33 faculty and 22 courses in Biochemistry at Wake Forest University.
- Alan Townsend, Sabin Center Executive Director and Professor h-index 76
Notable: “Transformation of the Nitrogen Cycle: Recent Trends, Questions, and Potential Solutions” (2008) · 6,986 citations
- Susan R. Wente, President Emerita and Distinguished University Professor h-index 58
Notable: “Efficient multiplex biallelic zebrafish genome editing using a CRISPR nuclease system” (2013) · 1,377 citations
- Gloria K. Muday, Professor h-index 58
Hormone and redox signaling, flavonols, biochemistry, and molecular biology Research The emphasis of research in the Muday lab is the understanding of hormone and reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling. We are using genetic and molecular b
Notable: “Flavonoids Act as Negative Regulators of Auxin Transport in Vivo in Arabidopsis” (2001) · 810 citations
- Miles R. Silman, Professor h-index 43
Tropical Forest Ecology, Conservation Biology, Community and Population Ecology Research My primary interests are community composition and dynamics of Andean and Amazonian tree communities in both space and time. The lab’s current re
Notable: “Benchmark map of forest carbon stocks in tropical regions across three continents” (2011) · 2,390 citations
- T. Michael Anderson, Professor h-index 41
Savanna & Grassland Ecology, Plant Ecology, Large Herbivore Ecology, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function, Biogeochemistry, Phylogenetic Community Assembly Research My research focuses on the ecology and conservation of grassland and sav
Notable: “On the specification of structural equation models for ecological systems” (2010) · 961 citations
- Kim McAllister, Vice Provost and Professor of Biology h-index 39
Notable: “NEUROTROPHINS AND SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY” (1999) · 1,333 citations
- Erik C. Johnson, Professor and Chair of Biology h-index 34
Neural control of physiology and behavior, molecular biology, biological oscillators Research We are broadly interested in the mechanisms of neuronal cell signaling and how these processes manifest in specific behaviors and regulate discret
Notable: “Induction of nerve growth factor receptor in Schwann cells after axotomy.” (1986) · 611 citations
- A. Katy Lack, Teaching Professor h-index 31
Neurophysiology and the effects of drugs of abuse on the brain News Student Honors & Announcements 2026 Teacher-Scholar Legacies: Susan Fahrbach WFU 2026 Biology Honors and Award Recipients Proposals Funded in 2026 Proposals Funded in
Notable: “The role of cholesterol metabolism and cholesterol transport in carcinogenesis: a review of scientific findings, relevant to future cancer therapeutics” (2013) · 344 citations
- Clifford W. Zeyl, Professor h-index 24
Snakes in a lab For most of my career, my research focused on using experimental evolution with budding yeast to test hypotheses and answer questions about evolutionary genetics. In fall 2019, I switched to experiments on learning and memor
Notable: “Adaptive Evolution of Genes and Genomes” (2001) · 511 citations
- Miriam Ashley-Ross, Professor h-index 22
Functional Morphology, Biomechanics, Comparative Physiology Research My lab is interested in the mechanistic basis of animal behavior. A variety of animal species from diverse groups serve as models. Currently, my lab has three main researc
Notable: “Trading force for speed: Why superfast crossbridge kinetics leads to superlow forces” (1999) · 138 citations
- Michael Rizzo, Assistant Teaching Professor h-index 21
Neural control of physiology and behavior, molecular biology, STEM Teaching Selected Publications Rizzo MJ , Evans JP, Burt M, Saunders CJ, Johnson EC. Unexpected role of a conserved domain in the first extracellular loop in G protein-coupl
Notable: “Relationship Between TIMI Frame Count and Clinical Outcomes After Thrombolytic Administration” (1999) · 413 citations
- Kenneth T. Kishida, Professor h-index 20
Neurobiology of human decision-making, learning, and consciousness; Neuromodulatory signaling in humans (e.g., dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine); Neurocomputational representations of human experience. Research: My lab uses direct intra
Notable: “Sources and Targets of Reactive Oxygen Species in Synaptic Plasticity and Memory” (2006) · 261 citations
- Glen Marrs, Microscopy Facility Director h-index 20
Brain-behavior relationships, synapse formation Research Focus Understanding the precise neural mechanisms that give rise to complex, conditional actions and behavioral responses requires study at molecular, cellular, and whole organism lev
Notable: “Rapid formation and remodeling of postsynaptic densities in developing dendrites” (2001) · 297 citations
- Regina Joice Cordy, Associate Professor h-index 17
Malaria pathogenesis, host-parasite interactions, human microbiome Research Interests: My research focuses on the pathogenesis of the protozoan parasite Plasmodium , the etiological agent of malaria. The development of severe malaria is a
Notable: “Plasmodium falciparum transmission stages accumulate in the human bone marrow” (2014) · 294 citations
- Brian W. Tague, Associate Professor h-index 15
Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Research Our lab uses molecular genetic techniques to study plant cell biology and development. One organism studied is Arabidopsis thaliana , a member of the mustard family that has become an important
Notable: “Flavonoids Act as Negative Regulators of Auxin Transport in Vivo in Arabidopsis” (2001) · 810 citations
