
Dr. Luke Daniels Biology Professor

About Dr. Luke Daniels
Contact
[email protected]
(208) 459-5893
Boone Hall, 220E
Personal Statement
Luke Daniels has been at The College of Idaho since 2009, regularly teaching Introductory Biology, Genetics, Cell Biology, Neuroscience and Bioinformatics and a study abroad course in Ecuador.
The goal of Professor Daniels’ current research is to understand cellular signaling in brain tumors such as glioblastoma multiforme. Professor Daniels regularly works with students in collaborative research projects, and has received funding to support this work from the National Institutes of Health, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, and the Mountain State Tumor Institute. Students in the Daniels lab use a number of techniques in their research, including cell culture, molecular biology, fluorescence microscopy, live cell calcium imaging, and computer analyses of biological data (bioinformatics).
Professor Daniels believes that hands-on experiences are an important aspect of science education. He has led projects that have competitively awarded College of Idaho membership into two national teaching consortiums, the Howard Hughes Medical Research Institute Science Education Alliance and the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory RNA-Seq for the Next Generation project. These projects allow students to participate in authentic research experiences in the classroom, and have resulted in students identifying new microorganisms and receiving co-authorship credit in peer-reviewed scientific articles.
Professor Daniels enjoys the close-knit, collaborative atmosphere among faculty and students at the College of Idaho. He lives with his wife and two young sons, and in his free time enjoys mountain biking and skiing.
Professional Experience
Professor Daniels completed a B.S. in Biology at Seattle Pacific University (2001) and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of Southern California (2009). An assortment of other experiences have contributed to his personal and professional development, including selection as a Fulbright Senior Scholar and moving with his family to Indonesia during 2016-2017, working in the biotechnology industry, travelling in Central and South America, and summer jobs in construction while in high school and college.
Education
- Ph.D. Neuroscience, University of Southern California, 2009
- B.S. Biology, Seattle Pacific University, 2001