Cal Poly Experts Directory - Biology & Chemistry
Biotechnology
John Goers, Ph.D.
Professor of Chemistry
(805) 756-1671/2693 e-mail: jgoers@calpoly.edu
Author of "Immunochemistry Laboratory Manual" (1994).
Consultant.
Areas of expertise:
* immunology
* molecular biology
Brian C. Hampson, Ph.D.
Professor of Food Science
(805) 756-6127/2660 e-mail: bhampson@calpoly.edu
Member, Institute of Food Technologists, International Ozone Association, International Fresh-cut Produce Association.
Principal investigator, USDA-funded research into the use of ozone as a food-sanitizing agent.
Previously, scientific advisor to International EcoSciences Inc. to design water and decontamination systems for NASA and the U.S. armed forces.
Consultant to Air Liquide Corporation, DEL Industries, BOC Gases, Louis/Tresser Co., Basic Vegetable Products, Rogers Foods, and others.
Participant, Japan Agriculture Exchange Program. Speaks some Japanese.
Scientific advisor to the California Egg Commission.
Scientific peer-reviewer for the USDA Food Safety Programs and various scientific journals.
Conducting collaborative food safety research with the Technological Institute of Culiacan, Mexico.
Areas of expertise:
* food microbiology
* food safety
* sanitation and HACCP (hazard analysis and critical control point) systems
* ozone as a sanitizing agent
* quality assurance
* food processing--fruits and vegetables
* food composition and product development
* home brewing
* biotechnology and microbial genetics
* Japanese culture and society
Dave Hannings, M.S.
Professor of Environmental Horticultural Science
(805) 756-2870/2279 e-mail: dhanning@calpoly.edu
Senior author of two textbooks.
Areas of expertise:
* nurseries
* landscape plants
* plant identification
* nursery plant production & plant tissue culture
* orchids
Bill Plummer, Ph.D.
Professor of Animal Science, Emeritus
(805) 756-2113/2419 e-mail: wplummer@calpoly.edu
Research project: "Development of a transgenic herd of dairy cattle to provide milk for evaluation of the transgene product."
Charter diplomat, American College of Animal Physiology.
Member, American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists, American Society of Animal Science, Society for the Study of Reproduction, Society of Theriogenology.
Board-certified member, American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists.
Areas of expertise:
* cloning of mammalian species
* reproductive physiology
* infertility
* animal reproduction (mice to elephants)
* use of animals in the biotechnology area for drug manufacturing
* transgenic research in animals
* "how your cow may produce human insulin"
Margaret (Peggy) Rice, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry
(805) 756-1624/2693 e-mail: msrice@calpoly.edu
Post-doctoral fellow, NASA, studying gravity responses in plants.
Published articles on bacterial responses to environment and plant responses to gravity.
Areas of expertise:
* plant biotechnology - herbicides, pesticides, genetic engineering
* nutrition
* vitamins
* cholesterol
* genetics, the human genome and cloning, including related ethics
* botany and plant physiology for gardeners
* microbiology - parasites, food microbiology, drug-resistant bacteria
* AIDS
Computers in Biology Education
Robert Clover, Ph.D.
Director of Integrated Media Services (Information Technology Services division)
(805) 756-2966 / e-mail: rclover@calpoly.edu
Developing a database of biology-related multimedia for World Wide Web access.
Developing Web-based interactive course materials in general ecology.
Areas of expertise:
* computer applications in higher education, especially biology
* the Internet
* the Web
Flora and Fauna
Richard B. Frankel, Ph.D.
Professor of Physics
(805) 756-1666/2448 e-mail: rfrankel@calpoly.edu
Authority on iron oxides and iron sulfides in bacteria, very small particles of biological magnetite (an iron oxide), and criteria for distinguishing biological and nonbiological magnetite.
Involved in analysis of meteorite believed to contain evidence of life on Mars.
Areas of expertise:
* iron oxides and iron sulfides
* biological magnetite / magnetic material in living creatures
* the question of life on Mars
Michael T. Hanson, Ph.D.
Professor of Biological Sciences
(805) 756-2444/2789 e-mail: mthanson@calpoly.edu
Participant, Camp Roberts Kit Fox Project and tule elk relocation.
Wildlife consultant.
Areas of expertise:
* kit fox
* birds
* California condor
* elk
Mark Moline, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences
(805) 756-2948/2788 e-mail: mmoline@calpoly.edu
Researcher in marine life, specializing in phytoplankton; has conducted research in Atlantic, Pacific and Southern (Antarctic) oceans.
One of 26 researchers nationwide chosen for Office of Naval Research's 2000 Young Investigator Program, for study of luminescent hytoplankton (microscopic marine plants that glow at night).
Received 1999 NASA "new investigator" grant for satellite mapping of phytoplankton distribution.
He received the 2001 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the nation's highest honor for professionals at the outset of their research careers. Has conducted research on oysters and striped bass.
Conducted study of floodplain ecology along Amazon River.
Areas of expertise:
* marine life
* phytoplankton (microscopic marine plants)
* marine bioluminescence
* harmful algal blooms, "red tides"
* aquatic food webs
* oceanography
James R. Vilkitis, Ph.D.
Professor of Natural Resources Management
(805) 756-1262/2702 e-mail: jvilkiti@calpoly.edu
Director, Cal Poly Coastal Resources Institute.
Consultant.
Author of a habitat management and monitoring plan for endangered species.
Research: constructed wetlands to abate point- and non-point-source pollution.
Named among American Men & Women in Science (1997).
Author of Development in Harmony with Natural Systems, a symposium on oak woodlands.
Areas of expertise:
* environmental impact analysis
* natural resources planning and management
* National Environmental Policy Act and California Environmental Quality Act
* habitat and environmental audits
* environmental and social impact inventories and analysis
* policy planning
* habitat conservation plans
* endangered species and wetlands
* interpretative signage
* environmental ethics
Food Chemistry
Joseph Montecalvo, Jr., Ph.D.
Professor of Food Science and Nutrition
(805) 756-2109/2660 / jmonteca@calpoly.edu
Areas of expertise:
* food safety and sanitation
* food irradiation and all aspects of food processing
* organic foods
* food analysis
* "nutraceuticals" and designer foods
Human Biology and Physiology
Saeed B. Niku, Ph.D., P.E.
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
(805) 756-1376/1334 e-mail: sniku@calpoly.edu
Author of 18 papers on robotics, design, education and biomechanics.
Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Registered professional engineer in State of California.
Areas of expertise:
* design
* creative problem solving
* robotics
* vision systems
* biomechanics -- mechanics of the human body and its systems; devices and systems made for the body
* education
Richard Pollard, Ph.D.
Lecturer in Statistics
(805) 756-7128/2709 e-mail: rpollard@calpoly.edu
Chartered statistician. Author of papers on ethnic variation of twinning worldwide and in California.
Founding member of the Twins Foundation.
Regular contributor to the Twins Letter.
Areas of expertise:
* incidence of twins worldwide and in the U.S. and California
* ethnic variation in twins
* general information on all aspects of twins and twinning
Insects
Dennis Frey, Ph.D.