Matthew Barlow
Title: Associate Professor of Physiology, Biology Graduate Coordinator
Office Location: EH 103
Phone: 575.562.2543
Education
Doctorate of Philosophy (Integrative Physiology)
January 2006-December 2008 University of North Texas Health Science
Masters of Biomedical Science
August 2002-May 2005 University of North Texas Health Science
Bachelor of Science in Biology
1994-1999 University of New Mexico
Bio
Dr. Barlow is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology. He is an integrative physiologist in the Department of Biology, and teaches the following courses: Human Anatomy and Physiology (BIOL 2110 and 2225), Endocrinology (BIOL 380), Neurobiology (BIOL 433), Advanced Human Physiology (BIOL 424), and special topic courses in Advanced Cardiovascular Exercise Physiology and Molecular and Cellular Exercise Physiology. Dr. Barlow is also the Department of Biology Graduate Coordinator and director of the Human Anatomy Cadaver lab.
Research Interests
Dr. Barlow?s laboratory research deals with the cardiovascular health disparities in diabetes and metabolic syndrome in the regional Native American and Hispanic populations. His lab studies the control of heart and skeletal muscle blood flow associated with changes in aging, metabolism and exercise training. He also has studies in nutritional supplementation with exercise performance. Prior studies in the laboratory have included dual task post-concussion neurocognitive and physiological evaluation of young athletes as well as opioid regulation of the autonomic nervous system in pre-and post-conditioning of the heart.
Kenwyn Cradock
Title: Department Chair, Professor of Entomology
Office Location: EH 106
Phone: 575.562.2078
Education
Ph.D. The Ohio State University 2005 (Entomology)
M.S. University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa 1998 (Plant Pathology)
B.S. University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa 1995 (Entomology and Plant Pathology)
Bio
ENMU is the recipient of a US Dept. of Education HSI STEM grant of which I am the director. The grant aims to improve the awareness and preparation of high school students for STEM degrees and careers, along with providing resources and opportunities to undergraduate students in the STEM fields.
Research Interests
The focus of my research is the management of vector-borne diseases while minimizing the impact on non-target organisms. While in South Africa I investigated the use of cultural techniques (resistant varieties, mulches) to manage non-persistently transmitted viruses (specifically Potyviridae vectored by aphids) in vegetable crops (specifically zucchini). My research at The Ohio State University focused on the potential of an entomopathogenic fungus (Beauveria bassiana) as a management agent of the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) and the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum). These studies included evaluation under laboratory and field conditions, and the impact of infection on tick water-balance, an important component of off-host tick survival.
In addition, my current research includes the study of arthropod diversity in New Mexico and Forensic Entomology. I have research projects that continue the investigation of tick management strategies and the understanding of off-host unfed tick biology, the insect fauna associated with decomposition in eastern New Mexico, and in science education.
Drew Davis
Title: Assistant Professor of Wildlife Biology
Office Location: EH 101
Phone: 575.562.2723
Education
Ph.D. University of South Dakota (Biological Sciences)
M.S. Texas State University (Population and Conservation Biology)
B.S. The University of Texas at Austin (Biology)
Bio
My role in the Department of Biology serves as the vertebrate zoologist and ecologist. I teach courses including Principles of Biology (BIOL 2610), Wildlife Management and Conservation (BIOL 405/505), as well as various graduate seminars (e.g., BIOL 592). I also hold the title of Curator or Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals as part of the ENMU Genaro Natural History Museum.
Research Interests
My research focuses on the ecology and conservation of amphibians and reptiles across North America, particularly throughout the southwestern and midwestern United States. I have conducted studies involving emerging technologies (environmental DNA, drones), behavioral ecology, stress physiology, disease ecology, ecotoxicology, and natural history to gain a deeper insight into threats and challenges species and populations face, all with the goal of helping to conserve both species and critical habitat. In addition to field- and laboratory-based studies, I also utilize museum collections and specimen-based research to further our understanding of amphibian and reptile ecology and taxonomy.
Zhiming Liu
Title: Professor of Molecular Biology
Office Location: EH 109
Phone: 575.562.2495
Education
Ph.D. Texas Tech University 1994
M.S. University of Washington 1990
B.A. Shanghai Ocean University 1982
Bio
I teach the following courses: BIOL 154 General Biology I, BIOL 222 Cell Biology, BIOL 375 General Biotechnology, BIOL 380 Endocrinology, BIOL 425/525 Molecular Biology, BIOL 427/527 Developmental Biology, BIOL 492 Undergraduate Seminar and BIOL 528 Biotechnology. Some courses are offered once every two years.
Research Interests
My research interests span several disciplines including reproductive physiology, and cell and molecular biology. Graduate students in my laboratory study gene regulation and molecular mechanisms of rooting in Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) and seed abortion in an endangered species (Davidia involucrata).
