SXU Biology Professor Awarded Research Grant
Saint Xavier University (SXU) biology professor Tatiana Tatum, Ph.D., has recently been awarded $2,500 research grant from the Illinois Community College Faculty Association (ICCFA) in collaboration with Liane Cochran-Stafira, Ph.D., from College of DuPage.
Their project, "Rotifer Life History and Genetics: Creating Authentic Research Experiences and Open Educational Resources for Community College Biology Students," will support undergraduate student research experiences and the development of freely accessible open educational resources for biology education. The project includes student stipends for hands-on research participation, lab materials, and dissemination through open platforms such as MERLOT, OER Commons, and YouTube — efforts that align well with Saint Xavier University's commitment to student success, faculty scholarship, and educational equity.
"This project grew organically out of my ongoing collaboration with Dr. Cochran, my former SXU colleague who retired but never stopped doing meaningful work in biology education. When she shared her vision for integrating authentic rotifer research into her community college courses, I immediately wanted to support it," said Tatum.
The proposal directly addresses the opportunity gap, giving first-generation and underrepresented community college students access to the kind of hands-on research experiences typically reserved for four-year institutions, while simultaneously producing free Open Educational Resources (OERs) for the broader biology education community.
"The heart of this project lives in Dr. Cochran's community college classroom, where her students will conduct authentic research on rotifer life history and genetics — investigating how environmental factors like temperature and nutrients affect population dynamics and genetic markers. My role is primarily supportive: providing scientific expertise, mentorship, and continuity across the project. I am also contributing one of my own SXU research students to assist with the work. Our shared goal is to help students develop a genuine scientific identity — moving from passive learners to active contributors to real, publishable knowledge," said Tatum.
Cochran's students will construct life tables by tracking rotifer survivorship and fecundity and will perform DNA extractions to identify genetic markers across populations. Materials include nutrient agar plates, E. coli cultures (used as a rotifer food source), sterile water, and microscopy supplies.
Tatum's SXU research student will play a supporting role in data collection and analysis, gaining valuable cross-institutional research experience in the process.
"Even in a supporting role, this collaboration gives my SXU research student something rare — the experience of working on a multi-institutional project with real-world stakes. They will develop technical skills in molecular biology and ecology but also learn how collaborative science actually works: navigating shared timelines, communicating across institutions, and contributing to a project larger than any single course or campus. These are exactly the competencies that graduate programs and employers are looking for," said Tatum.
The project launches this summer with culture setup and student training, with full data collection running from August 2026 through February 2027. OER development and impact assessment will follow from January through April 2027, with findings presented at the ICCFA Conference in November 2027. Effectiveness will be measured through pre- and post-assessments of student learning, scientific attitude surveys, and ultimately the publication of findings in journals such as Hydrobiologia or the Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education (JMBE).
Tatum is also continuing to explore grant opportunities that bridge SXU's four-year curriculum with community college pathways — particularly for underrepresented STEM students.
"What I find most meaningful about this project is what it models for students: that scientific collaboration doesn't end at retirement, that great mentorship crosses institutional boundaries, and that community college students deserve the same quality of research experience as anyone else. Dr. Cochran's dedication to her students — even after leaving full-time faculty life — is genuinely inspiring, and I am honored to support her work," said Tatum.