Research

The College of Science and Engineering offers many opportunities for graduate and undergraduate research, and many faculty members in the Department of Life Sciences employ research assistants or provide research opportunities for students. A few examples of recent faculty research interests are:

  • The differential distribution of insect groups in native vs. exotic grasslands.
  • Source-tracking of microbial contamination in local watersheds.
  • The digestive properties of saliva and venom in venomous and non-venomous snakes.
  • The causes and effects of "bleaching" and other pathological conditions in coral.
  • The impact of human activities on beaches, near-shore waters, and the plants and animals associated with them.
  • Chemical signaling and biomechanics in marine predator/prey relationships.
  • Roost preference in non-nesting burrowing owls.
  • The effects of simulated hyper- and micro-gravity on human tissue culture cells.
  • Anti-microbial effects (and harmful side effects) of native plant extracts.
  • Evolutionary genetics of invasive plant and animal species.
  • The molecular systematics of of local organisms (from sea grasses to sharks).
  • Investigation of new human dental enamel preparation methods to improve stable isotope analysis for missing person identification.
  • Development of a novel statistical database to augment identification of deceased individuals at medical examiner offices.
  • Microbial ecology and gene regulation of bacterial species taken from local bays, including  Vibrio and  Enterococcus species.
  • Exploration of marine mammal mating strategies using anatomical, behavioral, and physiological approaches.

If you are interested in life science research, browse through the Life Sciences Faculty List and contact a faculty member whose interests are allied with yours. You may also want to explore the research interests of faculty in other departments such as the Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences .

In the field and in the laboratory, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi provides modern Facilities and Equipment for use in research and teaching.

The College of Science and Engineering maintains the Ruth O’Brien Herbarium (a curated research collection of botanical specimens from South Texas), and the Laguna Madre Field Station which provides an off-campus site and facilities for field training, education and research in coastal environmental and ecological studies.

Research using animals requires approval of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee , and research that uses human subjects requires approval of the Institutional Review Board . Scientific diving for research and teaching is governed by the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Diving Control Board .  Research involving pathogenic bacteria, toxins and recombinant DNA research requires approval of the Institutional Biosafety Committee .

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi maintains an Office of Research and Scholarly Activity that that can provide more information about research in the Department of Life Sciences and throughout the campus. The university also sponsors and/or is affiliated with many Outreach Programs . Often, these emphasize research and/or education that is of direct benefit to the community.

Several major Research Centers are affiliated with the university and/or are located on campus. These include the:

Many state and federal agencies also have offices on campus. These agencies fund, offer advice on and participate in many student and faculty research projects.

The city of Corpus Christi also provides research possibilities. It is the home of public research/educational institutions such as the:

Corpus Christi is also a regional health-care center. Several local hospitals are clinical affiliates for training and research:

Interim Chair

Jim Silliman, Ph.D.

NRC 3510