biota, courses he previously developed and taught.

Courses:

Biol 2002 - Genetics
Biol 3504 - Entomology
Biol 3812 - Methods in Population Genetics
Biol 3714 - NY Stream Biota: ID & Ecology (summers)
Biol 3506 - Field Entomology (summers)
Biol 4500 - Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology
Biol 4700 - Stream Ecology
Biol 3802 - Advanced Biological Literacy
Biol 4700 - Experimental Stream Ecology
Graduate Seminar

Link to homepage

After earning a B.S. in Natural resources and ecology from the University of Michigan, an M.S. and Ph.D., both in Entomology, from the University of Illinois, and serving as a postdoctoral researcher in Conservation Genetics at North Dakota State University, Dr. Heilveil joined the Oneonta faculty in 2007. He teaches undergraduate courses in Entomology, Methods in Population Genetics, Biological Literacy, Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology, Field Entomology, and NY Stream Biota: ID and Ecology, as well as various graduate courses in entomology, stream ecology, and population genetics. Dr. Heilveil is currently studying a range of questions involving life history of aquatic insects, population ecology of aquatic organisms, the impacts of urbanization on aquatic populations, and conservation genetics of aquatic species from land crabs to otters.

Courses:

Biol 1001 - Investigative Biology
Biol 1006 - Ecological and Evolutionary Perspectives in Biology
Biol 2006 - Ecology

Dr. Kearney received her B.S. in Biology with a double major in Anthropology from the University at Albany and her Ph.D. from Binghamton University. Her research interests are broad but rooted in global change biology. As a graduate student her primary research involved assessing nitrogen dynamics in urban retention wetlands under variable hydrologic conditions to study the impact of storm-events on N pollution in watersheds. Her current research questions focus on the effects of a range of human disturbances on soil abiotic characteristics and function, plant development, and soil microbial community structure. She is also very interested in science education and regularly teaches courses using a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) framework. She is currently exploring whether simple classroom interventions have a measurable effect on student learning outcomes. She is also fascinated by science communication; specifically, she is interested in the ways in which art enhances the sciences and evaluating the impacts of art on public understanding and appreciation of science.

Dr. Kearney's Website

Courses:

Biol 1002 - Cellular Perspectives in Biology
Biol 1004 - Organismal Perspectives in Biology
Biol 1001 - Investigative Biology
Biol 2200 & 2202 - Human & Anatomy & Physiology (Labs)
Biol 3214 - Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates

Ms. Kenney earned a B.A. in Biology from Alfred University and a M.S. in Biology from SUNY Fredonia. Her previous research focused on the developmental changes of skeletal muscle in young mice and how cage wheel running affects this development. In addition to this, she explored how cage wheel running as a form of exercise affected senescent skeletal muscle in hopes of reducing the characteristic changes associated with aging. Ms. Kenney joined the Oneonta faculty in 2021. She teaches Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates and laboratory sections for Human Anatomy and Physiology.

Courses:

Biol 1094 - Special topics: Study Skills in Biology
Biol 2000 - Cell & Molecular Biology
Biol 3904 - Evolution of Biology
Biol 4100 - Immunology

Having completed her B.A. at the University of Delaware and her Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Lentz joined the Oneonta faculty in 2001. She teaches courses in Cell and Molecular Biology, Immunology, Introductory Evolution and the History and Philosophy of Biology. Dr. Lentz is currently studying the immune response of the American Eel to the glochidia (larval stage) of the Eastern Elliptio freshwater mussel to better understand the host-parasite interaction necessary for freshwater mussel reproduction. Dr. Lentz is also conducting studies to describe the immune system of Large-mouth Bass.

Courses:

Biol 1000 - Modern Biology (Lab)
Biol 3804 - Underwater Research
Biol 3604 - Marine Biology
Biol 2006 - Ecology
Biol 3802 - Biological Literacy
Biol 3806 - Extended Research Diving
Biol 3808 - Aquatic Pollution
Biol 3702 - Limnology
Enss 1001 - Introduction to Environmental Science

Paul H. Lord is employed by SUNY to perform research on the biocontrol of Eurasian watermilfoil, to evaluate the viability of native pearly mussel populations, and to develop watershed steward programs for the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership. Additionally, he instructs in aquatic pollution, underwater research, marine biology, ecology, biological literacy, and environmental sciences at SUNY-Oneonta. He holds an MS in operations research from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA and an MA in biology from SUNY-Oneonta. He is also a retired U.S. Marine lieutenant colonel and a 35+-year SCUBA instructor.

Courses:

Biol 1004- Organismal Perspectives in Biology
Biol 1001- Investigative Biology
Biol 3712- Tropical Biology Field course (in Peru, summers, even years)
Biol 3600- Invertebrate Zoology (falls, even years)
Biol 3602- Parasitology (falls, odd years)
Biol 4998- Senior Seminar

Having completed his B.A. at Augustana College (Illinois), his M.S. at the University of Nebraska, and his Ph.D. at the University of Connecticut, Dr. Reyda joined the Oneonta faculty in 2008. He teaches upper-level elective courses in zoology, including parasitology and invertebrate zoology, as well as a field course in Peru, Senior Seminar, and a couple introductory and graduate courses. Dr. Reyda spends half of his time conducting research with undergraduate students at the SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station near Cooperstown, New York. He is also active in several professional societies, including the American Society of Parasitologists, and serves as an associate editor for the journal, Comparative Parasitology.

Reyda's fish parasitology research focuses on the taxonomy and systematics of parasites, with a particular emphasis on biological diversity. He and his students essentially address similar questions about evolution, diversity and host specificity of parasites using two different host-parasite systems. The first area is the freshwater fish parasites in North America. A major focus has been the fish parasites of Otsego Lake, home of the SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station. More recent efforts have focused on a survey of Oneida Lake fish parasites in which parasitological data are being used to gain a perspective on the many changes in that lake. Reyda and his students have conducted fieldwork throughout the northeast, and also in the southern USA, where they have collected various species of thorny-headed worms (acanthocephalans). The second host-parasite system is the tapeworms (cestodes) of stingrays. Recent efforts include descriptions of new species of tapeworms from stingrays from Borneo, Senegal, and South America. Students who conduct research with Reyda gain experience with field sampling and host dissections, as well as techniques involved in modern taxonomic work, including preparation of permanent slides, light microscopy, imaging, scientific illustration, scanning electron microscopy, and DNA sequencing.

Courses:

Biol 1006 - Ecological and Evolutionary Perspectives in Biology
Biol 1001 - Investigative Biology
Biol 4400 - Vascular Plant Systematics
Biol 3400 - Dendrology
Biol 3406 - Field Botany
Biol 4402 - Bryology
Biol 4998- Senior Seminar

Having completed his B.A. at Hartwick College, his M.S. at SUNY-ESF and his Ph.D. at the University at Albany, Dr. Robinson joined the Oneonta faculty in 2010. He teaches courses in Botany including Bryology, Vascular Plant Systematics, Dendrology, and Field Botany. He is also involved in teaching an introductory organismal biology course. Dr. Robinson’s research is focused on the phylogeography of plants, particularly bryophytes. Additionally, Dr. Robinson conducts research focused on vegetation dynamics on alpine summits.

Dr. Robinson is also the curator of the Jewel Arline Moss Settle Herbarium at SUNY-Oneonta.