We also study the effects of environmental pollutants on gene expression, steroid production, and ovulation of an amphibian species (Xenopus laevis). Our research projects are funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU), and other agencies.
Zachary Mitchell
Title: Assistant Professor of Ecology/Director of the Gennaro Natural History Museum Live Exhibit
Office Location: EH 110
Phone: 575.562.2753
Education
Ph.D. Texas State University 2020 (Aquatic Resources and Integrative Biology)
M.S. Eastern Illinois University 2016 (Biological Sciences)
B.S. Mississippi State University 2014 (Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Science)
Bio
The courses I teach are Principles of Biology (BIOL 2610), General Ecology (BIOL 303), Fisheries Management and Conservation (BIOL 404), Limnology (BIOL 430), and Ichthyology (BIOL 436), etc.
Research Interests
I am a question-driven aquatic ecologist who broadly focuses on testing ecological theory to better understand the patterns and processes of species distribution and community structure to better inform future conservation and management actions (e.g., identify critical habitats for organisms, prioritize species recovery plans, develop harvest regulations). Specifically, I am interested in how local and regional environmental and spatial factors influence riverine communities across multiple spatiotemporal scales. Additionally, I am also interested in how environmental processes at local and regional scales impact species behavior (e.g., species movement and reproductive timing). My research utilizes a combination of lab experiments, mark-recapture techniques, extensive field surveys, advanced statistical analysis, the use of remotely sensed data, and meta-analysis.
Darren Pollock
Title: Professor of Entomology
Office Location: EH 111
Phone: 575.562.2862
Education
Ph.D. University of Alberta 1994
M.Sc. University of Manitoba 1988
B.S.A. University of Manitoba 1985
Bio
I am the invertebrate zoologist in the Department of Biology, and I teach the following courses: General Biology I (BIOL 154), General Biology II (BIOL 155), Invertebrate Zoology (BIOL 300/L), General Entomology (BIOL 301/L), Parasitology (BIOL 341/L), Evolution and Systematics (BIOL 305), Biological Literature (BIOL 582), and Evolution (BIOL 562). I am also the head curator of collections, and curator of invertebrates, of the ENMU "Dr. Antonio 'Tony' Genaro Natural History Museum".
Research Interests
My research deals with the taxonomy, ecology, systematics, and biogeography of insects, specifically beetles of the large superfamily Tenebrionoidea and (recently begun) robber flies of the family Asilidae. My beetle work involves a combination of larval and adult morphological characters to elucidate phylogenies and classifications of taxa of interest. For the robber flies, I?m interested in prey selection, as well as basic, alpha-level taxonomy. I would not, however, restrict graduate students to work on these particular insects; students are encouraged to work on a taxon of their own interest.
At present, my research is collection-based, and involves use of external characters of larvae, pupae and adults. Because the beetle families on which I work are fairly small, I can work at the world level, and include all known taxa; this gives a very complete evolutionary picture of these beetle families. For robber flies, I?m most interested in fully documenting the local, i.e. eastern New Mexico, biodiversity. I am also interested in general biodiversity, specifically the role that systematists play in documenting the world's invertebrate fauna.
Education
Postdoctoral Fellow, 1994-1997, Harvard Medical School - under Thomas H. Wilson, Microbial Physiology
Ph.D., 1994, University of New Mexico - under Jeffrey K. Griffith, Biomedical Sciences ? Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
M.S., 1989, University of New Mexico, Biomedical Sciences
B.A., 1987, University of New Mexico, Biochemistry
Bio
I was born and raised in Santa Fe, NM. In graduate school, I coined the term "Antiporter Motif", a highly conserved amino acid sequence motif found in antiporters of the major facilitator superfamily. As a postdoc fellow I studied microbial physiology under Prof. Thomas Wilson at Harvard. I teach Microbiology, Microbial Physiology, Immunology, Medical Microbiology, and Virology.
Research Interests
The Varela research laboratory is interested in molecular microbial physiology of bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents. We study bacterial multidrug efflux pumps from the major facilitator superfamily of solute transporters. Our laboratory discovered the multidrug efflux pumps LmrS from Staphylococcus aureus and EmrD-3 from Vibrio cholerae. We also collaboratively determined the complete genome sequence of a non-O1 V. cholerae genome. We are always interested in outstanding graduate students working in our lab and completing their MS theses. Varela has co-authored five books, "The Inventions and Discoveries of the Worlds Most Famous Scientists" in 2018, "Enter the World of Microbiology: Interviews about the Worlds Most Famous Microbiologists" in 2019, "An Overview of Biomedical Scientists and Their Discoveries" (2020), "Biochemistry and Biochemists: Who Were They and What Did They Discover?" (2020), and "The World of Molecular Biology" (2021).
Daniel Zion
Title: Administrative Assistant (Main Office 575.562.2174)
Office Location: EH 141
Phone: 575.562.2936
