Dr. Alaeddin Abu-Abed, Assistant Professor of Engineering & Physics

I earned my Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alabama, Huntsville in 2007. During my graduate studies, I developed capacitive-based liquid crystal sensors with potential applications in biological and chemical systems. I joined the UCO Engineering & Physics department in 2008. I am currently conducting research in liquid crystal-based radiation detectors. I have hands-on skills in fabricating micro and nano devices in the clean room facility. My research interests include micro and nano devices and sensors, liquid crystal components, nanophotonics, and wireless communication.
http://www.engineering.uco.edu/~aabuabed/

Dr. Troy Baird, Professor of Biology

My research program focuses on the evolution of social and reproductive behavior, primarily of lower vertebrate animals. Specific topics of interest include sexual selection, social signaling, mating systems, spatial behavior, and behavioral-endocrine interactions. Lizards have served as my primary study organisms for the past 20 years, but my question-driven research program is not limited to only certain taxa. Interested students should begin by reading publications from my laboratory, a bibliography of which is on my web page.

http://www.biology.uco.edu/PersonalPages/Bairdweb.tbaird.htm

Dr. Christopher Butler, Associate Professor of Biology

I have been a professor at UCO since 2005. My doctoral dissertation was on the "Population biology of the introduced Rose-ringed Parakeet in the UK." My research interests primarily focus on the natural history of birds as well as the use of remote sensing and GIS in addressing issues of landscape ecology. I have collaborated with undergraduate students to use stable isotopes to address the migratory connectivity of the Yellow Rails moving through Oklahoma; used GIS to engage in ecological modeling of the distribution of the dwarf palmetto Sabal minor in southeastern Oklahoma; examined whether birds use ultraviolet reflectance as a cue when selecting food sources; monitored the population of Spiny-tailed Iguanas in Brownsville, TX; examined the prey diversity of the Barn Owl across Oklahoma; and looked at the spatial distribution of ephemeral wetlands on the Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee.
http://www.biology.uco.edu/PersonalPages/CButler/index.htm

Dr. Wei Chen, Professor of Engineering & Physics/Assistant Dean

I received my Ph.D. in physics from the University of Oregon in 1988. I am currently the Assistant Dean in the UCO College of Mathematics and Science as well as a Professor in the Engineering Physics Department. In 2007, I was elected as a Fellow of SPIE - International Society for Optical Engineering. My main research interests include laser-tissue interactions for both soft and hard tissues, laser photothermal treatment of cancer, anti-tumor immune responses induced by laser treatment, simulation of light transport in tissues, and monitoring of cancer treatment using different imaging techniques. I have spent over 10 years conducting research in laser cancer treatment, laser tissue welding, biomedical cancer imaging, and cancer chemotherapy treatment.
http://www.physics.uco.edu/~wchen/

Dr. Lilian Chooback, Assistant Professor of Chemistry

Cloning, Expression, and Purification of Yeast Aminotransferase - Lysine is synthesized in sccharomyces cerevisiae via the α-aminoadipate pathway.  α-Aminoadipate is made from α-ketoadipate via the action of a PLP-dependent aminotransferase that has not been identified. Sequence alignments and a homology search for conserved amino acid residues were used to identify six aminotransferase genes in S. Cerevisiae. Based upon the homology, the identified genes code for two aromatic aminotransferases, two aspartate aminotransferases, one kynurenine aminotransferas, and one putative aminotransferase of unknown function. The cloned genes were obtained from the Harvard Institute of Proteomics Plasmid Repository. The genes were subcloned into expression vector pET16b. The expressed his-tagged protein had been purified using a Ni-NTA affinity column. We are at the early stage of kinetic characterization of these enzymes. We are also planning to crystallize a few of these enzymes and look at their structure at the molecular level.