- Andrew St. James, Assistant Teaching Professor h-index 14
Microbial ecology, environmental microbiology, STEM education, team-based learning Selected Publications St. James, A. R., Lin, J., and Richardson, R. E. (2021). Relationship between peat type and microbial ecology in Sphagnum -containing p
Notable: “Pedicle screw navigation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of perforation risk for computer-navigated versus freehand insertion” (2012) · 364 citations
- Joshua D. Currie, Assistant Professor h-index 13
Animal development, regenerative processes Research Focus Animal development is a breathtaking process whereby a single cell gives rise to all of the body’s specialized cells and tissues. How would you reverse engineer parts of this
Notable: “Single-cell analysis uncovers convergence of cell identities during axolotl limb regeneration” (2018) · 438 citations
- Sarah Westrick, Assistant Professor h-index 11
Dr. Westrick’s research focuses on the physiological, neural, and genomic mechanisms underlying parental care and other complex behaviors, particularly in amphibian models such as poison frogs. She investigates how variation in hormone leve
Notable: “Relationships between Endocrine Traits and Life Histories in Wild Animals: Insights, Problems, and Potential Pitfalls” (2016) · 57 citations
- Christopher M. Jernigan, Assistant Professor h-index 11
Notable: “Expansion and Accelerated Evolution of 9-Exon Odorant Receptors in Polistes Paper Wasps” (2021) · 60 citations
- Aoshu Zhong, Assistant Professor h-index 10
Notable: “A B12-dependent radical SAM enzyme involved in oxetanocin A biosynthesis” (2017) · 119 citations
- Sheri Floge, Associate Professor h-index 10
Using a combination of fieldwork and laboratory experiments, I study how microbes interact with one another and their environment, the chemical reactions that mediate such interactions, and the resulting impact on upper ocean carbon and nit
Notable: “EcoFABs: advancing microbiome science through standardized fabricated ecosystems” (2019) · 137 citations
- Nicholas Kortessis, Assistant Professor h-index 9
Ecology and adaptation of species in variable environments; statistical ecology Research My lab’s research is about understanding the processes that generate and maintain biological diversity. One of the most remarkable features of l
Notable: “Landscape experiments unlock relationships among habitat loss, fragmentation, and patch‐size effects” (2023) · 45 citations
- Lara do Amaral Silva, Assistant Professor h-index 8
Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, Comparative physiology Research The Amaral-Silva Lab investigates physiological mechanisms that allow animals to withstand stressors that would otherwise lead to major health issues in humans, particula
Notable: “Parabronchial remodeling in chicks in response to embryonic hypoxia” (2019) · 29 citations
- Christopher P. Krieg, Assistant Professor h-index 7
Anatomy and microscopy, gas-exchange and carbon-relations, hydraulics and water- relations, species niche and distribution modelling, adaptation and phylogenetic comparative methods. Research Program Overview
Notable: “Ecology and genomics of an important crop wild relative as a prelude to agricultural innovation” (2018) · 203 citations
- Anna Parker, Assistant Teaching Professor h-index 6
Evolutionary ecology, global change, plant-insect interactions, STEM education, equity and inclusion in STEM Selected Publications Parker, Anna L. , Anna M. Albright, Joel G. Kingsolver, and Geoffrey Legault (2023). Predicting age and mass
Notable: “Competing beetles attract egg laying in a hawkmoth” (2022) · 42 citations
- Elsie H. Shogren, Assistant Professor h-index 5
My research centers around understanding how environmental, behavioral, and genetic variation influences evolution and speciation in birds. I am especially interested in drivers of divergence and consequences of hybridization in closely rel
Notable: “Hygric Niches for Tropical Endotherms” (2020) · 83 citations
- Sarah McDonald Esstman, Professor and Associate Chair h-index 5
Rotavirus Replication and Evolution Research
Notable: “Flexibility of the Rotavirus NSP2 C-Terminal Region Supports Factory Formation via Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation” (2023) · 25 citations
- Ke Zhang Reid, Professor h-index 2
Epigenetics, Genomics, Cell Biology Ph.D or MS graduate student positions are available. Research We all developed from a zygote and all the cells in our body have the same genes. However, why are there so many different cell types in our b
Notable: “Epigenetic Modulation of Opioid Receptors by Drugs of Abuse” (2022) · 14 citations
- A. Daniel Johnson, Teaching Professor
- Arkadipta Bakshi, Assistant Professor
Plant stress physiology, plant signaling pathways, plant responses to spaceflight, plant-microbe interactions. Research As a plant physiologist with experience in molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, plant breeding, and genetics
- Celina Jones, Assistant Teaching Professor
- Diana Arnett, Teaching Professor
Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology News Student Honors & Announcements 2026 Teacher-Scholar Legacies: Susan Fahrbach WFU 2026 Biology Honors and Award Recipients Proposals Funded in 2026 Proposals Funded in 2025 Student Hon
- Megan Raddatz, Assistant Teaching Professor
Roster/catalog compiled from the college’s public directory. Faculty counts are directory headcounts; the named list may be a subset. h-index shown only for ORCID-backed or high-confidence OpenAlex matches. Data as of 2026-07-02.