ETSU math and science faculty lead the ETSU Governor's School for the Integration of Biological and Statistical Sciences, along with additional collaborators. Students learn foundational biology and statistics content and apply this as they design and carry out their own research projects. The students will also experience an array of off-campus trips ranging from studies at the Gray Fossil Site to the the Carter Family Fold & Museum. A brief bio for each of these individuals is provided below in the Bio section.
Leadership
See the "Contact Us" page for more information about the Leadership Team.
Primary Instructors
Dr. Robert M. Price
Robert Price is a Professor and the Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, College of Arts and Sciences at East Tennessee State University (ETSU). He received his BS and MS degrees in Mathematics from Youngstown State University, his MS degree in Statistics from The Ohio State University, and his Ph.D. degree in Statistics from the University of Wyoming. Robert’s undergraduate instructional experience is at a primarily undergraduate institution, and includes 1) Probability and Statistics – Noncalculus, 2) Mathematical Statistics I and II. In addition, he has offered graduate courses in statistics. He has chaired many MS projects. His research interests are in applied statistics and meta-analysis. He has experience in Latex, Minitab, Matlab, R, and SAS.
Dr. Price may be contacted at (423)439-5359 or pricejr@etsu.
Aaron Hardgrave
Aaron Hardgrave is a PhD Candidate in Biomedical Sciences at ETSU's Quillen College of Medicine in Dr. Richard Carter's lab. He is passionate about biology and furthering our understanding of the functional capabilities of the organisms around us. More specifically, his interests is in comparative anatomy and morphology and using these techniques to describe the evolution of animal tissues. He has taught various upper-level undergraduate labs (Biochemistry of Macromolecules, Biochemistry of Metabolism, and Comparative Anatomy) and lectures (Biology for Majors II). His research revolves around the functional morphology of the eastern newt, Notophalmus viridescens, and how bone shape adapts to different environments as they undergo ontogenetic niche shifts. He has also been involved in various projects involving osteological elements (scapula and vertebrae) of bat families and their adaptations towards non-flight locomotion.
You may contact him at hardgrave@etsu.edu
Amanda Blackburn
Amanda has been an educator at Dobyns-Bennett High school since 2012. She was Kingsport City Schools 2022 teacher of year for grades 6-12. In addition, she has expertise in teaching synthetic biology and its applications.
Amanda may be contacted at ablackburn@k12k.com
Evie LaFollette
Evie is a biology educator at Dobyns-Bennett High school in Kingsport City Schools. She has a BS in Behavioral Neuroscience from ETSU and her doctorate is from Milligan College. She received the 2023 Robert E. Yager Exemplary Teaching Award from the National Science Teaching Association. Evie has thirteen years of teaching experience, and also teaches synthetic biology.
Evie may be contacted at elafollette@k12k.com
Field Trip Hosts
Jennifer Bauer
Mrs. Bauer is employed as a Park Manager at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area in Elizabethton, beginning her career in the role of Park Interpretive Specialist at Roan Mountain State Park for 21 years prior to promotion.
Bob Culler
Mr. Culler is the Senior Naturalist at Bays Mountain State Park in Kingsport, TN. He was responsible for arranging our tour and scheduling the viewing of t the wolves and raptors habitats, he also arranged for the GS students to attend the Nature Program and viewing the area fauna and flora. He may be contacted at 423-229-9447 or bobculler@kingsporttn.gov
Dr. Mitchell Robinson
Dr. Robinson is the Associate Dean for Graduate School. He is currently Associate Dean for Graduate School and Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and at the James H. Quillen College of Medicine.