Dawn Reding

Dawn Reding is an Associate Professor in the Biology Department at Luther College. She teaches courses including Principles of Biology, GIS, Genomics, Vertebrate Natural History, and Marine Biology. Her research focuses on applying molecular tools to study evolutionary and conservation questions in wildlife populations. She holds a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Iowa State University, an M.S. in Zoology from the University of Hawaii, and a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Dubuque.

Her research explores how natural and human-driven factors influence genetic diversity and species persistence. She works with vertebrates such as mammals, birds, and reptiles, integrating population genetics, genomics, landscape ecology, and spatial statistics. Recent studies include phylogeographic analysis of gray foxes and bobcats, immune responses in reptiles, and urban population structure of gartersnakes.

Publications span 2014–2021, addressing topics like genetic diversity in endangered species, environmental stress effects on physiology, and wildlife management challenges. While no awards are explicitly listed, her work demonstrates significant contributions to conservation genetics and vertebrate biology. Advising and grant details are not provided in the text, but her courses emphasize hands-on research, such as the Genomics course involving high-throughput sequencing analysis.