The Washington, D.C. area abounds with opportunities for scientific research. Government institutions include the National Institutes of Health, Walter Reed Army Institute for Research, Food and Drug Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency , just to name a few.
Washington also is a “hotbed” for biotechnology research. Numerous biotechnology companies, including Celera, TIGR, and Human Genome Sciences, are located in the area and provide a variety of employment opportunities. In addition to internships, part-time jobs are available to students during the academic year and full-time positions are available during the summer.
Our Faculty
There are eight full-time faculty members in the Biology Department. The faculty’s research areas cover the major sub-fields of microbial, cell and molecular biology. The specific research areas include bacterial pathogenesis, quorum sensing, transcription factors, development in C. elegans, multiple drug resistance, membrane dynamics and intracellular trafficking, virus structure and assembly, mechanisms of cancer, novel approaches to vaccine development, biological effects of electromagnetic radiation and ecology and environmental biology
Faculty research is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense and National Science Foundation. A number of our faculty also review grants for major sponsoring agencies such as National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation and manuscripts for internationally reputed journals such as Journal of Molecular Biology, EMBO Journal, Biochemistry, Genetics and Virology.
Members of the faculty and the research they currently are involved in include:
Pamela L. Tuma (Ph.D., Northwestern University)
An assistant professor, Professor Tuma did her post-doctoral work at Johns Hopkins University Medical School in Baltimore. She conducts research that investigates membrane dynamics in polarized epithelial cells. Professor Tuma’s published works include: Tuma, P. L., Nyasae, L. K., Backer, J. M. and Hubbard, A. L., (2001) Vps34p differentially regulates endocytosis from the apical and basolateral domains in polarized hepatic cells. J. Cell. Biol. 154, 1197-1208.
Ann Corsi (Ph.D., University of California at Berkley)
Professor Corsi is an assistant professor who completed her post-doctoral work at the National Institutes of Health. Her research is aimed at addressing the broad developmental question "what determines a cell's fate"? Professor Corsi’s published work includes: Corsi, A. K., Brodigan, T. M., Jorgensen, E. M. and Krause, M. (2002) Characterization of a dominant negative C. elegans Twist mutant protein with implications for human Saethre-Chotzen syndrome. Development 129, 2761-2772.
Venigalla B. Rao (Ph.D., Indian Institute of Science)
Chairman of the Biology Department, Professor Rao cmpleted his post-doctoral work at the University of Maryland Medical School. His laboratory research includes use of the bacteriophage T4 as a model system to elucidate the mechanism of DNA packaging in double stranded DNA containing icosahedral viruses. Strategies are also being developed to construct multicomponent vaccines against HIV and anthrax using phage T4 display. Professor Rao’s published work includes: Rao, V. B. and Mitchell, M. (2001) The N‑terminal ATPase Site in the Large Terminase Protein Gp17 is Critically Required for DNA Packaging in Bacteriophage T4. J. Mol. Biol. 314: 411‑421.
John Golin (Ph.D., University of Chicago)
Professor Golin’s research is centered on two basic problems in molecular genetics: the molecular mechanism of general recombination in eukaryotes and the phenomenon of multiple drug resistance. Both are studied using the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, as the model organism. His published work includes: Fleckenstein, A., J. Shallom and J. Golin, (1999). A PDR5 independent pathway of multi‑drug resistance regulated by the SIN4 gene product. Yeast 15: 133‑137.
James J. Greene (Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University)
With the goal of identifying the genetic elements involved in controlling cell proliferation, Professor Greene’s laboratory studies the regulatory events that arrest proliferation of dividing cells and restore them to the quiescent state. Dr. Greene’s published work includes: Moussazadeh, M. and Greene J.J. Redox regulation of casein kinase II autophosphorylation and its effect on jun‑DNA binding. Cell. Mol. Biol. 46:1265‑1275, 2000.
Barbara J. Howard (D.A., The Catholic University of America)
An associate professor, her laboratory research focuses on the study of macroinvertebrate populations of streams and their associations with a large number of chemical parameters such as the presence of cations and anions, and how these biological and chemical factors interact in stream ecosystems are being explored.
Guangyong Ji (Ph.D., University of Illinois, Chicago)
Dr. Ji, an associate professor, completed his postdoctoral research work at the New York University School of Medicine. His laboratory research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of staphylococcal virulence gene regulation and pathogenesis. Dr. Ji’s published work includes: Qiu, R., Pei, W., Zhang, L., Lin, J, and Ji, G. (2005) Identification of the Putative Staphylococcal AgrB Catalytic Residues Involving the Proteolytic Cleavage of AgrD to generate Autoinducing Peptide. J. Biol. Chem. 280:16695-16704.
