Katherine Wydner

Katherine Wydner serves as Associate Professor of Biology at Saint Peter's University, where she has taught since 1996 after promotion from Assistant Professor in 2003. She concurrently holds roles as Health Careers Advisor/Chair of the Health Careers Advisory Committee since 2010 and Faculty Advisor for both the Mendel Biology Society and Health Professions Club.

Her academic credentials include:

• A.B. in Biology from Princeton University
• Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental Biology from Rutgers University and UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Dr. Wydner's research foundation lies in Genetics, with specialized expertise in cytogenetics and molecular genetics including gene mapping. She actively conducts bird behavior studies through campus-based Project FeederWatch (PFW), driving biodiversity monitoring initiatives. Her commitment to natural history and sustainability materialized in the 2018 creation of a Native Plant Garden for Birds and Pollinators—funded by the Society for Biodiversity Preservation—to assess habitat restoration impacts on campus avian diversity. Additional scholarly pursuits span astrobiology, evolutionary biology, and stem cell research.

She mentors students through PFW data collection teams and biology clubs while securing research grants like the 2018 Society for Biodiversity Preservation award for ecological restoration. Her teaching portfolio spans foundational courses including General Biology I/II and specialized offerings such as Astrobiology, Amazon Rainforest Travel, and Natural Ecosystems of New Jersey.

Dr. Wydner leads Project FeederWatch operations from Gannon Hall Room 112, directing student teams in longitudinal biodiversity studies while maintaining active fieldwork in campus habitat restoration zones.