CISMI STAFF
Cam Davidson, Co-Director 2012-present
Mudd 160
Cam's main teaching responsibilities are Introduction to Geology, Mineralogy, Petrology, and Structural Geology. His current research focuses on the tectonometamorphic evolution of south-central and Southeast Alaska.
Joe Chihade, Director 2010-present
Mudd 170
Joe Chihade teaches organic chemistry, biochemistry, and is Director of Carleton's Biochemistry Concentration. His research interests are in the broad areas of protein-RNA interactions and RNA structure. These areas lie at the intersection of biology and chemistry, and encompass wide variety of scientific perspectives. These range from the "biological" questions of which proteins interact with particular RNAs, what the consequences of these interactions are to the living cell, and how particular interactions evolved, to the more "chemical" questions of how a specific functional group influences a macromolecular interaction or changes the structure of a macromolecule, and how a simple chemical reagent can be used to elucidate biological function.
Fernán Jaramillo, Director 2008-2010 , Co-Director 2006-2007
Hulings 321
Fernán Jaramillo (Biology) is a neurobiologist. He is interested in how the nervous system acquires, processes, and relays information. His current research interests include the study of mechanoelectrical transduction, molecular motors in the hair cell, the role of noise in sensory processing, and the physiology of synaptic transmission. In Biology and Carleton's Neuroscience concentration , he teaches Neurobiology, Cell Biology, and part of Introductory Biology.
Arjendu Pattanayak, Co-Director 2007-2010
Olin 337
Arjendu Pattanayak is a theorist in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. He is interested in nonlinear systems, including those involving chaos and quantum chaos. He is also interested in the integration of education and research and teaches occasionally in Carleton's Cross-Cultural Studies Program. Arjendu has been active in building communities at Carleton around computational modeling and broadening access to science for students from underrepresented groups.
Trish Ferrett, Director 2003-2007, Co-Director 2008-2012
Mudd 165
Trish Ferrett (Chemistry) has taught many interdisciplinary courses in areas that include environmental science, biophysical chemistry, molecular electronics, the chemistry of art restoration, and abrupt climate change. Her research background is in chemical physics. She currently does research in the scholarship of teaching and learning tied to integrative and interdisciplinary science-rich education. As a 2005 Carnegie Scholar with partner Joanne Stewart (Chemistry, Hope College), she is studying integrative learning in environmental science courses. Trish is working on editing a book volume of scholarly essays on integrative science learning, which involved being a Visiting Scholar at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in 2008.
Professor Susan Singer, Co-Director, 2005-2006
Hulings 308Susan Singer (Biology) teaches introductory biology with problem solving and courses in plant biology and development. Susan has extensive experience with interdisciplinary teaching in her dyad and triad first-year courses at Carleton under the theme of "Origins and Mind". Susan has an active and NSF-funded research program in plant developmental biology where she studies flowering in pea with Carleton undergraduate researchers. Susan also serves on a number of national committees, including the Project Kaleidoscope National Steering Committee and the National Research Council Board on Science Education.
Mary Drew, Administrative Assistant
Olin 331
Mary Drew is the able administrative assistant for CISMI and Carleton's HHMI grant. She is also the administrative assistant for the Department of Physics and Astronomy.