Russell Minton

• BIOL 122/123 Molecular and Cell Biology/Lab
• BIOL 223/224 Invertebrate Zoology/Lab
• BIOL 232 Human Genetics
• BIOL 265 Genetics
• BIOL 290 Research Methods in Biology
• BIOL 373/374 Molecular Biology/Lab
• BIOL 49X Special Topics (Evolution, Conservation Biology)

• 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.

• 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.

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

Recent publications (* student author):

Ganger, MT, Holmes VL*, Dempsey CM, Minton RL (2025) Field horsetail (Equisetum arvense) root microbiomes are subsets of surrounding soil bacteria structured by dissolved organic matter. American Fern Journal 115: 95–108. https://doi.org/10.1640/0002-8444-115.2.95

Minton RL, Perez KE (2025) Microbial communities associated with endangered West Texas springsnails and their potential roles in conservation. Journal of Molluscan Studies 91: eyae058. https://doi.org/10.1093/mollus/eyae058 

Minton RL, Brak HH* (2024) Brood pouch and juvenile microbiome structure in the Japanese Mysterysnail, Heterogen japonica (von Martens, 1861) (Gastropoda: Viviparidae). Journal of Molluscan Studies 90: eyae021. https://doi.org/10.1093/mollus/eyae021 
.
Minton RL, Perez KE (2022) Microbial associations with Metcalf’s Tryonia, Tryonia metcalfi (Gastropoda: Cochliopidae), an imperiled ciénega endemic. Southwestern Naturalist 67: 67–70. https://doi.org/10.1894/0038-4909-67.1.65

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!