Faculty
Dr. Tim Knight, Professor and JD Patterson Endowed Chair of Biology
Department Chair of the Biological Sciences
University Coordinator of Advising and Assessment
knightt@obu.edu Ph: 870-245-5528
- B.S. Ouachita Baptist University, 1984, Biology
- M.S. University of Texas at Dallas, 1986, Environmental Sciences /Aquatic Toxicology
- Ph.D. University of Texas at Dallas, 1989, Environmental Sciences /Aquatic Toxicology
Research Interests: Ecology, Water Quality and Wildlife Management
Current Research: Deer Food Plot Management
Natural History of the Ouachita River
Water Quality on Lakes DeGray, Ouachita and Greeson
Dr. Lori Hensley, Assistant Professor, hensleyl@obu.edu Ph: 870-245-5529
- B.S. Bowling Green, Biology
- Ph.D. University of Tennessee at Memphis, Pathology
Current Research: Research efforts in my lab focus on the molecular basis of human disease, specifically within the nervous system. Currently, we are investigating more natural, safer treatment options for neuroinflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis as well as neural-derived cancers. Using cellular and animal models, we are testing the ability of two classes of molecules—cannabinoids and phytoestrogens—to reduce glial activation characteristic of neuroinflammatory diseases and to induce apoptosis in neural-derived cancer cells. Students use molecular biology techniques such as tissue culture, ELISAs, and western blots in these studies.
Dr. Nathan Reyna, Assistant Professor, reynan@obu.edu Ph: 870-245-5240
- B.S. College of the Ozarks, General Biology
- M.S. University of Arkansas, Plant Breeding and Genetics
- Ph.D. University of Arkansas, Cell and Molecular Biology
Current Research: My main research interests are in plant signal transduction in relation to biotic and abiotic stress. I am interested in how plants perceive an external signal at the molecular and cellular levels and subsequently transduce that signal throughout the plant. Research in my lab will work to characterize both a plant’s physiologic responses as well as its changes in gene expression in response to plant disease and environmental stresses. In the past my plant model has been rice (Oryza sativa) however; at OBU I use Arabidopsis and tobacco. Mutants of both plant species can easily be obtained and analyzed over a relatively short time period. These characteristics make both Arabidopsis and tobacco ideal to use in an array of classes from physiology to cell and molecular biology, as well as in student oriented research projects.
Dr. Jim Taylor, Associate Professor, taylorj@obu.edu Ph: 870-245-5531
- B.S., Louisiana Tech University, 1978, Forestry
- M.S., University of Central Arkansas, 1989, Biology
- Ph.D., Texas Tech University, Biology
Research Interests: Cell wall development in plants
Current Research: Influence of light on plant development, specifically, Arabidopsis.
Dr. Joe Jeffers, Professor, Dean of of Natural Sciences
jeffers@obu.edu Ph: 870-245-5216
- B.S., Ouachita Baptist University, 1966, Chemistry
- Ph.D., Purdue University, 1972, Biohemistry / Molecular Biology
Dr. Randall Wight, Professor of Psychology, Chair of Psychology
wight@obu.edu Ph: 870-245-5107
- B.A., Arkansas Tech University, 1981, Psychology
- Ph.D., Memphis State University, 1985, Experimental
Psychology
Research Interests: History of Neuroscience