معرفی
Katie Staab is an Associate Professor of Biology at McDaniel College, where she teaches animal anatomy and physiology with emphasis on dissection skills and MCAT-based conceptual frameworks. Her research explores fish functional morphology, connective tissue evolution, and evidence-based anatomy pedagogy.
Education:
- Ph.D., The George Washington University, 2011
- B.S. in Biology, Mount Saint Mary's College, 2003
Dr. Staab's research integrates functional morphology, evolutionary physiology, and conservation biology through studies of fish suction feeding mechanics and connective tissue systems. Her pedagogical work develops fabrication-based tools to enhance anatomy education inclusivity and student motivation, reflecting her commitment to evidence-based teaching practices.
Publication analysis reveals consistent focus on biomechanical adaptations in fish feeding systems, particularly convergent evolution of jaw protrusion mechanisms. Recent work bridges biological research with educational innovation, demonstrating how anatomical principles translate across species and teaching methodologies.
Awards and Honors:
- Ira G. Zepp Distinguished Teaching Award (2018)
- McDaniel College Faculty Grant Award (2018)
- Inaugural Charles A. Boehlke Jr. Engaged Faculty Fellow (2017)
Dr. Staab mentors Capstone researchers who present at national conferences and advises the Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society. As Chair of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and co-founder of McDaniel's faculty writing support group, she integrates research ethics with scholarly development. Her grant work includes curriculum innovation projects funded through college awards.
Her research lab employs high-speed videography, histological analysis, and comparative dissection to investigate functional units in fish morphology, providing students with pathology-lab-level technical training.
