School of Natural Sciences

Message from the Chair

Dr. Scott Lankford

Welcome to the School of Natural Sciences!

Our school includes the disciplines of Agricultural Science, Biology, and Chemistry. This combination of Faculty specialty areas and University resources lead to a collaborative environment that provides enormous breadth to the curricular and co-curricular opportunities our students can explore. We believe this adds tremendous value to our degrees. Our faculty regularly engage students in co-curricular experiences and research that help build key analytical and relevant career-ready skills. These experiences often include collaborations with outside groups to help you build your network, and the relevant tools of the trade, while you are earning your degree. We look forward to helping you navigate the path toward your career.

Student centered hands-on learning opportunities

Agriculture student at farm

Agriculture Program

Our outstanding facilities include two university farms designed for both interactive labs and student projects, a greenhouse/nursery complex, and an open computer lab. Hands-on experience is essential in agricultural study, and as a student in our program, you will have ample opportunity to gain that experience.

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Student working in research lab

Biology Program

We foster scientific literacy through field and laboratory experiences, classroom activities, and seminars. You will have the opportunity to actively engage with faculty and assist in areas of research suitable to their scientific interests.

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Students in chemistry lab

Chemistry Program

Highly skilled faculty, newly renovated classroom and research laboratories, a strong emphasis on undergraduate research, and the chance to engage in social and academic activities through the student chapter of the American Chemical Society are just a few of the amazing opportunities awaiting you.

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Programs

Undergraduate

Majors

Minors

Certificates

Plant Identification Certificate

Graduate

Majors

Biology, MS

Scholarships

Numerous scholarships are available specifically for science and agriculture majors. In addition, there are paid opportunities to work as an undergraduate lab assistant. For a full list of scholarships visit ucmo.edu/mocents.

Research Opportunities

UG Research Office

Our faculty are actively engaged in research and work with both undergraduate and graduate students. Undergraduate students may apply for research funding through the Undergraduate Scholars Grant. If you are interested in becoming involved with research as an undergraduate, please begin the process by contacting a faculty member to serve as a research mentor. Our faculty members share their research interests on their faculty pages. Please use the link above to learn more about the Undergraduate Scholars Grant.

Honors College

You have access to dedicated funding for research and/or creative activities undertaken in conjunction with your Honors Project. Additionally, you are encouraged to attend the “Developing an Honors Project” session each fall and spring semester.

All Honors College students in good academic standing are eligible for up to $1000 in allowable and justified expenses essential to the successful execution of the project. Please note that this amount is contingent upon university budget allocations and subject to change.

For additional details, take a look at our FAQs.

