David S. Ronderos, PhD
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About Me
I have been a faculty member in the biology program since 2013. I have taught courses on anatomy & physiology, hematology, cell and molecular biology, HHMI SEA-PHAGES, and I developed our biology capstone course, Evolution and the Integration of Knowledge. I assist in our pre-medicine program, and I'm a Catholic studies fellow and a member of the Society of Catholic Scientists (SCS).
In 2017, I helped launch a unique summer research program called SURVE, which provides paid lab research internship opportunities to students. SURVE has enjoyed funding support from the NIH ND-INBRE program.
Why I’m At MaryI have long felt a sense of calling to teach biology to undergraduates at a Catholic university. It is a great privilege to help young people see the beauty of life at the molecular level, the power and potential of science to improve lives, and the harmony of faith and reason.
Expertise
My PhD is in Neuroscience, and my research focuses on areas of sensory neurobiology using Drosophila as a model. I have published work on the olfactory system (on behavior, pheromones, and insect repellents).
I am currently studying the visual system, using electrophysiology, microscopy, and molecular methods to understand the genes linked to blindness or other visual impairments.
Education
BA: Minnesota State University Moorhead, 2004
PhD: UT Southwestern Medical Center, 2011
Postdoctoral Fellowship: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 2013