Russell Minton

I'm a snail systematist whose educational and academic pursuits continue to take me alternatively north and south (Wisconsin to Alabama to Illinois to Louisiana to Texas to Pennsylvania). I'm a molecular biologist by training, a zoologist by experience, and a font of useless knowledge by osmosis.

Away from campus I enjoy birdwatching, cooking, attending sporting events, being outside, and traveling (especially cruises).

Courses Taught

BIOL 122 Molecular and Cell Biology
BIOL 123 Molecular and Cell Biology Lab
BIOL 232 Human Genetics
BIOL 265 Genetics
BIOL 290 Research Methods in Biology
BIOL 373 Molecular Biology
BIOL 374 Molecular Biology Lab
BIOL 49X Special Topics (Evolution, Conservation Biology)

Educational History

University of Alabama, Ph.D. Biology (Ecology and Systematics), 2001.
University of Wisconsin Parkside, M.S. Applied Molecular Biology, 1997.
University of Wisconsin Parkside, B.S. Biology, 1994.

Professional Experience

Professor of Biology, Gannon University, 2023-present.
Chair of Biology, Gannon University, 2021-present.
Associate Chair of Biology, Gannon University, 2020-2021.
Associate Professor of Biology, Gannon University, 2018-2023.
Associate Professor of Biology, University of Houston Clear Lake, 2014-2018.
Associate Professor of Biology, University of Louisiana at Monroe, 2009-2014.
Assistant Professor of Biology, University of Louisiana at Monroe, 2003-2009.
Post-doctoral researcher, Field Museum of Natural History, 2002-2003.

Professional Societies

Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society
Pennsylvania Academy of Science
Texas Academy of Science

Publications

Recent publications (* student author):

Minton RL, Perez KE (2022) Microbial associations with Metcalf’s Tryonia, Tryonia metcalfi (Gastropoda: Cochliopidae), an imperiled ciénega endemic. Southwestern Naturalist 67:67–70.
Minton RL, Hertel AT*, Lathrop JL*, Mattocks T*, Nimmagadda RL*, Roberts TP*, Steblak TT*, Stubler R* (2022) Gut bacterial diversity between polygyrid land snails reflects environmental differences. Texas Journal of Science 74:Note 2.
Minton RL, Phan K*, Dempsey C, Ganger MT (2022). Root microbiomes of seedless vascular plants correlate with plant relatedness and spatial proximity. Rhizosphere 22:100492.
Layer MR*, Minton RL, Morris TJ, Zanatta DT (2022) Utility of shell-valve outlines for distinguishing among four lampsiline mussel species (Bivalvia: Unionidae) in the Great Lakes region. Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation 25:37–53.
North E*, Minton RL (2021) Diversity and predicted function of gut microbes from two species of viviparid snails. Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation 24:104–113.
Minton RL (2021) Morphometrics suggest reduced taxon diversity in the freshwater snail genus Gyrotoma Shuttleworth, 1845 (Gastropoda: Pleuroceridae). Annals of Carnegie Museum 87:79–88.
Minton RL, Goodwill GC*, Mihaly HM, Fiorillo RA (2021) Shell density variation among populations of the ornate rocksnail Lithasia geniculata (Gastropoda: Pleuroceridae). Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Sciences 94:91-102.

Scholarship-Research

My research deals broadly with questions of mollusk evolution and ecology, focused primarily on freshwater and land snails. I am especially interested in projects addressing taxonomy and systematics using morphological and molecular data. I am fortunate to have had the freedom to develop a diverse research program that allows my students, colleagues, and me to pursue a variety of interesting avenues. Projects that I am actively engaged in contain portions appropriate for undergraduate involvement. If you want to work with me, please let me know!