Nikki N. Sunnen

Nikki N. Sunnen, PhD, serves as Associate Professor of Practice and Co-Director of the Behavioral and Neuro Science Program in the Department of Biology at the University of the Sciences. She teaches advanced courses including Molecular Basis of Neurological Disorders (BS-430), Developmental Biology (BS-499), and HHMI-sponsored undergraduate research labs (SEA-PHAGES/BS-136-137 and SEA-GENES/BS-291).

Education:

• BSc in Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Guelph
• PhD in Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
• IRACDA Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Pennsylvania

Her research spans three interconnected domains: (1) Molecular neuroscience focusing on genetic mechanisms of abnormal brain development leading to pediatric epilepsy and intellectual disability; (2) Phage biology and genome annotation through large-scale collaborative projects; (3) STEM education innovation emphasizing Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) and inquiry-driven learning. She applies active learning principles to transform science education, viewing science as a universal thinking methodology applicable across disciplines.

Publications reveal consistent integration of laboratory research with pedagogical advancement, particularly in neurodevelopmental disorders, phage genomics, and educational methodologies. Her work demonstrates expertise in bridging molecular neuroscience with practical educational applications, emphasizing collaborative student projects and inclusive science communities.

Scientific Awards:

• No major awards or fellowships documented in current profile

Advising and Grants: While available as graduate thesis committee member and secondary research advisor for BS-399 literary research, Dr. Sunnen explicitly states she cannot serve as primary research mentor due to absence of active laboratory program. Her HHMI-funded involvement in SEA-PHAGES and SEA-GENES provides significant grant-supported infrastructure for undergraduate phage genomics research.

Labs and Teams: As Co-Director of the Behavioral and Neuro Science Program, she leads institutional efforts in neuroscience education. Her primary laboratory engagement occurs through HHMI's SEA-PHAGES and SEA-GENES initiatives, directing year-long undergraduate research projects in bacteriophage discovery, genome sequencing, and functional annotation across multiple institutional cohorts.