Faculty Profiles

Don Paetkau

Don Paetkau

Associate Professor
Biology
Neuroscience
278 Science Hall

Phone 

(574) 284-4684

Email 

dpaetkau@saintmarys.edu

Education 

PhD, University of Notre Dame
BSc, MSc, University of Manitoba
BTh, Canadian Mennonite University (formerly CMBC)

Research Interests 

  • Fruit fly vision
  • Fruit fly genomics
  • Yeast biosensors
  • Science education

Courses Recently Taught 

  • BIO155L: Foundations of Molecular Biology Lab
  • BIO221L: Genetics Lab
  • BIO 230(L): Molecular Cell Biology
  • BIO310: Teaching in Biology
  • BIO 330: Seminar in Molecular/Cellular Biology
  • BIO 331(L): Biotechnology
  • BIO 385: Introduction to Research
  • BIO485: Research in Biology
  • BIO 485: Research in Biology
  • BIO155L: Foundations of Molecular Biology Lab
  • BIO221L: Genetics Lab

Professional Experience 

  • Postdoctoral research associate, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
  • IU Health Goshen Hospital Institutional Review Board, chair
  • Leader or co-leader of five Study Abroad programs

Creative and Scholarly Work 

  • N. Spica*, M. Green*, L. Lown*, R. Duwal, M. Fuyal, S. Giri, B. Giri, D. Paetkau & R. Lamichhane-Khadka (2021) Development of a microbiological paper-based analytical device to detect fecal contamination of water in resource-limited settings. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 232, Article number: 164.
  • D. Lopatto,1 A.G. Rosenwald, J.R. DiAngelo, A.T. Hark, M. Skerritt, M. Wawersik, … D. Paetkau, … W. Leung, L.K. Reed, S.C.R. Elgin. (2020) Facilitating growth through frustration: Using genomics research in a course-based undergraduate research experience. Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education. 21: 21.1.6.
  • W. Leung, C.D. Shaffer, E.J. Chen, T.J. Quisenberry, K. Ko, J.M. Braverman, … D.W. Paetkau, R.K. Bridgman*, C.M. Brown*, A.R. Carroll*, F.M. Gifford*, J.B. Gillespie*, S.E. Herman*, K.L. Holtcamp*, M.A. Host, G. Hussey, D.M. Kramer, J.Q. Lawrence, M.M. Martin, E.N. Niemiec, A.P. O'Reilly, O.A. Pahl, G. Quintana, E.A.S. Rettie, T.L. Richardson, A.E. Rodriguez, M.O. Rodriguez, L. Schiraldi, J.J. Smith, K.F. Sugrue, L.J. Suriano, K.E. Takach, A.M. Vasquez, X. Velez, E. J. Villafuerte, L.T. Vives, V.R. Zellmer, … J. Buhler, E.R. Mardis, S.C.R. Elgin. (2017) Retrotransposons are the major contributors to the expansion of the Drosophila ananassae muller F element. G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics 7:2439-2460.
  • S.C.R. Elgin, C. Hauser, T.M. Holzen, C. Jones, A. Kleinschmit, J. Leatherman, … D. Paetkau, … L. Zhou. (2017) The GEP: Crowd-sourcing big data analysis with undergraduates. Trends in Genetics 33:81-85.
  • Paetkau, D.W., V. A. Elagin, L.M. Sendi, D. R. Hyde. "Isolation and characterization of Drosophila retinal degeneration B suppressors."  Genetics 151 (1999): 713-724.
  • Paetkau, D.W., J.A. Riese, W.S. MacMorran, R. A. Woods, R.D. Gietz.  "Interactions of the yeast Rad7 and Sir3 proteins: implications for DNA repair and chromatin structure." Genes & Dev. 8 (1994): 2035-2045.

Professional Memberships 

  • Genetics Society of America
  • Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society
  • Beta Beta Beta: National Biological Honors Society
  • Association for Biological Laboratory Education
  • Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science