Dr. Jicheng Fu, Assistant Professor of Computer Science

I received my Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2009.  I joined the Computer Science Department of UCO in 2009 as well.  In my research, I focus on automated program synthesis and artificial intelligence.  I have proosed an advanced program synthesis framework in which Model-Driven Architecture, AI Planning, and Component-Based Software Development techniques are seamlessly integrated.  This framework enables both static and dynamic aspects of the system to be automatically generated.  My other research interests include Service-Oriented Architecture and Automated Software Testing.  Before I started to pursue my Ph.D., I worked in industry for six years and have hands-on experience on software design and development.
http://cs2.uco.edu/~fu/

Dr. Michelle Haynie, Assistant Professor of Biology

I joined the faculty at UCO in 2007. Prior to coming to UCO, I spent 15 months as a biologist/laboratory manager at the Smithsonian's Center for Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics. I received my Ph.D. in Biology from Texas Tech University. My dissertation was "Population genetics of four species of Neotoma from the southwestern United States." My research interests lie in population genetics and molecular systematics. Although most of my research has focused on mammals, I am open to working on other organisms. I am interested in the utilization of genetics markers to aid in understanding subdivision of populations and gene flow between populations in regard to how a population may be managed from a conservation standpoint. I am also interested in understanding how genetic relatedness may affect behaviors, such as infanticide and inbreeding avoidance, and transmission of infectious diseases within populations. Additionally, I have interests in using molecular markers to understand and elucidate higher-level taxonomic relationships.
http://biology.uco.edu/biopage/michelle.htm

Dr. Morshed Khandaker, Assistant Professor of Engineering & Physics

I am interested in conducting research in design, damage modeling, and characterization of biomedical and MicroElectroMechancalSystem (MEMS) materials. My current biomedical projects focus on problem areas in the interface between hard tissue (e.g. bone) and alternative biomaterials (cement or implants) as well as hard tissue and soft tissue (e.g. ligaments or tendons). My current microlectromechanical projects focus on studying and modeling the effect of size and stress/strain gradient on the fracture strength of MEMS material.
http://www.physics.uco.edu/%7Emkhandaker/ 

Dr. Evan Lemley, Professor of Engineering & Physics/Assistant Dean

I earned a Ph.D. in Engineering (Thermal-Fluid Sciences and Nuclear Systems specialization) from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville in 1996. During my graduate studies, I performed computer simulations, carried out experiments, and wrote computer software related to neutron radiation detectors. I joined the UCO Engineering and Physics department in 1998 and I am currently serving as the Assistant Chair and Coordinator of the Engineering Physics program within the department. My current research area is fluid flow in porous media and microfluidics.
http://evan.lemley.org

Dr. Wayne Lord, Associate Professor of Forensic Science and Biology

Dr. Lord holds academic degrees in biology, entomology/ecology, and zoology.  He has extensive experience in criminal investigations, the detection and recovery of human remains, crime scene management, forensic entomology, and in the behavioral analysis of violent crimes.  Dr. Lord has co-authored over fifty scientific articles and book chapters, and lectures extensively throughout the United States and abroad.  Dr. Lord's research interests include the study of juvenile mortality in social organisms, the behavioral ecology of child abduction and child homicide, the biology of vertebrate decomposition, the population ecology of social wasps (Hymenoptera:Vespidae), the natural history of Harvestmen (Opiliones), and the parasites of marine mammals.
http://biology.uco.edu/biopage/wayne.htm

Dr. Steven Meier, Assistant Professor of Chemistry

I completed my Ph.D. at the University of Southern California, and my postdoctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley. My thesis research was on the use of late-transition metal hydroxo complexes for the activation of the C-H bond in basic aqueous media. I joined the UCO Chemistry Department in 2009, and my research interests are in the synthesis of late-transition metal pincer complexes that catalytically transform organic molecules.

