J. Patrick W. Cusaac, Ph.D.

Hi, my name is Patrick, and welcome to my site!  I'm a biologist with a wide variety of teaaching and research interests, including herpetology, physiological ecology, disease ecology, and ecotoxicology.  I am a Research Associate at the University of Tennessee, where I continue my post-doctoral research in environmental stressors in amphibian species of conservation concern.  I am also the senior microbiologist in a FDA regulated manufacturing facility, where I use my skills as an applied researcher to conduct risk assessments, analyze chemical samples, and test for US Pharmacopoeia objectionable organisms.  My passion for science shows in my teaching and research. I love helping students discover the natural world and learn about the way nature works. Generally, my research interests are in how individual and combined stressors affect wildlife.  Historically my research has included how individuals respond to biotic (e.g., dehydration) and abiotic (e.g., chemical pollutants) stressors at scales we can measure, and using those metrics to predict risk to higher levels of biological organization (e.g., populations).  If you want to know more about my research or myself, click the 'More About Me' below or check out the 'About Me' tab above.