Biology Instructor

Office: 205-8 Hayes Biology Building

Phone: (409) 880-7975

 Email: mkishmolina@lamar.edu

Education:

• 2012 Ph.D. in Public Health (Emphasis in Epidemiology), Walden University
• 2009 MPH (Emphasis in Epidemiology), Walden University
• 1992 ABD in Zoology, University of Texas at Austin
• 1980 M.S. in Biology, Wayne State University
• 1977 B.S. in Biology, Wayne State University

Courses Taught:

• General Biology (BIOL 1406) Lecture and Lab
• General Biology (BIOL 1407) Lab
• Anatomy & Physiology (BIOL 2401) Lab

Statement of Research Interests:

I have completed a dissertation titled: Prevalence of Asymptomatic Colonization of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Among Community College Students: Variances Between Majors and Possible Risk Factors. My current research interests are mainly in infectious diseases, primarily MRSA.   I am also interested in exploring MRSA colonization within the community. To evaluate colonization rates when patients are routinely tested in the ER as a snapshot of the surrounding community, I had worked with an infection control nurse at one of the Houston area hospitals. I am also interested in tracking temporal changes in MRSA colonization using samples from a cohort group. 

I have a diverse background, and I have been involved in many interesting research projects from the jungles of Costa Rica to the microgravity flights of a KC-135. While at College of the Mainland, I supervised students in the Texas Community College Reduced Gravity Student Flight Campaign with NASA. The project was titled:  Comparison of the Russian MIR and the proposed ISS Resistance Exercise Device for the Junior College KC-135 Program at NASA, 2000. The project explored resistance for pieces of exercise equipment with the intent of maintaining bone density while in space. Since I have taught Human Anatomy and Physiology for years, I found this study rewarding.

I have a strong background in environmental biology. While attending the University of Texas, my research on fire ants in the Austin area focused on fecundity. During this time another project led me to the rainforest in Corcovado, Costa Rica, where I researched pupil mating in Heliconius butterflies. At Wayne State University, I worked primarily with Drosophila and heritability of senescence. I also participated in the Master Gardener Training Program in Harris County in the Summer, 2018, and this is an ongoing volunteer project.