Dr. Tracy Morris, Assitant Professor of Mathematics & Statistics

I am in my second year in the UCO Department of Mathematics & Statistics. I earned a Ph.D. in statistics from Oklahoma State University. Before coming to UCO, I taught high school mathematics and statistics for eight years. My research interests are in the fields of nonparametric statistics and statistics education. Within nonparametric statistics, I am specifically interested in permutation tests as applied to the structure of a covariance matrix. My interests in statistics education are more varied. I am currently working on three projects in statistics education. The first involves incorporating statistical consulting an service learning into the traditional statistics curriculum, the second is a study of a mastery learning assessment used in introductory statistics classes, and the third involves the development of a survey instrument to measure a student's willingness to seek help when studying college mathematics. I am working with two undergraduate students. One is running some statistical simulations to determine the type I error rates and power of a permutation test for the structure of a covariance matrix. The other is working on a project to determine relationships between help-seeking behavior when studying college mathematics and other variables such as gender, classification, course grades, etc.
http://www.math.uco.edu/morris/index.htm

Dr. Myung Ah (Grace) Park, Assitant Professor of Computer Science

I received my Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2007. I joined the UCO Department of Computer Science in fall 2008. My research interests include protocol design with emphasis on routing and MAC, energy saving, and fault-tolerance in wireless ad-hoc/sensor/mesh networks. Energy saving and fault-tolerance are two conflicting issues in those networks. The problem of transmission power adjustment that guarantees 2-edge or 2-vertex connectivity is often NP-hard. I have been working on approximation algorithms with graph theory oriented approach. With the same approach, specifically by using disk graphs, I have worked on virtual backbone construction problem. I proposed the very first O(1) approximation algorithm for the problem and gave theoretical analysis based on geometric properties of a disk graph. I am also expanding my research into computer/network security.
http://www.comsc.uco.edu/~gp/

Dr. Gang Qian, Associate Professor and Chairperson of Computer Science

I completed my Ph.D. in computer science at Michigan State University in 2004. My research interests include database systems, information retrieval, and bioinformatics. Prior to joining UCO, I worked as a software engineer and a technical consultant in industry for several years. Recently I have been investigating new indexing methods for bioinformatics queries.
http://www.comsc.uco.edu/~gqian/

Dr. Linda Rider, Assistant Professor and Chairperson of Nursing

My clinical specialty is Maternal/Newborn Nursing and I enjoy exploring topics concerning the health of mothers and babies. My education includes: a BSN from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and a Master of Science with a major in Nursing Education from the University of Oklahoma. My doctorate is in Educational Leadership-Higher Education from Oklahoma State University. My research interests in addition to Maternal/Newborn health include technology in education and transition of nursing graduates into the profession.
http://www.uco.edu/nursing/index.shtml

Dr. Charlotte Simmons, Professor of Mathematics & Statistics/Associate Dean

I earned a B.A. in English and Mathematics at Texas A&M University - Commerce, a M.A. in Mathematics at the University of North Texas, and a Ph.D. in Mathematics at the University of Oklahoma. While in graduate school, I assisted with the Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program at OU. I wrote my dissertation in the area of finite hyperbolic geometry. My current research interests include coding theory, cryptology, and the history of mathematics. Last year, one of my undergraduate students presented at a national conference on the history of mathematics. Dr. John Barthell and I organize an interdisciplinary undergraduate seminar on the history and nature of mathematics and science each spring.
http://www.math.uco.edu/simmons/index.htm

Dr. Melville Vaughan, Associate Professor of Biology

My research interests are primarily the cell biology of wound healing and aging. I study how cells interact with their environment by using artificial in vitro models of cells and their tissues. By modifying either the cells or the surrounding tissue we can address the important questions of the field, such as how long does in vitro aging or telomerase expression affect non-muscle contraction, cell migration, or epithelialization? Most of this work is being performed by undergraduate students at UCO, or in collaboration with scientists at the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, where I earned my Ph.D., or at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas where I pursued postdoctoral training.  More information can be found at the following website:
http://biology.uco.edu/biopage.mel.htm

Dr. William Caire, Professor of Biology

My biological and ecological interests are varied. I am primarily a mammalian ecologist with a focus on rodents and bats. I do enjoy field investigations, but I am open to research that blends field work and laboratory studies. My past research has resulted in publications in the areas of taxonomy, food habits, parasites, numerical taxonomy, physiology, and geographical surveys of mammals in the southwest.
http://www.biology.uco.edu/SelmanLL/index.html

