Linda Niedziela
Associate Professor of Biology and Chair of the Department of Biology
Department: Biology
Email: lniedziela@elon.edu
Phone number: (336) 278-6236
Brief Biography
Dr. Linda Niedziela has a Ph.D. in Genetics and postdoctoral training in Molecular Genetics. She spent a number of years as a research geneticist studying the mutagenic effects of environmental toxicants before combining her research with teaching. Since coming to Elon in 2000 she has focused much of her energy on undergraduate research, becoming involved with service activities on campus supporting undergraduate research plus mentoring many students in research projects that combine molecular genetics and toxicology of environmental contaminants. She has been actively involved with Elon College Fellows since she arrived and has mentored over a dozen Fellows. She teaches both the sophomore and juniors ECF seminars and is currently serving as the Mathematics and National Science Branch Director.
Links
News & Notes
Education
1987 West Virginia University, Morgantown, W.Va.
Doctor of Philosophy, Genetics and Developmental Biology
1984 University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown, Pa.
Bachelor of Science, Pre-Professional Biology
Employment History
2007 – present Associate Professor of Biology. Elon University, Elon, N.C. Teaching duties include non-majors and majors lecture and laboratory courses. Undergraduate and personal research in developmental and molecular toxicology. Also engaged in pedagogical development and the science of teaching and learning.
2007 - 2011 Department Chair of Biology. Elon University, Elon, N.C.
2007 – 2010 Japheth E. Rawls Chair for Undergraduate Research In Science. Elon University, Elon, N.C.
2001 – 2007 Assistant Professor of Biology. Elon University, Elon, N.C.
2005 – Present Visiting Scholar. Preparing Future Faculty Program, Duke University, Durham, N.C. Taught guest lectures and mentored graduate students and post-doctoral fellows.
1999 – 2001 Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology. University of Richmond, Va.
1999 - 2001 Assistant Professor/Biotechnologist (non-tenure track). North Carolina A & T State University, Greensboro, N.C.
1989 – 1993 Research Geneticist. Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, N.C.
1988 – 1989 Postdoctoral Fellow. Duke University, Durham, N.C.
Courses Taught
BIO 101 General Biology
BIO 102 General Biology Laboratory
BIO 105 Current Issues in Biology
BIO 111 Introductory Cell Biology
BIO 113 Introductory Cell Biology Laboratory
BIO 245 Principles of Genetics
BIO 246 Genetics Laboratory
BIO 261 Introductory Seminar
BIO 348 Biotechnology
BIO 324 Toxicology
BIO 445 Topics in Advanced Genetics
ECF 212 Elon College Fellows Sophomore Seminar
ECF 312 Elon College Fellows Junior Seminar
HNR 234 Bioinformatics: The Digital Code of Life
Grants Awarded
Project Director, “Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis for Biology and Biochemistry Courses at Elon University” Sponsor – North Carolina Biotechnology Center, 1 year award. $9,355. 2002 – 2003
Project Director, “Investigation of Stress-Induced Proteins in Brine Shrimp” Elon Faculty Research and Development Summer Fellowship Program Summer award. $5428. 2004
Project Director, “Enhancing the Molecular Biology Experiences in Biology Courses at Elon University” Sponsor – North Carolina Biotechnology Center. 1 year award. $21,900. 2004-2005
Co-Principal Investigator, “Improvement of Biotechnology Resources for Biology Research and Teaching of Undergraduate Students at Elon University”Antonio Izzo, Linda Niedziela, Greg Haenel, Yuko Miyamoto, Jeffrey CokerSponsor – North Carolina Biotechnology Center, 1 year award. Funded for $84,000, 2009-2010
Project Director, “Biotechnology Event Sponsorship: N.C. Academy of Science 108th Annual Meeting” North Carolina Biotechnology Center, Applied for $3,000, Awarded $2,000, March 2011
Principal Investigator, “Developmental Neurotoxicology Analysis of Environmental Contaminants using Zebrafish” Faculty Research and Development, Elon University, Applied for $2325, Awarded $2325 Submitted October 2010
Project Director, “Purchase of Aquatic Habitat to Establish Zebrafish Animal Model to Enhance Research in Biology Department” Linda M. Niedziela, Jennifer Uno and Yuko Miyamoto. Associate Provost’s Special Grant. Funded for $20,325, Submitted March 2011
Principal Investigator, “Investigation of oil dispersant toxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio)” Faculty Research and Development, Elon University, Applied for $7500, Awarded $3200 Submitted October 2011
Project Director, "Enhancements to New Biotechnology/Molecular Biology Degree Track at Elon University" $96,450, Submitted August 2012. Awarded Faculty Development Grant, $7500, June 2013.
