Maria V. Cattell, Ph.D.

I received my doctorate in Biology from the University of South Florida in 2001. My dissertation focused on evolutionary ecology, plant-herbivore interactions, community ecology and population genetics and utilized molecular genetic techniques to address ecological and evolutionary questions. Throughout my career in research I have used molecular genetic tools to study the evolution of the vertebrate head, the development of the vertebrate central nervous system and to investigate genes associated with scoliosis. I have published in numerous peer-reviewed journals including, but not limited to Nature, Global Change Biology, Evolution and Development and the American Journal of Botany. As an educator, I have taught biology courses at a variety of universities and am currently a faculty member of the Department of Biology at Metropolitan State University of Denver where I teach General Biology, Evolutionary Biology, Genetics and Cell Biology. I have recently initiated a small research program at MSU Denver where my students and I are planning to use CRISPR/Cas9 technology to manipulate coral genome for conservation purposes. In addition to educating students in the classroom, this project allows me to offer our student population the unique opportunity to learn molecular laboratory techniques and gain practical research experience while working on coral conservation.

April 2022