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Science Experts

Scientists at the Academy are experts in their fields. They have broad knowledge of their subjects and detailed knowledge of their specialty. The media is welcome to interview the scientists below for stories about their research and related issues.

Interviews can be conducted in person, by e-mail, by phone, or by zoom. To arrange an interview, contact Emily Storz at els332@drexel.edu, or 215 895-2705.

Watershed and Aquatic Ecology Issues

David Velinsky

David Velinsky, PhD

VP for Science; Department Head; Professor, Department of Biodiversity, Earth & Environmental Science, Drexel University
Expertise: Fate and transport of chemical and other contaminants in water systems, especially in estuaries near urban centers.

Don Charles

Donald Charles, PhD

Senior Scientist, Phycology
Expertise: Ecology of freshwater diatoms and their use as indicators to assess current and past environmental conditions. Profile

Carol R. Collier

Carol R. Collier, P.P., AICP

Senior Advisor for Watershed Management & Policy;
Director, Environmental Studies and Sustainability Program (ENSS), Department of Biodiversity, Earth & Environmental Science

Expertise: Experienced leader in regional watershed management and policy.

Marina Potapova

Marina Potapova, PhD

Assistant Curator, Diatoms; Assistant Professor, Department of Biodiversity, Earth & Environmental Science, Drexel University
Expertise: Ecology and taxonomy of freshwater diatoms and their use to monitor human impacts.

Roland Wall

Roland Wall

Director, Patrick Center for the Environmental Research; Adjunct Professor, Department of Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Science, Drexel University
Expertise: Urban Ecology, Coupled human-natural systems. Profile

Biodiversity, Evolution, and Systematics Issues

The foundation of this scientific work is the collection of more than 18 million plant and animal specimens used by researchers around the world.

Fossils and Paleontology

Ted Daeschler

Edward Daeschler, PhD

Associate Curator of Vertebrate Zoology; Associate Professor, Department of Biodiversity, Earth & Environmental Science, Drexel University
Expertise: Evolution of early tetrapods, including Tiktaalik roseae, and the collecting and describing of fossils.

Ned Gilmore

Ned Gilmore

Collection Manager, Vertebrate Paleontology
Expertise: Late Cretaceous and Early Tertiary fossils of eastern North America. Profile

Fish

Mark Sabaj-Perez

Mark Henry Sabaj, PhD

Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Expertise: Catfishes, South American rivers and fishes, taxonomy and evolution. Co-principal of the global All Catfish Species Inventory. Profile

Insects

Jon Gelhaus

Jon Gelhaus, PhD

Curator, Entomology; Professor, Department of Biodiversity, Earth & Environmental Science, Drexel University
Expertise: Systematics and ecology of worldwide crane flies. Leader of the Mongolian Aquatic Insect Survey, including water quality research in Mongolia. Co-leader of New Jersey Pinelands (Pine Barrens) insect survey.

Jason Weintraub

Jason Weintraub

Collection Manager, Entomology
Expertise: Biogeography, ecology, and evolution of worldwide butterflies and moths. Profile

Birds

Nate Rice

Nathan Rice, PhD

Collection Manager, Ornithology;
Expertise: Evolutionary biology of neotropical bird groups, especially antbirds and their relatives. Profile

Jason Weckstein

Jason Weckstein, PhD

Associate Curator, Ornithology; Associate Professor, Department of Biodiversity, Earth & Environmental Science, Drexel University
Expertise: Avian phylogenetics, comparative biology and evolutionary history; biodiversity surveys of birds and their parasites and pathogens; and co-evolutionary history of birds and their parasites.

Plants

Tanya Livshultz

Tatyana Livshultz, PhD

Assistant Curator, Botany; Assistant Professor, Department of Biodiversity, Earth & Environmental Science, Drexel University
Expertise: Evolution and pollination of plants, especially the milkweed and dogbane family.

Rick McCourt

Rick McCourt, PhD

Associate Curator, Botany and Director of the Center for Systematic Biology and Evolution; Professor, Department of Biodiversity, Earth & Environmental Science, Drexel University
Expertise: Evolution and systematics of green algae.

Mammals, Reptiles, and Amphibians

Ned Gilmore

Ned Gilmore 

Collection Manager, Mammalogy and Herpetology
Expertise: Mammals of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Profile

Diatoms

Marina Potapova

Marina Potapova, PhD

Assistant Curator, Diatoms; Assistant Professor, Department of Biodiversity, Earth & Environmental Science, Drexel University
Expertise: Ecology and taxonomy of freshwater diatoms and their use to monitor human impacts. 

Shells and Mollusks

Gary Rosenberg

Gary Rosenberg, PhD

Curator and Pilsbry Chair, Malacology; Professor, Department of Biodiversity, Earth & Environmental Science, Drexel University
Expertise: Magnitude and origin of species-level diversity in Mollusca.

Invertebrates


Jocelyn Sessa, PhD

Assistant Curator, Invertebrate Paleontology; Assistant Professor, Department of Biodiversity, Earth & Environmental Science, Drexel University
Expertise: Paleoecology, ocean acidification, extinction recovery dynamics, global warming.