Simon Molnar

Background

Simon Molnar is on the faculty of the Department of Biology and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. Before Porter, Simon was a laboratory scientist at a biotech company.

Simon's research focuses on ecology and conservation, with related work in developmental biology; undergraduates are involved in the lab most terms.

Areas of expertise

• Ecology and conservation
• Developmental biology
• Undergraduate research and project mentoring

Teaching

Simon regularly teaches courses in Biology. Specific sections and syllabi are listed in the class schedule each term.

Courses lean on current problems from the field: students read recent work, reproduce a result or method, and then extend it. Simon builds in low-stakes practice before graded work and gives written feedback on drafts.

Advising and office hours

Simon advises students in the Biology programs and holds weekly office hours during the fall and spring terms, posted on the office door and in the course pages. Prospective students are welcome to email to arrange a visit or a call.

Advising conversations usually cover course sequencing, whether to add a minor or a concentration, and how classroom work connects to internships, research, or graduate study. Students who are undecided are welcome; part of the job is helping them narrow things down.

Recent and representative work

Simon's recent activity is a mix of peer-reviewed work, conference talks, and student-involved projects in ecology and conservation and developmental biology. Representative items:

• A peer-reviewed article on ecology and conservation in a disciplinary journal.
• A conference paper on developmental biology, co-authored with an undergraduate researcher.
• An internally funded project applying ecology and conservation to a regional partner's problem.

Titles and venues here are illustrative. UW–Porter Falls is fictional; Simon has no real publication record.

Get in touch

The fastest way to reach Simon is email (smolnar@uwporterfalls.edu); messages during the fall and spring terms are usually answered within two business days. Prospective students and families can ask the Biology department office to set up a call, a class visit, or a meeting during an admitted-student day.