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Purpose of Research
Faculty supervised undergraduate research opportunities in the STEM field.
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Enhance Subject Matter Knowledge
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Develop Critical Thinking Skills
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Learn how to Collaborate
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Build Your Identity as a Scientist
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Enhance Graduate School or Career Prospects
MSU Faculty Supervised Research Opportunities
Dr. Azure Avery, Ph.D.
Professor - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
I am a professor in the Department of Physics and joint appointee at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). I teach both lower and upper division physics courses and laboratories and collaborate with researchers in the materials science and chemistry and nanoscience areas. My joint NREL and MSU Denver research interests are focused on studying thermal and electrical transport through thin films such as films of carbon nanotubes, with a specific emphasis on studying materials for renewable energy applications. At, Previous MSU Denver students performed atomic force microscopy to image and measure properties of materials. They have also worked as interns at NREL.
[email protected]
Dr. Lisa Badanes, Ph.D.
Professor - Psychological Sciences - Mental Health, Stress and Early Adversity
My research examines the links between early and current life stress on symptoms of depression and anxiety in adulthood. I am particularly interested in sources of resilience that promote healthy outcomes even in the face of adversity.
[email protected]
Dr. Rebecca M. Bingham-Byrne, Ph.D.
Lecturer - Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
My diverse academic background spans natural science, biological sciences, earth sciences, data science, bioinformatics, and public health. My research currently utilizes Geographic Information Sciences (GIS) to explore ecology, animal behavior, biogeography, and infectious diseases, but I want to expand to other areas as well.
[email protected]
Dr. Erin Bissell, Ph.D.
Associate Professor - Biology
Plant Ecology, Taxonomy & Evolutionary Biology
[email protected]
Dr. Andrew J. Bonham, Ph.D.
Professor - Chemistry & Biochemistry - DNA, biochemistry, bioengineering, bioinformatics, electrochemistry
Dr. Andrew J. Bonham has research interests focused on the understanding and application of nucleic acid-based biosensors for medical and environmental diagnostics. He also develops python-based bio-informatics software to understand and predict aptamer folding and genomic epigenetic methylation patterns. He is a Denver-native, excited to continue his dream of teaching biochemistry, raising scientific awareness, and advancing research.
[email protected] Research Website
Dr. Christy Carello, Ph.D.
Professor - Biology - Ornithology, Conservation, Ecology, Tropical Biology
My specialization is on the conservation, ecology and behavior of birds.
[email protected]
Dr. Maria Cattell, Ph.D.
Lecturer - Biology - Genetics, Evolution, genome editing, coral conservation
In my lab we are studying the molecular genetic events involved in the establishment and loss of symbionts by corals. The reefs produced by corals are among the most productive ecosystems on the planet. The symbiotic relationship between corals and their photosynthetic algal symbionts is directly responsible for this productivity. Environmental perturbation, like the oceans warming, causes this symbiosis to break down in a process known as coral bleaching. Not much is known about how the relationship between the coral and their algae is established or what physiological and molecular events result in algal gain or loss. Understanding these mechanisms may allow us to target genes in the coral or algal genome for modification to help coral survive bleaching events and warming oceans. To study symbiosis we grow small sea anemones that are related to coral and are also symbiotic. We are studying the molecular events of symbiosis in these live anemones. My undergraduate research students and students in my CURE course, Genetics: Principles and Analysis, use molecular genetics tools and techniques on our anemones to help gather genetic data that contributes to the symbiosis research. This allows my students to participate in marine conservation studies here at MSU.
[email protected]
Dr. Layton Seth Curl, Ph.D.
Professor - Psychological Sciences - Social & Political Psychology, Quantitative Measurement
Dr. Curl examines a range of factors that impact social behavior and prejudice. He also studies human sexuality. Dr. Curl is currently pursing research focused on political psychology and how media viewership impacts persons’ ability to retain general factual and political knowledge.
[email protected]
Dr. James Dove, Ph.D.
Professor - Physics - Theoretical Astrophysics, Solar Physics
One area of research involves accreting black holes. In particular I'm interested in predicting the X-ray spectra emitted outside the event horizon. A second area of research involves the structure of neutron stars, accounting for both general-relativistic and special-relativistic effects.
[email protected]
Dr. April Hill, Ph.D.
Professor - Chemistry - Analytical & Forensic Chemistry, Archaeometry, Accessibility
I primarily teach courses focused on chemical analysis, including analytical, instrumental, and forensic chemistry. I conduct research in the areas of forensic chemistry and archaeometry, as well as in lab accessibility for students with vision impairment.
[email protected] Hill Lab
Dr. Janelle M. Johnson, Ph.D.
Professor - Secondary Education, K-12, and Educational Techology
K-12 science, STEM equity, teaching & learning, teacher education. My focus is on increasing access to high quality STEM learning and work opportunities.
[email protected] Colorado STEM Ecosystem
Dr. Uwe Kackstaetter (Dr. K), Ph.D.
Professor - Earth & Atmospheric Sciences - Geology, Environmental Geology, Mineralogy, Hydrogeology, International Field Trips
Applied science with hands-on, award winning, meaningful student undergraduate research projects.
[email protected] Dr. K's University Website
Dr. Megan Lazorski, Ph.D.
Associate Professor - Chemistry & Biochemistry
Inorganic Chemistry, Light-Matter Interactions, Spectroscopic Methods, Solar Energy Conversion.
[email protected] Research Information
Dr. Kristen Lyons, Ph.D.
