University Directory

Nikki N. Sunnen, PhD

Director of the Neuroscience Program

Associate Professor of Practice

Catherine Nicole Sunnen PhD

Department

Department of Biology
Behavioral and Neuro Science Program

Office

SC 221

Phone

610-660-3332
Contact

My graduate and postdoctoral research focused on the molecular and genetic causes of abnormal brain development. These aberrations often lead to pediatric epilepsy, intellectual disability, and other disorders in human patients, and our research was designed, in part, to identify novel therapies for these individuals. I believe that science is a way of thinking that can be applied to all disciplines, and that learning is an active process – just like science! I teach Biology, Neuroscience, and Interdisciplinary courses and labs.  Some of the courses I teach include: 

  • Phage Safari Lab I and II
  • Genetics Lecture and Lab
  • Introduction to Neuroscience I and II
  • Inequality in America
     
    • BSc Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Guelph
    • PhD Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine
    • Postdoctoral Fellow, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
    • IRACDA Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Pennsylvania

  • Selected Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Articles, Workshops and Presentations

    • Monti, J.C. Gill, ∞SEA Faculty, W.H. Beiderman, S.G. Cresawn, D.M. Heller, D. Jacobs-Sera, D.A. Russell, G.F. Hatfull, D.J. Asai, D.I. Hanauer, M.J. Graham, V. Sivanathan. (2024). An inclusive Research and Education Community (iREC) model to facilitate undergraduate science education reform. Front.Ed. (∞listed as a contributing author) https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1442318
    • D.W. Bollivar, C. Fillman, C.N. Sunnen, Q. Vega. (2023). Designing a High Quality and Accessible Scientific Poster. HHMI Science Education Alliance (SEA) Faculty Group, QUBES Educational Resources. doi:10.25334/CGWV-2B93
    • D.I. Hanauer, M.J. Graham, ∞SEA Instructors, D.J. Asai, G.F. Hatfull, V. Sivanathan. (2022). Instructional Models for Course-Based Research Experience (CRE) Teaching. CBE-LSE. (∞listed as a contributing author) https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.21-03-0057
    • C.N. Sunnen. (2021). I’m having a what-now?! A PBL Case Study on the Female Reproductive System and Early Pregnancy. National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science. https://www.nsta.org/ncss-case-study/im-having-what
    • Rocheleau, M. Mastropaolo, C.N. Sunnen, A.R. Beyer, T. Ndolo, D. Williams, S. Saha, N. Dean. (2020). Exploring Functions for Common Phage Proteins. HHMI Science Education Alliance (SEA) Faculty Group, QUBES Educational Resources. doi:10.25334/3YA4-H358
    • C.N. Sunnen (2020). Tools to create effective student teams for group work. Support Session. Misher College Fall 2020 Support Resources. University of the Sciences. Philadelphia, PA.
    • D.I. Hanauer, M.J. Graham, ∞SEA-PHAGES, L. Betancur, A. Bobrownicki, S.G. Cresawn, R.A. Garlena, D. Jacobs-Sera, N. Kaufmann, W.H. Pope, D.A. Russell, V. Sivanathan, D.J. Asai, G.F. Hatfull. (2017) An Inclusive Research-Education Community (iREC): A model for student engagement in science. PNAS. https://www.pnas.org/content/114/51/13531 (∞listed as a contributing author)
    • C.N. Sunnen (2017). Improving Academic Success with Student-Written Quizzes. Poster. Evidence-based Teaching and Learning Lilly Conference. Bethesda, MD
    • C.N. Sunnen & P. Blumberg (2016). Introduction to Problem-based learning (PBL) and experience it yourself as a learner. Workshop. University of the Sciences August Faculty Enrichment Series. Philadelphia, PA.

    Selected Phage Research Articles and Genome Annotations

    • DiGiacomo, N. Bowen, T. Nguyen, S. Borrello, N. Brooks, E. Bubeck, C. Buker, L. Charboneau, A. Corapi, K. Derstine, L. Fries, O. Graveley, I. Jimenez, P. Lacour, I. Llorente Fernandez, M. Malesich, S. Matusiak, J. McNelly, S. Reka, S. Sheppard, L. Zile, A. Smith, J. Aquilino, D. Nibloc1, A. Winkler, L. Givvines, C. N. Sunnen, J. Lee-Soety. (2024) Three Cluster O mycobacteriophages isolated in Philadelphia, PA. MicroPub Biol. doi: 10.17912/micropub.biology.001375
    • Jacobs-Sera, ∞SEA Instructors, G.F. Hatfull. (2020) Genomic diversity of bacteriophages infecting Microbacterium spp. PLOS One. doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0234636 (∞listed as a contributing author)
    • #Mycobacterium phage FoulBall complete genome. (2024) GenBank: PP978769 (#14 UG authors)
    • #Mycobacterium phage PhesterPhotato, complete genome. (2024) GenBank: PP978815 (#12 UG authors)
    • #Mycobacterium phage LasagnaCat complete genome. (2024) GenBank: PP978803 (#17 UG authors)
    • #Gordonia phage Lizzo, complete genome. (2023) GenBank: OQ709198 (#7 UG authors)
    • #Mycobacterium phage Huphlepuff, complete genome. (2022) GenBank: ON637772 (#13 UG authors)
    • #Mycobacterium phage Beem, complete genome. (2021) GenBank: MZ622169 (#15 UG authors)
    • #Microbacterium phage FreddieHg, complete genome. (2020) GenBank: MT639643 (#6 UG authors)

    Selected Neuroscience Research Articles Presentations

    • *E.D. Marsh, *M.P. Nasrallah, C. Walsh, K.A. Murray, C.N. Sunnen, A. McCoy, J.A. Golden. (2016) Developmental interneuron subtype deficits after targeted loss of Arx. BMC Neuroscience. 17:35. PMCID: PMC4902966 (*these authors contributed equally) http://rdcu.be/tnZS
    • C.N. Sunnen (2014) Modeling Neurological Diseases. Delaware County Community College STEM Speaker Series. Media, PA. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjMZtA3qTGo
    • C.N. Sunnen, J.C. Simonet, E.D. Marsh, J.A. Golden. (2014) Arx is required for specification of the zona incerta and reticular nucleus of the thalamus. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 73:253-261. PMCID: PMC4038102
    • C.N. Sunnen, A.L. Brewster, J.N. Lugo, F. Vanegas, E. Turcios, S. Mukhi, D. Parghi, G. D'Arcangelo, A.E. Anderson (2011) Inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin blocks epilepsy progression in NS-Pten conditional knockout mice. Epilepsia 52:2065-2075. PMCID: PMC3204180
    • Molecular mechanisms of neurodevelopment, neural disorders, and epilepsy
    • Phage biology, genome annotation, and gene function
    • STEM education, particularly inquiry- and discovery-based learning methods, such as CUREs (Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences), PBL (Problem-Based Learning) and Inclusive Teaching practices

    I do not have an active research program, so I am unable to serve as a primary research advisor or mentor to graduate students.  However, I am available to serve on graduate thesis committees and to mentor undergraduates in literature-based projects.