John Phillips, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Biomedical Sciences

  • Assistant Professor
    Biomedical Sciences
  • 6235723858 (Work)
  • Midwestern University, Biomedical Sciences Program, 19555 N 59th Ave, Glendale, AZ, 85308, United States

TEACHING INTERESTS

As a scientist, I use my research to inform my teaching, and my teaching to inspire my research. I seek to engage students from different backgrounds and empower them to critically evaluate and elaborate upon scientific methods and experiments.

 

Courses Taught

Assistant Professor – MWU

·   BBMMA/SG 555 –Medical Biochemistry for Biomedical Sciences – Fall 2025

·   BBMMA/SG 524 – Genetics – Winter 2025

 

Assistant Professor – VSU

·   BIOL 1107L – Organismal Biology Lab –Fall 2022, Spring/Fall 2023, Spring/Fall 2024

·   BIOL 3200 – Introduction to Genetics –Spring/Fall 2023

·   BIOL 3250 – Ecology and Evolution –Spring 2025

·   BIOL 3810 – Introduction to Biogeography –Spring 2024

·   BIOL 4010 – Molecular Ecology –Spring 2025

·   BIOL 4900 – Senior Seminar –Fall 2022

·   BIOL 4950 – Independent Study: Amphibian Ecology –Fall 2023

·   BIOL 4950 – Independent Study: Animal Conservation –Fall 2024

·   BIOL 4950 – Independent Study: Anuran Acoustics –Spring/Fall 2023

·   BIOL 4950 – Independent Study: Development in Herpetology –Spring 2025

·   BIOL 4950 – Independent Study: Evolutionary Ecology –Fall 2024

·   BIOL 4950 – Independent Study: Evolutionary Genetics –Fall 2024

·   BIOL 4950 – Independent Study: Field Herpetology –Fall 2024

·   BIOL 4950 – Independent Study: Forest Ecology –Spring 2024

·   BIOL 4950 – Independent Study: Gastropod Evolution –Summer 2023

·   BIOL 4950 – Independent Study: Integrative Biology –Fall 2024

·   BIOL 4950 – Independent Study: Methods in Natural History –Fall 2024

·   BIOL 5810 – Graduate Level: Introduction to Biogeography –Spring 2024

·   BIOL 6010 – Graduate Level: Molecular Ecology –Spring 2025

·   BIOL 7010IA – Graduate Special Topics in Evolution & Ecology: Dimensions of Biodiversity Spring 2024

·   BIOL 7900 – Graduate Seminar: Fall 2024

 

Instructor of Record - Lecturer

·   BIOL 2013 – Ecology – TU, Spring 2016

·   BIOL  404 – Dimensions of Biodiversity – UI, Fall 2018, 2019

·   BIOL  501 – Graduate Seminar: Community Ecology & Evolution – UI, Fall 2020, Spring 2021

 

Teaching Assistant

·   BIOL3164 – Field Ecology – TU, Fall 2013, 2014, 2015

·   BIOL4603 – Select Topics: Amphibian Biology – TU, Spring 2013

 

Invited Talks and Research Seminars

·   Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ – August 2024

·   Kennesaw State University, Atlanta, GA – March 2023

·   Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA – March 2023

·   Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA – February 2022

·   Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO – February 2022

·   Governors State University, University Park, IL – March 2021

·   University of Idaho, Moscow, ID – April 2019

·   JF Crow Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI – March 2019

·   Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI – September 2018

·   BEACON Center for Evolution in Action, East Lansing, MI – June 2018

·   National Tropical Botanical Garden, Kauai, HI – May 2018

·   Geological Society of America, Southwest Regional Meeting, Knoxville, TN – April 2018

·   Tulsa Community College, Tulsa, OK – October 2015

 

Guest Lectures

·   Biology for Non-majors, Valdosta State University – March 2023

·   Herpetology, University of Idaho – November 2020

·   Introductory Biology, California Northstate University – November 2020

·   Professional Development for Biologists, University of Idaho – October 2018

·   Genetics, Michigan State University – November 2017

·   Ecology, University of Tulsa – March 2017

·   Introductory Biology, University of Tulsa – October 2016

·   Herpetology, Central Michigan University – November 2015

·   Amphibian Biology, University of Tulsa – April 2013

·   Leadership, Central Michigan University – March 2012

 

Conference Presentations

·   Society of Integrative and Comparative Biologists, 2014, 2021, 2023, 2025

·   World Congress of Malacology 2019, 2022

·   BEACON Congress for Evolution in Action 2020, Virtual Presentation

·   International Conference of Subterranean Biology 2016, 2018

·   Midwestern Ecology and Evolution Conference 2018, Kellogg Biological Station, MI

·   Midwest PopGen Meeting 2017, East Lansing, MI

·   Southwest Association of Naturalists 2017, Lawton, OK

·   Society for the Study of Evolution 2014, 2016

·   Missouri Herpetological Society 2016, Springfield, MO

·   Society for the Study of Reptiles and Amphibians 2015, Lawrence, KS

·   Biology of the Plethodontids 2014, Tulsa, OK

·   Joint Meetings of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, 2010, 2011, 2013

·   Michigan Amphibian and Reptile Research Symposium, 2009, East Lansing, MI

 

TEACHING ACTIVITIES

  • COURSE TAUGHT
    Concepts of Research Statistics
    9 Mar 2026
    BMMSG 518
  • COURSE TAUGHT
    Concepts of Research Statistics
    9 Mar 2026
    BMMAG 818
  • MENTORING
    John, Neal
    7 Apr 2025
    How do environmental teratogens affect the central nervous system of wild populations of aquatic vertebrates?
  • MENTORING
    Barajas, Sofia V
    6 May 2024
    PAX6 Evolution in Gnathostomes Relative to Life History
  • MENTORING
    Gross, Matthew
    26 Feb 2024
    Effects of heavy metals on brain development regulatory genes in river frogs (Lithobates hecksheri)
  • MENTORING
    Hostetter, Megan
    26 Feb 2024
    Comparative MicroCT Analysis of Tadpole CNS Morphology in Contaminated and Pristine Habitats
  • MENTORING
    Rios, Rafael A
    26 Feb 2024
    Effects of Heavy Metals on BMP4 in frogs (Lithobates hecksheri)