Publications
G. Krishna, J. Nath, L. Soler, and T. Ong. 1986. Comparative in vivo and in vitro genotoxicity studies of airborne particle extract in mice. Mutation Res. 171:157-163.
G. Krishna, J. Nath, L. Soler, and T. Ong. 1987. In vivo induction of sister chromatid exchanges in mice by nitrosated coal dust extract. Environ. Res. 42:106-113.
L. Soler-Niedziela, T. Ong, J. Nath, and E. Zeiger. 1988. Mutagenicity studies of dioxin and related compounds with the Salmonella arabinose resistant assay system. Toxicity Assessment 3:137-145.
L. Soler-Niedziela, T. Ong, G. Krishna, M. Petersen, and J. Nath. 1989. Sister chromatid exchange studies on direct- and indirect-acting clastogens in mouse primary cultures. Mutation Res. 224:465-470.
S.A. Endow, S. Henikoff, and L. Soler-Niedziela. 1990. Mediation of meiotic and early mitotic chromosome segregation in Drosophila by a protein related to kinesin. Nature 345:81-83.
L. Soler-Niedziela, X. Shi, J. Nath, and T. Ong. 1991. Studies on three structurally related phenylenediamines with the mouse micronucleus assay system. Mutation Res. 259:43-48.
F. J. Cisneros, M. Jayo, and L. Niedziela. 2005. An Uncaria tomentosa (CAT”S CLAW) extract protects mice against ozone-induced lung inflammation. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 96(3):355-364.
L. Niedziela. 2007. Streams of coal or streams of death: a toxicology case study. National Case Study in Science Teaching Center. http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/cases/ubcase.htm Posted 3/31/07
L. R. Heinrichs and L.M. Niedziela. 2009. Building a bioinformatics bridge: one course at a time. Issues in Information Systems. X(1):99-102.
L. Stranahan and L. Niedziela. 2012. Chronic exposure to fluoxetine (PROZAC) impairs larval zebrafish motor swimming activity and escape response. In preparation for Aquatic Toxicology.
Presentations
Selected abstracts of presentations since coming to Elon
Bolded names indicate undergraduate researchers
N. Wright and L.M. Niedziela. 2004. Effect of temperature on Artemia salina flow-through developmentally synchronous culture. Southeastern Biology 51(2):231.
L.M. Niedziela and N. Wright. 2004. Effect of temperature and duration of cold storage on Artemia salina flow-through developmentally synchronous culture. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology 40:76.
B. A. Morrison, B. W. Touchette, L. M. Niedziela, and A. L. Boyko. The effectiveness of a novel algaecide (sodium percarbonate) on the toxic cyanobacteria, Microcystis aeruginosa. Presented at American Society of Limnology and Oceanography 2004 Summer Meeting, Savannah, Georgia, June 13-18, 2004
L. Niedziela, N.A. Miller and A. Johnson. 2006. Toxicity assessment of Dispersit SPC-100 oil dispersant in brine shrimp, Artemia salina. Southeastern Biology 53(2):262.
L. Niedziela. Problem-based learning in an upper level genetics elective course. 2006. Journal of the North Carolina Academy of Science 122(2):87-88.