Dr. James Bidlack, Professor of Biology

With a B.S. (Purdue University, 1984), M.S. (University of Arkansas, 1986), and Ph.D. (Iowa State University, 1990), I decided to stay in college for life because I like teaching and research.  I started at UCO a few months after defending my dissertation.  Most of my education focuses primarily on agriculture and botany, with an emphasis in plant anatomy and physiology.  Our Research Group is diverse and we are currently working on conversion of light energy into usable energy with photosynthetic pigments, mechanisms of gene transfer in bacteria, optimization of crop biofuel production, and secondary plant metabolism.  For more information, go to http://metabolism.net/bidlack or http://biology.uco.edu/bidlack

Dr. Lavinia Ciungu, Assistant Professor of Mathematics & Statistics

My research lies in the area of Cryptography and Coding Theory. Some of the topics I approached so far are related to patterns in Cryptographic functions, such as palindromes, overlaps, periodicity of Boolean functions. Another topic of interest concerns the weight and nonlinearity of certain functions, namely finding bounds which would increase the security of cryptosystems. Currently, I am currently working on applying a mathematical conjecture to build a cryptographic code.

Dr. Gang Xu, Assistant Professor of Engineering & Physics

I received my B.S. in Theoretical & Applied Mechanics and M.S. in Fluid Mechanics (Biomechanics) from Fudan University in China in 1998 and 2001, respectively. I then received my M.S. and D.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering from Washington University in 2004 and 2006, respectively. My research interests span subcellular, cellular, and developmental biomechanics. My expertise involves the integration of experimental and computational mechanics to investigate biomechanical principles that are intrinsic to fundamental problems in biology and medicine. I am currently studying the cellular and subcellular biomechanics of cilia and flagella, organelles whose motility and mechanosensory function play a central role in development, health, and disease. Before joining UCO, I was a research assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science at Washington University in St. Louis.

Dr. Brittany Bannish, Assistant Professor of Mathematics & Statistics

My research interest is in mathematical biology. I enjoy using mathematics to answer biological questions, to suggest interesting experiments to biologists, and to pose new questions that scientists perhaps had not considered previously. I have a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Utah. My thesis research was on fibrinolysis -- how blood clots break up. I developed a multiscale mathematical model that includes differential equations, stochastic equations, and significant computation in order to study the underlying mechanisms of clot degradation. I love finding interesting questions in biology and then applying (and learning) mathematical techinques to most appropriately investigate those questions.

Dr. Sean Laverty, Assistant Professor of Mathematics & Statistics

I am in the UCO Department of Mathematics and Statistics.  I earned a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Utah in 2011.  My research area is mathematical biology with an emphasis on epidemiology, ecology, and ecological statistics.  In graduate school, I studied the transmission dynamics of Sin Nombre virus (a hantavirus) in deer mice.  This research, aimed at identifying the important features of inter-host transmission of infection, blended fieldwork, data analysis, and mathematical modeling.  I have also written and analyzed mathematical models that describe the transmission of human rhinovirus, taking into account details and dynamics of the host immune system.  That said, I am interested in most applications of mathematics to biological dynamics and I am eager to explore new problems.

Dr. Steven Karpowicz, Assistant Professor of Biology

I am interested in exploring the molecular biology of the chloroplast specifically and plants in general.  By recognizing the conserved and unique proteins present in the green plant and algal lineages through computational and functional experiments, the landscape of proteins potentially involved in plastid function is revealed.  Additionally, I investigate particular proteins implicated in chloroplast function to uncover their role in plant biology.  Finally, my molecular and genetic studies of the poorly understood red algae grant new insights into the biology of these organisms. To address my questions, I use tools from genetics, molecular biology, and genomics.  http://biology.uco.edu/PersonalPages/karpowicz/