Professor - Psychological Sciences - Developmental Psychology, Human Development, Cognitive Development
I am a developmental psychologist who works to improve lives through teaching, research, and opportunity building. My areas of focus include: the development of self-regulation, metacognition and memory; mindfulness training for children and adolescents; and college student development (with a particular focus on supporting the success of first-generation students and students who are parents).
[email protected]
Dr. Alexander Matthews, Ph.D.
Lecturer - Psychological Sciences - Biological Psychology, Neuroscience, Attention, Memory
I am a new lecturer here at MSU Denver. I received my PhD from Utah State University with a degree in Neuroscience. My doctoral research examined the interplay between attention, distraction, working memory, and intracranial drug manipulations within an awake and behaving rodent model of interval timing behavior. I previously instructed Fundamentals of Neuroscience and Sensation & Perception classes. I enjoy hands on labs where students can observe and manipulate the course materials.
[email protected]
Dr. Ranjidha Rajan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor - Compute Sciences - AI & machine learning, Data Visualization, Learning Analytics, and Network Analytics.
I teach data visualization, programming languages, and algorithms, and my research explores how generative AI, data visualization, and knowledge graphs can transform education and improve student success. Through my projects, I integrate AI-driven insights with interactive dashboards and network analytics to better understand learning behaviors, foster collaboration, and design inclusive, data-informed educational ecosystems.
[email protected]
Dr. Sarah Schliemann, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor - Earth & Atmospheric Sciences - Climate Change, Restoration, Biogeochemistry, Soil
My research focuses primarily on the role soil plays in climate change and ecological restoration. My current work centers around the impact of the reintroduction of the rainbow scarab beetle (Phanaeus vindex) on soil nutrients and soil bulk density. The rainbow scarab beetle is a dung beetle that once was widespread throughout Colorado; found anywhere there were bison. After European settlers hunted the bison nearly to extinction, the rainbow scarab disappeared as well. The Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance and Denver Mountain Parks with be reintroducing the rainbow scarab beetle to Daniels Park (Douglas County) in the coming years to help manage the bison manure and hopefully improve nutrient cycling and soil conditions.
[email protected]
Dr. Vida Senkus Melvin, Ph. D.
Associate Professor - Genetics, Cell and Molecular Biology, Developmental Biology
My lab uses the zebrafish as a model to understand gene function during embryonic development.
[email protected] Research Website
Dr. Shalini Srinivasan, Ph.D.
Associate Professor - Chemistry & Biochemistry - Chemistry education, assessment, evaluation, mixed-methods research
My background is in chemistry education, which is a fun combination of several fields (educational psychology, sociology, statistics...) applied in the context of chemistry. This area offers opportunities to measure and understand the factors that impact student learning and success. Students can learn fundamental and advanced statistical tools (depending on their research question), theories that frame student learning and success, qualitative and quantitative research methods. From a broader perspective, students can learn more about assessment and evaluation, (how to know your assessment tool is measuring what it's supposed to) which are critical in understanding the efficacy of a course, a program, or any initiative that's implemented in higher education and beyond.
[email protected]
Dr. Helene C. Ver Eecke, Ph.D
Professor - Biology - Microbiology, Bio-Art, Extremophiles, Fermentation, Social/Motile Microbes
I’m continuously in awe of the complexities of microbes and the impact they have on humans and our planet. It is joyous to make students aware of the microbial world. I love mentoring projects that assess the impressive capabilities of microbes. This includes Bio-Art, bioprospecting, extremophiles, fermentation, social/motile organisms, QA/QC, industrial microbiology, applied environmental microbiology.
[email protected] BIOSTEM Advisors
Dr. Arijana Barun, Ph.D.
Biology - Lecturer
Wildlife Ecology, Invasive Mammalian Species Impact and Control, Transformative Teaching Practices
[email protected]Dr. Barb EchoHawk, Ph.D.
Professor - Earth & Atmospheric Sciences - Geology, Resource Exploration, Geologic Hazards, Geoscience Education
I’m a geologist. My academic specialty is high-resolution event stratigraphy. My industry experience is in exploration for petroleum and minerals, petroleum research, and engineering geology of geohazards. One of my current efforts is to expand sharing of place-relevant geologic information on public lands.
[email protected]Dr. Caitlin G Fine, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor - Elementary Education & Literacy
K-5 science, translanguaging, classroom assessment, qualitative methods. A former elementary bilingual science teacher, I am dedicated to working with teachers and students at the intersection of science education, bi/multilingual education and classroom assessment. I use participatory design-based research to put theory to work by collaboratively imaginging, building, testing, reflecting upon and refining tools and routines to support translanguaging pedagogies in science classrooms. Additionally, I am interested in how multi-generational co-design work focused on translanguaging pedagogies in science classrooms can shift teachers’ language ideologies and how they interpret students’ science ideas.
[email protected]
Nicolette Giasolli, M.S., ATC
Lecturer - Biology - Anatomy, Physiology, Kinesiology, Biomechanics, Injury Prevention
While my background is Sports Medicine, I have been teaching for more than 20 years. Currently I focus on Anatomy & Physiology with an emphasis on critical reading, critical thinking, and logical problem solving. My course is designed to help create a functional foundation in A & P with which one can be successful in upper division courses and have a foundation to begin to puzzle issues they may see on the field, in the clinic, or other internship/work settings.
[email protected]
Dr. Clare Hays, DVM
Professor - Biology
Advising - Pre-Medical, Pre-Veterinary and Pre-Dental
[email protected] Hays Advising