Full Time Faculty and Staff

The Department of Biology at Saginaw Valley State University includes the following nine full-time members in its faculty and staff.

Faculty

Support Staff

David S. Dalgarn, Ph.D.

Professor of Biology
Ph.D. Miami University, Ohio
M.S. Miami University, Ohio
B.S. Shepherd College
Science West 149
989-964-4355
dsd(at)svsu.edu
Courses Typically Taught: Plants and Civilization, Principles of Biology, Principles of Botany, Cell Biology, Evolution, Plant Physiology
Professional Interests: Dr. Dalgarn conducts research in plant physiology with specific interests in developmental changes in lipid and protein components of chloroplast membranes.

Gail E. Kantak, Ph.D.

Professor of Biology
Ph.D. University of Wisconsin
M.S. University of Wisconsin
B.S. Michigan State University
Science West 155
989-964-4496
kantak(at)svsu.edu
Courses Typically Taught: Environmental Dynamics, Principles of Biology, Ecology, Mammalogy, Ornithology, Biogeography, Undergraduate Seminar in Biology
Professional Interests: Dr. Kantak's research interests revolve around plant and animal ecology; particularly bird and mammal habitat studies.

Gary M. Lange, Ph.D.

Professor of Biology
Ph.D. Michigan State University
M.S. Central Michigan University
B.S. Saginaw Valley State University
Science West 157
989-964-4336
gmlange(at)svsu.edu
Web: http://www.svsu.edu/~gmlange
Courses Typically Taught: Principles of Biology, Physiological Anatomy, Endocrinology, Endocrinology Laboratory, Ethology, Comparative Physiology, Undergraduate Seminar in Biology, Research Methods in K-12 Science Education, Graduate Seminar in Mathematics, Science, & Technology
Professional Interests: Dr. Lange's research interests include various studies in neural and behavioral endocrinology. His work involves both vertebrate and invertebrate species and occurs in lab and in the field.

Kathleen L. Pelkki, M.S.

Lab Technician Biology
M.S. University of Michigan
B.S. Western Michigan University
Science West 159
989-964-4485
pelkki(at)svsu.edu
Courses Typically Taught: Science of Life, Principles of Botany Laboratory, Principles of Zoology Laboratory
Professional Interests: Ms. Pelkki studies botany, develops 100-200 level biology laboratory exercises and is a graphic artist for the Department of Biology.

Charles F. Pelzer, Ph.D.

Professor of Biology
Ph.D. University of Michigan
B.S. University of Detroit
Science West 153
989-964-4358
cfp(at)svsu.edu
Courses Typically Taught: Human Heredity, Human Biology, Principles of Biology, Genetics, Human Genetics
Professional Interests: Dr. Pelzer is a human molecular geneticist with expertise in the analysis of DNA and protein alterations that occur in cancers of the thyroid, stomach and breast. In addition to those tumor suppressor gene studies, he has contributed to the mapping of the human genome using the techniques of DNA extraction, gel electrophoresis and Southern blotting. He also has extensive experience with PCR methodology and isoelectric focusing of human, horse, and mouse proteins from normal and diseased subjects.

Sally Shepardson, M.S.

Instructor of Biology
M.S. University of Maine
B.S. University of Maine
Science West 152
989-964-4125
sps(at)svsu.edu
Courses Typically Taught: Science of Life, Environmental Dynamics, Principles of Biology Laboratory, Principles of Botany Laboratory, Electron Microscopy
Professional Interests: Ms. Shepardson is an electron microscopy specialist with extensive experience in biological applications. Basic research problems undertaken include studies in plant, animal, and prokaryotic systems, including immunological and cytochemical studies. Clinical applications include tumor analysis for cancer diagnosis.

David J. Stanton, Ph.D.

Professor of Biology
Ph.D. University of Windsor, Ontario
M.S. Wayne State University
B.S. Wayne State University
Science West 158
989-964-4176
dstanton(at)svsu.edu
Courses Typically Taught: Human Heredity, Principles of Biology, Molecular Biology, Entomology, Undergraduate Seminar in Biology
Professional Interests: Dr. Stanton studies the molecular origins of life. He is especially interested in RAPD techniques to discern genetic differences in populations.

Stephen W. Taber, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Biology
Ph.D. University of Texas, Austin
M.S. Texas Tech University
B.S. Texas A&M University
Science West 260
989-964-4824
swtaber(at)svsu.edu
Professional Interests: Entomology and Evolutionary Biology

Richard J. Trdan, Ph.D.

Professor of Biology
Ph.D. University of Minnesota
M.S. University of Minnesota
B.S. St. Cloud State College
Science West 150
989-964-4374
trdan(at)svsu.edu

Bing Yang, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Biology
Ph.D. University of South Carolina.
M.S. Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry
B.S. Shanghai Fishery University
Science West 156
989-964-4150
Courses Typically Taught: Human Nutrition, Introduction to Microbiology, Microbiology
Professional Interests: Dr. Yang studies issues in microbiology and public health.

Support Staff

The Department of Biology at Saginaw Valley State University is greatly assisted by the following two members of the support staff.

Linda K. Peterson

Faculty Secretary
Science West
989-964-4280
lkpeters(at)svsu.edu

Saun L. Strobel