Faculty and Staff

School of Natural Sciences
Scott Lankford, Ph.D.	Chair, Associate Professor	Phone: 660-543-8827 Office: WC Morris 306A Email: lankford@ucmo.edu
Glenda Carmack	Office Professional	Phone: 660-543-4933 Office: WC Morris 306 Email: gcarmack@ucmo.edu
Agriculture
Name	Title	Contact
Anil Giri, Ph.D.	Assistant Professor	Phone: 660-543-8596 Office: Grinstead 126C Email: giri@ucmo.edu
Mark Goodwin, Ph.D.	Associate Professor	Phone: 660-543-8113 Office: Grinstead 130A Email: sgoodwin@ucmo.edu
Travis Hume	Farm Manager	Phone: 660-543-4920 Office: AMT 101 Email: thume@ucmo.edu
Mike Keilholz	Instructor, Agriculture Education	Phone: 660-543-4519 Office: AMT 102 Email: keilholz@ucmo.edu
Fanson Kidwaro, Ph.D.	Professor, Program Coordinator	Phone: 660-543-4908 Office: Grinstead 120E Email: kidwaro@ucmo.edu
Kyle Lovercamp Ph.D.	Associate Professor, Program Coordinator	Phone: 660-543-8094 Office: Grinstead 126C Email: klovercamp@ucmo.edu
Biology
Name	Title	Contact
Mo Basir, Ph.D.	Assistant Professor, Science Education Coordinator	Phone: 660-543-8853 Office: WC Morris 116M Email: ahmadibasir@umco.edu
Sang-wook Cha, Ph.D.	Assistant Professor	Phone: 660-543-4976 Office: WC Morris 206A Email: cha@ucmo.edu
Justin Chapman, D.C.	Instructor, RadTech/MLS Program Coordinator	Phone: 660-543-8861 Office: WC Morris 303 Email: jchapman@ucmo.edu
Amy Desaulniers, Ph.D.	Assistant Professor	Phone: 660-543-4467 Office: WC Morris 319C Email: desaulniers@ucmo.edu
Kurt Dean, Ph.D.	Associate Professor, Ecology Program Coordinator	Phone: 660-543-8095 Office: WC Morris 319A Email: dean@ucmo.edu
Joseph Ely, Ph.D.	Associate Professor	Phone: 660-543-8785 Office: WC Morris 116G Email: ely@ucmo.edu
Aaron Geheber, Ph.D.	Assistant Professor	Phone: 660-543-8291 Office: WC Morris 111 Email: geheber@ucmo.edu
William Kirby	Microbiology Technician	Phone: 660-543-8287 Office: WC Morris 314A Email: wrkirby@ucmo.edu
Daniel Marschalek Ph.D.	Assistant Professor	Phone: 660-543-8880 Office: WC Morris 319B Email: marschalek@ucmo.edu
Daniel Metcalf	Animal Facility Manager/Physiology Technician	Phone: 660-543-8802 Office: WC Morris 019 Email: dmetcalf@ucmo.edu
Jennifer Mittelhauser	Instructor, Ecology Program Coordinator	Phone: 660-543-8877 Office: WC Morris 230C Email: mittelhauser@ucmo.edu
Selene Nikaido, Ph.D.	Associate Professor, Life Science Program Coordinator	Phone: 660-543-4324 Office: WC Morris 315A Email: nikaido@ucmo.edu
Anna Oller, Ph.D.	Professor, Graduate Program Coordinator	Phone: 660-543-4934 Office: WC Morris 312 Email: oller@ucmo.edu
Dawn Pauling	Instructor	Phone: 660-543-8027 Office: WC Morris 230B Email: pauling@ucmo.edu
Jay Raveill, Ph.D.	Professor	Phone: 660-543-8812 Office: WC Morris 307 Email: raveill@ucmo.edu
Parker Stuart, Ph.D.	Instructor	Phone: 660-543-4308 Office: WC Morris 300 Email: pstuart@ucmo.edu
Beverly Tanui	Instructor	Phone: 660-543-4282 Office: WC Morris 206D Email: bngeny@ucmo.edu
Dana Tucker, Ph.D.	Assistant Professor	Phone: 660-543-8997 Office: WC Morris 304 Email: dtucker@ucmo.edu
Daniel Wolcott, Ph.D.	Assistant Professor	Phone: 660-543-4238 Office: WC Morris 319D Email: wolcott@ucmo.edu
Chemistry
Name	Title	Contact
Mandy Blackburn, Ph.D.	Assistant Professor	Phone: 660-543-8704 Office: WC Morris 409B Email: mblackburn@ucmo.edu
Steven Boone, Ph.D.	Professor	Phone: 660-543-8886 Office: WC Morris 409A Email: sboone@ucmo.edu
Andrea Carter	Instructor	Phone: 660-543-4949 Office: WC Morris 409E Email: acarter@ucmo.edu
Steffen Christiansen	Adjunct	Phone: 660-543-4565 Office: WC Morris 426A Email: schristiansen@umco.edu
Jason Holland, Ph.D.	Professor, Chemistry Program Coordinator	Phone: 660-543-8714 Office: WC Morris 406B Email: holland@ucmo.edu
Innocent Pumure, Ph.D.	Associate Professor	Phone: 660-543-4143 Office: WC Morris 409D Email: pumure@ucmo.edu
Somnath Sarkar, Ph.D.	Professor	Phone: 660-543-8745 Office: WC Morris 417C Email: sarkar@ucmo.edu
Jay Steinkruger, Ph.D.	Associate Professor	Phone: 660-543-4432 Office: WC Morris 409F Email: steinkruger@ucmo.edu
Sayema Tuli, Ph.D.	Instructor	Phone: 660-543-4455 Office: WC Morris 401 Email: tuli@ucmo.edu
Michael Van Horn	Adjunct	Phone: 660-543-8681 Office: WC Morris 417E Email: mvanhorn@ucmo.edu
David Weinmann	Technician	Phone: 660-543-4136 Office: WC Morris 413 Email: dweinmann@ucmo.edu
Cathy Welsh	Chemical Stock Room Manager	Phone: 660-543-8743 Office: WC Morris 410 Email: cwelsh@ucmo.edu
Chen Zhou, Ph.D.	Associate Professor	Phone: 660-543-4318 Office: WC Morris 409C Email: zhou@ucmo.edu

A student-centered program which integrates excellent teaching, research, scholarship, and service to prepare for future success.