About
Trixie Lee Pittman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology within the College of Arts and Sciences at Harding University. Her academic work integrates teaching and research in animal physiology and behavior, with a focus on mammalian hibernation and metabolic adaptations.
Her research interests center on the physiological mechanisms of hibernation in arctic ground squirrels, particularly metabolic fuel utilization and nitrogen recycling. She employs techniques such as stable isotope analysis and microbial ecology to study how these animals sustain physiological function during prolonged torpor. Her teaching portfolio includes Animal Physiology, Human Anatomy and Physiology, Animal Behavior, and General Biology, and she actively mentors students in independent research projects.
The two recent publications highlight her focus on metabolic biochemistry in extreme environments, showing shifts in fuel use during hibernation and the role of gut microbes in nitrogen conservation under varying ambient temperatures. These works reflect a strong interdisciplinary approach combining physiology, ecology, and biochemistry.
- Nomination from Biology Department for Distinguished Teacher Award, Harding University, 2019
She advises students in research and has served on key institutional committees including the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and the Gilliam Biological Research Station Oversight Committee, demonstrating leadership in academic and research governance. She has also coordinated the department’s Senior Seminar capstone course.
Dr. Pittman is actively involved in academic service and collaborative teaching, having co-taught Herpetology and Conservation Biology. Her integration of research, teaching, and mentorship underscores her role as a central figure in the biology program at Harding University.
