Dr. Megan Valentine

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Dr. Megan Valentine joined SUNY Plattsburgh after earning her Master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Vermont.

With over 17 years of experience, Dr. Valentine is one of the world’s leading experts on the ciliated single-celled eukaryote Paramecium. She has used these “swimming neurons” to better understand ciliary ion channels and trafficking using a variety of techniques including DNA and RNA work, protein expression, proteomics, RNA interference, and microscopy. Additionally, Dr. Valentine is a self-taught electrophysiologist, measuring membrane potential changes in Paramecium, both ciliated and non-ciliated, to better understand channel function and receptors found in the cell and ciliary membranes. Since joining SUNY Plattsburgh, Dr. Valentine intends to continue her work Paramecium and is extending her work into Daphnia, a freshwater microcrustacean native to Lake Champlain.

Dr. Valentine uses a variety of teaching approaches in her classroom to engage her students and facilitate learning. Dr. Valentine loves teaching, is enthusiastic, and strives to motivate her students through research-based learning. She currently teaches or has taught General Biology Labs (BIO101), Communicating Biology (BIO380), General Genetics (BIO305), and Integrative Biology Experience (BIO490).

• Education
  • Ph.D., University of Vermont
  • M.A., University of Vermont
  • B.A., Connecticut College
• Teaching Areas
  • BIO 101 General Biology 1
  • BIO 101 SEA-PHAGES labs
  • BIO 103 Concepts in Biology
  • BIO 305 General Genetics
  • BIO 380 Communicating Biology
  • BIO 349 Molecular Biology
  • BIO419 Advanced Molecular Genetics
• Research Areas
  • Ciliated single-celled eukaryote Paramecium