Research in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) at Kennesaw State University is categorized into five different subdisciplines: Developmental Biology, Cell Structure and Function, Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics, Microbial Sciences and Neuroscience.
Read more about each specific subdiscipline listed below, as well as find links to faculty websites, who specialize in those areas.
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Developmental Biology
Developmental Biology studies the genetic and molecular control of how organisms form. By studying simple model systems such as fruit flies, nematodes, and mice, we can infer how similar genes work in humans, which allows us to better understand the causes of human genetic disorders.
Featured Faculty Research
NamePosition-
Anton Bryantsev Associate Professor of Developmental Biology
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Brandon Carpenter Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology
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Martin Hudson Interim Chair of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Professor of Biology
Interim Chair of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Professor of Biology
mhudso28@kennesaw.edu
Visit Website
(470) 578-7558
SC 509 -
Scott Nowak Associate Vice President for Research and Professor of Biology
Associate Vice President for Research and Professor of Biology
snowak@kennesaw.edu
Visit Website
(470) 578-7777
SL 4006 -
Ramya Rajagopalan Assistant Professor of Cell Biology
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Neuroscience
Neuroscience is a broad discipline that seeks to understand how the nervous system forms and functions throughout the life of an organism. Again, studies in simple systems allow us to understand how the brain works in humans, and to shed light on the underlying defects behind autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Featured Faculty Research
NamePosition-
Martin Hudson Interim Chair of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Professor of Biology
Interim Chair of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Professor of Biology
mhudso28@kennesaw.edu
Visit Website
(470) 578-7558
SC 509
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Microbial Sciences
Microbial Sciences is the study of bacteria, viruses, and single-celled eukaryotes such as yeast. This includes the genetics of bacterial pathogenesis, microbial communities in the gut and other systems.
Featured Faculty Research
NamePosition-
Premila Achar Associate Professor of Biology
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Michael Beach Associate Professor of Biology
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Melanie Griffin Assistant Chair of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Director of Special Programs and Associate Professor of Biology
Assistant Chair of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Director of Special Programs and Associate Professor of Biology
mgriff40@kennesaw.edu
Visit Website
(470) 578-6654
SC 510 -
Andrew Haddow Assistant Professor of Microbiology
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Zhongjing Lu Associate Professor of Biology
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Jonathan McMurry Professor of Chemistry
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Ramya Rajagopalan Assistant Professor of Cell Biology
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Cell Structure and Function
Cell Structure and Function delves into the inner workings of single cells, to understand the molecular basis of how cells form and function. The discipline of cell biology was founded, in part, by our desire to understand and find cures for cancer.
Featured Faculty Research
NamePosition-
Eric Albrecht Associate Professor of Biology
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Anton Bryantsev Associate Professor of Developmental Biology
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Susan M.E. Smith Adjunct Professor
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Brandon Carpenter Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology
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Jonathan McMurry Professor of Chemistry
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Scott Nowak Associate Vice President for Research and Professor of Biology
Associate Vice President for Research and Professor of Biology
snowak@kennesaw.edu
Visit Website
(470) 578-7777
SL 4006
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Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics
Genetics, Genomics, and Bioinformatics are multidisciplinary threads that link many of the MCB subdisciplines. We use genetic approaches to study muscle development and nervous system function; genomic approaches to understand how cells change through time; and bioinformatic tools to show how gene expression changes under defined conditions.
Featured Faculty Research
NamePosition-
Michael Beach Associate Professor of Biology
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Anton Bryantsev Associate Professor of Developmental Biology
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Brandon Carpenter Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology
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Estella Quin Inclusion Leader
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Ramya Rajagopalan Assistant Professor of Cell Biology
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Susan M.E. Smith Adjunct Professor
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Tsai-Tien Tseng Associate Director of Undergraduate Research and Associate Professor of Biology
Associate Director of Undergraduate Research and Associate Professor of Biology
ttseng@kennesaw.edu
Visit Website
(470) 578-5020
SL 4012
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Publications