John Ferguson
Professor of Biology; Health Professions Advisor
Office: Reem-Kayden Center 215
Phone: 845-752-2333
Email: ferguson@bard.edu

John Ferguson's research interests lie in the biochemistry of the Krebs cycle enzymes of the ciliate Tetrahymena, in particular of its NADP⁺ isocitrate dehydrogenases. Current research has emerged from the observation (while building phylogenetic trees) that the human bacterial pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis has two genes for NADP⁺ isocitrate dehydrogenase, one of which is very eukaryotic-like. His new interest in Mycobacterium has led to two projects | one on the genes in Mycobacterium marinum encoding isocitrate lyases and their respective protein products and one on another eukaryotic-like mycobacterial gene, this one encoding a sulfotransferase.

Phillip Johns
Assistant Professor of Biology
Office: Reem-Kayden Center 214
Phone: 845-752-2338
Email: johns@bard.edu

Felicia Keesing
Associate Professor of Biology
Office: Reem-Kayden Center 211
Phone: 845-752-2331
Email: keesing@bard.edu

Felicia Keesing is a community ecologist who studies the consequences of interactions among species. She has two primary research projects | one in Kenya studying the consequences for savanna communities of the loss of large herbivores like giraffes and elephants, and the other in the U.S. studying how interactions among species like mice and deer influence the probability that humans will be exposed to infectious diseases like Lyme disease and anaplasmosis.

William Maple
Professor of Biology; Director, Ecology Field Station
Office: Reem-Kayden Center 216
Phone: 845-752-2334
Email: maple@bard.edu

Bill Maple is a field biologist with broad interests in community ecology and with specific affection for herptiles, arthropods, and plants. His current research examines endangered habitats (heathland and sandplain grassland) and endangered species (American burying beetle) on Nantucket Island.

Maureen O'Callaghan-Scholl
Laboratory Manager, Chemical Hygiene Officer
Office: Reem-Kayden Center 217
Phone: 845-752-2335
Email: ocalla@bard.edu

Maureen Herbert is involved with the day-to-day happenings in the biology and chemistry laboratories. Her work includes preparing and setting up solutions, media, and equipment for the intro laboratory courses, maintaining equipment, scheduling outside services, ordering supplies, managing budgets and helping faculty and students with research project needs in addition to managing laboratory safety issues.

Catherine O'Reilly
Assistant Professor of Biology
Office: Reem-Kayden Center 213
Phone: 845-752-2332
Email: oreilly@bard.edu

Catherine O'Reilly's research focuses on the biogeochemistry of aquatic ecosystems. She is interested in how environmental changes (such as land use and climate) affect freshwater nutrient cycling, food quantity and quality, and the implications of these changes for community structure and ecosystem productivity. Most of her recent research has been done in tropical systems such as Lake Tanganyika, East Africa.

Michael Tibbetts
Associate Professor of Biology; Director, Biology Program; Adjunct Faculty, Master of Arts in Teaching Program
Office: Reem-Kayden Center 212
Phone: 845-752-2309
Email: tibbetts@bard.edu

Mike Tibbetts is interested in the genetics of complex traits. He is using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model system to examine the genetic contributions to learning and memory. The centerpiece of his laboratory's focus is the NMDA neurotransmitter receptor protein. Using both genetic manipulation of specific genes and the associations between behavior and genetic markers, he is working to understand how a complex network of genes interact to influence learning and memory in this simple vertebrate.