Biological Chemistry Faculty

ben
Associate Professor
Plant Molecular Biology My research focuses on the response of plants to environmental stress at the molecular, biochemical, and physiological levels, utilizing both crop and model plant species. Most of my research centers on non-biological stresses such as exposure to foreign compounds, or...
Leslie Gregg-Jolly
Professor Senior Faculty

Douglas Johnson ’77 Professor of Biology

2019 Distinguished Faculty Member Award, Iowa Chapter of the AAUW for work for educational equity for women and underrepresented groups in higher education
Heriberto Hernandez
Professor
Heriberto Hern á ndez is a community-engaged chemistry professor with many years of experience administering education, conducting research projects with undergraduate students, and serving the chemistry community. As a professor at Grinnell College, Heriberto has worked with over 50 students, has...
Shannon
Professor
Shannon Hinsa-Leasure is a microbiologist and a professor of biology at Grinnell College in Iowa. Her research interests include microbial diversity, antibiotic resistance and genetic exchange, and strategies for bacterial survival. Most recently she began a collaboration with Dr. Lillian...
Pascal Lafontant
Professor
The Lafontant lab studies heart repair and regeneration in zebrafish and the giant danio with undergraduate students. In humans and adult mammals, cardiac injuries (heart attacks) result in permanent scarring of the heart muscle. This response to injury may lead to subsequent heart failure. However...
Erick
Associate Professor
Professor Leggans primary responsibilities are teaching the introductory course and laboratories for the Organic Chemistry (CHM 221-222) and General Chemistry (CHM 129). His research focus is in the semi and total synthesis of biologically active natural products and the development of new synthetic...
Mark Levandoski
Professor
We study the molecular pharmacology of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). These ligand-gated ion channels are the seat of nicotine addiction and are implicated in a wide range of other neurological abnormalities such as Parkinson’s disease and attention disorders. Most recently, we...
Clark Lindgren
Professor

Patricia A. Johnson Professor of Neuroscience

In my laboratory we study the chemical synapse, a specialized junction where neurons communicate with adjacent cells, such as sensory receptors, muscle cells, or other neurons. We are trying to understand how the presynaptic cell at a chemical synapse controls the release of its messenger molecule...
Molly MacInnes headshot
Assistant Professor
Professor MacInnes uses electrochemistry to study and design materials and interfaces. She is currently exploring two projects, both motivated by the broad goal of a cleaner, healthier Earth. The first project involves designing and fabricating electrodes that can be used in detecting trace metal...
Elaine Marzluff
Professor

Breid-McFarland Professor of Science

Professor Marzluff teaches Physical Chemistry (CHM 363, 364), General Chemistry (CHM 129), Inorganic & Analytical Chemistry (CHM 210) as well as the Policy Studies seminar (PST320) and the Advanced Policy Research course (PST 420). Professor Marzluff's research focuses on the structure and dynamics...
Andrew
Professor
Research Professor Mobley's research interests involve the application of physical organic techniques to organometallic compounds. His current research involves the synthesis of transition metal stannylenes with particular interest in the synthesis of a novel class of these molecules in which the...
Vida
Professor
Developmental Genetics and Cell Biology Directed changes in the shape of epithelial sheets are required to create many of the major tissues in animals, including the intestinal system, kidneys, lungs, and skin. Although our understanding of epithelial sheet morphogenesis has advanced in recent years...
Josh Sandquist
Associate Professor

Department chair of General Science

Research Approach As a Center for Xenopus Research (a fabricated distinction, but it sounds cool), the Sandquist lab uses a combination of molecular, biochemical, and cell biological approaches to study various aspects of cell division in the frog embryo. Not just any frog, mind you. We use that...
Lee
Professor Senior Faculty
Professor Sharpe is interested in the development of environmental chemical sensors based on fluorescent, powdered, semiconductor materials. He and his students have found that these materials indicate the presence of pollutants such as sulfur dioxide (precursor of acid rain) by the decrease in the...
Stephen
Associate Professor
Professor Sieck's research is focused on the development of new synthetic organic methodology to generate biologically active molecules. Link to Summer 2014 Research Description
Sullivan
Professor Emeritus
Cell Biology / Developmental Biology I am interested in the formation of sensory structures during neural development in vertebrate embryos. Most of my work with students at Grinnell has focused on lens formation in chicken embryos (a lens from a four day old embryo is shown in Figure 1). We have...
Jim swartz
Professor Senior Faculty
Director of the 1995-1997 and 2005-2008 Noyce Science Center Renovation and Expansion Projects. Dean of the College and Vice President of Academic Affairs, 1998-2008. Chair of the Science Division, 1990-1994. Legislative Aide in the Washington D.C. office of Representative Claudine Schneider of...
Elizabeth
Professor
Professor Trimmer is interested in the structure and mechanism of enzymes. Her research has focused on enzymes that perform oxidation/reduction reactions using the coenzyme flavin.

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