Department of Biology Faculty - Dr. Robert Brodman, Ph.D.

On his arrival in 1992, Doctor Brodman brought research back to the Saint Joseph’s College Biology Department. Dr. Brodman’s research has concentrated on amphibians in Northwest Indiana. He began before several major agricultural businesses and landfills came into the area. Now he is able to see how these industries affect the amphibians around them. Environmental scientists have found that amphibians are for the environment what canaries were for coal miners in the 19^th century. Amphibians are very sensitive to slight changes in the environment and very small concentrations of pesticides, chemicals or pollutants. Factors considered harmless can turn out to have a major impact on amphibian health and population numbers. Since he began his research, Doctor Brodman has involved our students in his work. Our premed students get valuable research experience that medical schools look for in applicants. They learn experimental design, sampling, statistical analysis and other skills important in any line of research. The work is of obvious benefit to our students in Wildlife Ecology. Many of our students have coauthored important papers and presented their work at state and national gatherings.  This is rare for students in typical undergraduate programs. Click here to see a full listing of Dr. Brodman’s works. Dr. Brodman’s degrees include: - Doctorate, Systematic and Evolutionary Ecology, 1992, Kent State Univ. - M.S. Biology, 1989, Eastern Michigan University - M.S. Biological Chemistry, Molecular Biology, 1987, Univ. of Michigan Dr. Brodman can be contacted here, or at his office 219-866-6215

For more information on Amphibian Research, click here.

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