Research in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology (EEOB) at ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ State University (²ÝÁñÊÓƵ) spans the broad subdiciplines of Ecology and Environmental Science, Evolutionary Biology, Organismal Biology, and Science Education.
Read more about each specific subdiscipline below, as well as links to faculty who specialize in those areas.
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Ecology and Environmental Science
These are broad interdisciplinary research fields that include the study of organisms (including humans) and their relationship to the environment; the patterns of distribution of organisms and factors that determine where organisms live; as well as connections and interactions between the atmosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.
Featured Faculty Research
NamePosition-
Mario Bretfeld Associate Professor of Biology
Associate Professor of Biology
mbretfel@kennesaw.edu
(470) 578-3275
SC 336 -
Daniel Ferreira Assistant Chair of the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Director for the Environmental Science Major and Associate Professor of Environmental Science
Assistant Chair of the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Director for the Environmental Science Major and Associate Professor of Environmental Science
dferrei2@kennesaw.edu
(470) 578-5011
SC 309 -
Nicholas Green Assistant Professor of Biology
Assistant Professor of Biology
ngreen62@kennesaw.edu
(470) 578-6546
SC 331 -
Sigurdur Greipsson Associate Professor of Biology
Associate Professor of Biology
sgreipss@kennesaw.edu
(470) 578-4359
SC 316 -
Paula Jackson Chair of the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology and Professor of Biology
Chair of the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology and Professor of Biology
pjackson@kennesaw.edu
(470) 578-6655
SC 310 -
Matthew Laposata Professor of Environmental Science
Professor of Environmental Science
mlaposat@kennesaw.edu
(470) 578-3453
SC 327 -
Troy Mutchler Associate Professor of Biology
Associate Professor of Biology
tmutchle@kennesaw.edu
(470) 578-4360
SC 322 -
Whitney Preisser Assistant Professor of Ecology and Organismal Biology
Assistant Professor of Ecology and Organismal Biology
wpreisse@kennesaw.edu
(470) 578-3466
SC 326 -
Matthew Weand Associate Professor of Organismal Biology
Associate Professor of Organismal Biology
mweand@kennesaw.edu
(470) 578-4271
SC 320
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Evolutionary Biology
Research in Evolutionary Biology at ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ includes a common interest in how the mechanisms of organismal form, function, and interactions evolved. Inquiry is directed toward understanding biological systems at the individual, population, community, species, and molecular levels of organization. Major conceptual areas pursued by our department include foraging ecology, population genetics, phylogenetics, population and community molecular ecology, and the molecular evolutionary mechanisms underlying novel organs and pathways.
Featured Faculty Research
NamePosition-
Thomas McElroy Professor of Biology
Professor of Biology
tmcelro2@kennesaw.edu
(470) 578-6162
SC 319 -
Joel McNeal Associate Professor of Biology
Associate Professor of Biology
jmcneal7@kennesaw.edu
(470) 578-3561
SC 318 -
Todd Pierson Assistant Professor of Biology
Assistant Professor of Biology
tpierso3@kennesaw.edu
(470) 578-4850
SC 328 -
Jared Taglialatela Associate Professor of Biology
Associate Professor of Biology
jtaglial@kennesaw.edu
(470) 578-3678
SC 332
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Organismal Biology
Organismal biology is the integrative study of structure, function, ecology, and evolution at the level of the organism, which can also play a central role in answering conceptual questions about both ecology and evolution. Current research programs include behavioral, toxicological, and population-level studies that focus on humans, non-human apes, fishes, and snails.
Featured Faculty Research
NamePosition-
Nicholas Green Assistant Professor of Biology
Assistant Professor of Biology
ngreen62@kennesaw.edu
(470) 578-6546
SC 331 -
Todd Pierson Assistant Professor of Biology
Assistant Professor of Biology
tpierso3@kennesaw.edu
(470) 578-4850
SC 328 -
Whitney Preisser Assistant Professor of Ecology and Organismal Biology
Assistant Professor of Ecology and Organismal Biology
wpreisse@kennesaw.edu
(470) 578-3466
SC 326 -
Jared Taglialatela Associate Professor of Biology
Associate Professor of Biology
jtaglial@kennesaw.edu
(470) 578-3678
SC 332
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Science Education
Science education is the field concerned with sharing science content and process with individuals not traditionally considered part of the scientific community. The learners may be children, adolescents, college students, or adults within the general public. The field of science education includes work in science content, science process, socioscientific issues, and pedagogy. Our research is typically collaborative in both secondary school classrooms and informal settings, using quantitative and qualitative research methods applied to traditional studies of teaching and learning as well as citizen science activities that involve engaging the public in scientific discovery through data collection.
Featured Faculty Research
NamePosition-
Mario Bretfeld Associate Professor of Biology
Associate Professor of Biology
mbretfel@kennesaw.edu
(470) 578-3275
SC 336 -
Matthew Laposata Professor of Environmental Science
Professor of Environmental Science
mlaposat@kennesaw.edu
(470) 578-3453
SC 327
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Publications