J. Michael Mullins (Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin)
Research in Dr. Mullins laboratory has focused on studies of cell division and on the interrelationships of cytoskeletal structures in cultured mammalian cells. Recent work on cell division has involved efforts to identify components of the mitotic spindle, a structure whose detailed chemistry is still undefined. Newly initiated research, involving participation in an interdisciplinary group, has centered on the use of mammalian cell cultures to assess possible deleterious effects of microwave irradiation. His published work includes: A.L. Di Carlo J.M. Mullins, and T. A. Litovitz. 2000. Thresholds for EM field-induced hypoxia protection: evidence for a primary, electric field effect. Bioelectrochemistry, 52:9‑16.
Our Students
The Department of Biology currently has 65 students majoring in biology and five students completing courses for a minor. The introductory course in biology, which is taken by biology concentrators as well as other students, averages 40 to 50 students in the lecture with a maximum of 22 students in laboratory sections. Other courses in the department range in size from six for a senior seminar course to another course with a typical enrollment of 30.
Students have access to scientific equipment of the highest quality in the research and classroom laboratories, and an undergraduate computer room is also available to biology majors. Many students have performed significant research and became lead authors or co-authors in research publications in professional journals.
Student Organizations
The Biology Club is open to biology majors as well as those students interested in science-related activities, such as the health professions. The club offers presentations by professionals and faculty, sponsors visits from recent alumni, and hosts social gatherings for faculty and students.
Biology students also participate in campus volunteer efforts including feeding the homeless, Habitat for Humanity and tutoring programs, as well as other student organizations.
Hands-On Experience: Research and Volunteer Opportunities
Students have the opportunity to gain research experience in the laboratories of our own faculty through the Freshmen Research Scholars Program, the work-study program, and course work.
A number of our students also gain excellent research experience through student job programs at local government institutions such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Walter Reed Army Institute for Research.
Biology majors also have easy access to area hospitals for those who wish to gain volunteer experience.
Beyond Graduation
Approximately 80 percent of our graduates continue on to obtain graduate or professional degrees. Areas of graduate study include forensic science, genetics, immunology, physiology, neuropsychology and other sub-fields of biology. Most students enter those programs either immediately after graduation or within one year. Some seek employment in biomedical research positions upon graduation before pursuing their graduate degrees.
In the health professions most seek admission to medical school while a small percentage pursue dentistry or veterinary medicine. In the allied health fields, our students have obtained degrees in physical therapy, optometry, nursing, athletic training and nutrition. Several alumni from recent years have attended law school.
Examples of institutions our graduates have attended include the University of Chicago, Vanderbilt, University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown and Loyola (Chicago).
Many of alumni are accomplished professionals and researchers, including:
Carol Nacy (BS (1970); MS (1972); Ph. D. (1976)) is founder, president and CEO of a biotechnology company devoted to researching new treatments for tuberculosis. She is a past national president of the American Society for Microbiology.
Alex Vaclavic (’03) is spending a year teaching English in Japan and will return to begin medical school at Creighton University.
William Zaccardi (’03) is in the Genetics graduate program at the University of Chicago.
Janet Muckenthaler (’98) was awarded a Truman Scholarship in her senior year. She deferred graduate studies and spent time volunteering as a teacher and administrator at a school in Kenya.
Brian Till (’98) attended the University of Chicago Medical School and is currently doing his postgraduate training as a resident at the University of Pennsylvania.
Katie Goetzinger (’02) was awarded a research fellowship from the American Society for Microbiology and won a Barry Goldwater Scholarship while an undergraduate biology student at CUA. She is now in her second year of medical school at the University of Maryland.
Carolyn Wickert (’96) is a validation supervisor for Bristol-Myers Squibb.
John Mack (’93) is the director of a group of surgical physician assistants in Poughkeepsie. NY.
Nancy Roscioli Kavanaugh (’85) works as a consultant for pharmaceutical applications.
Elizabeth Renken (’02) is now pursuing graduate studies in biological science at the University of Arizona.
0aynor Jablonski (’99) attended law school at CUA.
Angel Sotouyo (’94) is working as an athletic trainer for a professional soccer team.
Stephanie Olszowska (’91) earned a Ph.D. as a psychologist.
Andrew Newman (’88) is now working as a science teacher at St. John’s College High School in Washington, DC.
Louise Mallet (’85) works as a physical therapist.
Kevin Flanigan is now a priest and surgeon volunteering in Kenya.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Pursuing an undergraduate degree involves a commitment not only of time, but also of financial resources. Catholic University offers several funding options such as student loans and work-study positions.
A CUA financial aid application and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be submitted in order to request need-based aid. A separate application for merit-based aid is not required. Consideration for need-based aid is open to citizens and permanent residents of the United States.
Faculty often hire undergraduates to assist with research. In recent years, several outstanding students have received awards from the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and the American Society for Microbiology.
Applying for Admission
Prospective students may apply for admission online at http://admissions.cua.edu.
Applications materials may also be requested by contacting CUA's Office of University Admissions at 800-673-2772 or 202-319-5305.