J. Townsend and L. Niedziela. 2006. Comparison of rDNA sequences in various commercial sources of Artemia. Journal of the North Carolina Academy of Science 122(2):96-97.
N. Miller, A. Johnson and L. Niedziela. 2006. Toxicity of Dispersit SPC-100 on Artemia. Journal of the North Carolina Academy of Science 122(2):86.
D. Ogburn and L. Niedziela. 2007. The effects of oil dispersants on mortality, development, and ATPase activity in Artemia franciscana. Presented at the Association of Southeastern Biologists, Columbia, SC, April 18-21, 2007.
L.M. Niedziela. 2007. Assessment of case studies for content delivery in upper level biology elective courses. Presented at the Association of Southeastern Biologists, Columbia, SC, April 18-21, 2007.
J. Brody, C. Muros and L. Niedziela. 2008. Comparative developmental toxicology assessment using FETAX. Presented at the annual meeting of the North Carolina Academy of Science Meeting in Greensboro NC March 28, 2008.
K. Lo, E. Gooch, and L. Niedziela. 2008. Bioactivity assessment of synthetic heterocyclic compounds. Presented at the annual meeting of the North Carolina Academy of Science Meeting in Greensboro NC March 28, 2008.
D. Brown and L.M. Niedziela. 2009. Dioxin and dopamine alter swimming behavior in larval zebrafish. Presentation at annual meeting of the North Carolina Academy of Science Meeting in Ashville NC April 2009
P. Zakas and L. M. Niedziela. 2009. Plant extract preparation for toxicological screening against nematode species. Presentation at annual meeting of the North Carolina Academy of Science Meeting in Ashville NC April 2009
L. R. Heinrichs and L.M. Niedziela. 2009. Building a bioinformatics bridge: one course at a time. Presented at the International Association for Computer Information Systems conference, Pittsburgh PA October 2009
K. Stackhouse and L.M. Niedziela. 2010. Developmental toxicity of TCDD in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Presented at the Association of Southeastern Biologists, Ashville, NC, April 2010
J. Schibler and L. M. Niedziela. 2010. Cardiovascular and developmental toxicity in Danio rerio, zebrafish. Presented at the annual meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists Meeting in Ashville NC April 2010
L. Niedziela and L. Heinrichs. 2010. Bioinformatics for the uninitiated: the design of a non-majors course. Presented at The North Carolina Academy of Science meeting in Greensboro NC April 2010
B. Schuchardt and L. Niedziela. 2011. Genetic Mechanisms of Surfactant-Based Alterations to Zebrafish Gill ATPases. Presented at The North Carolina Academy of Science meeting in Elon NC March 2011
M. Lowe and L. Niedziela. 2011. Oil Dispersant Reduces the Reproductive Rate in Daphnia magna. Presented at The North Carolina Academy of Science meeting in Elon NC March 2011
L. Stranahan and L. Niedziela. Antidepressant Impairs Zebrafish Motor Development and Behavior: Ramification of Pharmaceutical Drugs in the Environment. Presented at The North Carolina Academy of Science meeting in Elon NC March 2011
K. Hlavinka and L. Niedziela. 2011. Cardiovascular and Molecular Toxicity in Danio rerio, Zebrafish and Oryzias latipes, Medaka. Presented at The North Carolina Academy of Science meeting in Elon NC March 2011
L. Stranahan and L. Niedziela. 2012. Chronic exposure to fluoxetine (PROZAC) impairs larval zebrafish motor swimming activity and escape response. Presented at The North Carolina Academy of Science meeting in Elon NC March 2012
Awards
- Historically Minority University Biotechnology Program Initiative Service Award – North Carolina Biotechnology Center - 2002
- FANS - Faculty Assisting New Students – Elon University - 2004
- Pan-Hellenic Excellence in Teaching Recognition – Elon University - 2005
- Rawl’s Professor for Undergraduate Research in the Sciences – 2007-2010
- Elon College Excellence in Teaching Award – 2011