Stephen Cessna

Steve received his BA in chemistry and biochemistry in Colorado and then taught middle school math and science in Lesotho in southern Africa, with the Mennonite Central Committee, a relief and development organization of the Mennonite Churches. After returning to the US, getting married, and moving to Indiana, Steve eventually finished a PhD degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. His graduate research included genetically altering tobacco plants so that they express a gene from a bioluminescent jellyfish. Cellular calcium concentrations could then be easily measured in these ‘glow-in-the-dark’ plants. Steve has continued that research project with EMU students, and has presented his work with EMU students at several regional and national scientific meetings, and has published that work with EMU student co-authors. Steve teaches biochemistry, chemistry, and botany courses.

In September ‘08, Steve received a grant for the purchase of $100,000 of equipment for plant physiology and ecology from the National Science Foundation, in collaboration with Jim Yoder in the Biology Department and Wendy Cass in Shenandoah National Park. He worked on a USDA-funded sabbatical research project for the ’07-’08 academic year, studying photosynthesis in plants undergoing stress at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Purdue University
B.A. in Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado at Boulder

Past four years (For a list of previous publications, go to scholar.google.com, and query "sg cessna "):

• Cessna SG, Demmig-Adams B, Adams WW, (2010). Exploring Photosynthesis and Plant Stress Using Inexpensive Chlorophyll Fluorometers. Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education 39, 22-30
• Cessna SG, Kishbaugh TK, Graber Neufeld D, Cessna GA, (2009) Phytoremediation as a Multi-Week Laboratory Project for Teaching General Chemistry Thermodynamics and Equilibrium. Journal of Chemical Education 86, 726-729
• Bolduc N, Lamb GN, Cessna SG, Brisson LF, (2007). Modulation of Bax Inhibitor-1 and calcium homeostasis by cytokinins in Nicotiana tabacum cells. Biochimie 89, 961
• Cessna SG, Matsumoto TK, Lamb GN, Rice SJ, Hochstedler WW, (2007). The externally-derived portion of the hyperosmotic shock-activated cytosolic calcium pulse mediates adaptation to ionic stress in suspension-cultured tobacco cells. The Journal of Plant Physiology 164, 815-823

• “Promoting learning through authentic and relevant research experiences in environmental monitoring and remediation across ten chemistry and biology laboratory courses” — A National Science Foundation – CCLI grant for $137,932, 5/09
• “Acquisition of Instrumentation to Support Integrated Research and Teaching in Interdisciplinary Environmental Plant Biology” — A National Science Foundation – Major Research Instrumentation grant for $103,130, 9/08
• “A sabbatical to investigate the relationships of protective measures against excess light, antioxidants, defense signals, and drought stress in plants” – A United States Department of Agriculture National Research Initiative, Agricultural Research Enhancement Award. $67,000 5/07
• “LEEF for EMU” – A grant from LiCor, manufacturers of instrumentation for plant/crop assessment. $25,000 3/07 and 1/08

• American Society for Plant Biology
• American Chemical Society
• Council on Undergraduate Research