Dr. Daniel P. Toma
Associate Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
Minnesota State University, Mankato

Personal:
Born in Louisville, KY., 13 November, 1962, married, three children.

Interests:

Scientific:

• Genetics, particularly behavioral genetics. The genetics of honey bee hygienic behavior
• Entomology
• Anthropological genetics.

Theological:

• Catholic Cosmology: The understanding of the whole of creation (spiritual and material) and all the parts work together as an ascent towards God structured on the spiritual life as particularly understood by St. Dionysius the Areopagite and St. Thomas Aquinas.
• How the data of modern science fits into Catholic cosmology and its positive contribution to the faith.
• Developing a Catholic science curriculum based on Catholic cosmology.

Appointments:

2011-present Associate Professor of Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Minnesota State University, Mankato.

2011-present Associate Fellow for the Natural Sciences, School of Catholic Thought, John Paul II Newman Center, University of Illinois, Chicago.

2006-2011 Assistant Professor of Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Post-doctoral Work:

1999-2006 Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Experimental Neuroscience. The Neurosciences Institute, San Diego, CA. Research: Genetic and molecular analysis of lines of Drosophila selected for extreme geotaxis behavior. Laboratory of Dr. Ralph Greenspan.

Education:

• 1992-1999 - Ph.D. Biology. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL. Thesis: Cloning and analysis of a honey bee (Apis mellifera) period gene ortholog and honey bee division of labor. Dr. Gene Robinson, supervisor.
• 1990-1992 - M.S. Biology, Purdue University, Fort Wayne, IN. Thesis: Study on the production and properties of Phanerochaete chrysosporium b-galactosidase. Dr. Shree S. Dhawale, supervisor.
• 1988-1989 - M.S. Education, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, August, 1989.
• 1986-1987 - Philosophy Program (Completion certificate), Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, St. Mary’s College, Winona, MN.
• 1981-1986 - B.S. Microbiology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.

- Futher information available upon request.