College of Sciences Newsletter

Edition 12

May 1, 2002

Biology Chair Stepping Down

Dr. Andrew S. Gordon, professor of biology, is stepping down from serving as department chair after completing his sixth year this summer. His immediate plans include devoting more time to his research and teaching.

Gordon earned his Ph.D. in microbiology in 1982 from the University of Miami. Before joining the faculty at Old Dominion in 1985, he held research appointments in the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Division of Marine and Atmospheric Chemistry, at the University of Miami.

With numerous publications, abstracts and invited presentations to his credit, he also has been an active researcher with more than $3.5 million obtained from grants and contracts. His research is currently focused on metal-microorganism interactions with emphasis on the physiological responses of marine bacteria to elevated levels of metals, especially copper. His research team has described a unique response of marine vibrios to copper stress which involves excretion of an extracellular copper-complexing protein. They are now characterizing additional copper ligands produced by marine bacteria. Also, his lab work is involved in the study of toxic dinoflagellates (Pfiesteria spp.) and their toxins.

His teaching responsibilities include general microbiology, microbial ecology and marine microbiology.

Elaine and Andy Gordon