EDUCATION

• B.A., Wisconsin Lutheran College, May 1998

• Ph.D., Medical College of Wisconsin, May 2005

BACKGROUND

I joined the WLC Biology department in 2005 after completing my graduate work in developmental genetics. Previously, I worked in the environmental chemistry and pharmaceutical industry. My wife, Nicole, and I have been blessed with three children who keep us very busy. In my spare time, I enjoy competing on the professional table soccer (foosball) tour and maintaining the marine reef aquariums on campus.

TEACHING

I am currently teaching:

• Cell Biology
• Developmental Biology
• Muscle & Exercise Physiology
• Pathophysiology

I have previously taught:

• Biotechnology
• Genetics
• Stem Cell Biology

RESEARCH INTERESTS

I am fascinated by how organisms develop from a single fertilized egg cell into a gloriously complex adult organism. To investigate the molecular mechanisms of development I employ a variety of model organisms, including cultured animal cells, chicken embryos, zebrafish and mice. More recently, I have become involved in the Marine Biology major at WLC by assisting in research trips to the beautiful island of Grenada.

SCHOLARLY WORKS

Anderson, B., Morrall, C., Jossart, J., Nimrod, S., Bolda, E., Berg, C., and Balza, R., Marine Protected Area Monitoring in the Nearshore Waters of Grenada, Eastern Caribbean: Benthic Cover and Fish Populations. International Journal for Tropical Biology, 62: 273-286, 2014.

Ebeling, A., Hartmann, V., Rockman, A., Armstrong, A., Balza, R., Erbe, J., Ebeling, D., and Ebeling, A. Silver Nanoparticle Adsorption to Soil and Water Treatment Residuals and Impact on Zebrafish in a Lab-Scale Constructed Wetland. Computational Water, Energy, and Environmental Engineering, 2: 16-25, 2013.

Anderson, B., Morrall, C., Nimrod, S., Balza, R., Berg, C., and Jossart, J. Benthic and Fish Population Monitoring in the Nearshore Waters of Grenada, Eastern Caribbean. International Journal for Tropical Biology, 60: 71-87, 2012.

Balza, R., and Misra, R. Role of the Serum Response Factor in Regulating Contractile Apparatus Gene Expression and Sarcomeric Intergrity in Cardiomyocytes. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 281: 6498-6510, 2006.

Nelson, T., Balza, R., Xiao, Q., and Misra, R. SRF-dependent gene expression in isolated cardiomyocytes: regulation of genes involved in cardiac hypertrophy. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 39: 479-89, 2005.

Miano, J., Ramanan, N., Georger, M., de Mesy Bentley, K., Emerson, R., Balza, R., Xiao, Q., Weiler, H., Ginty, D., and Misra, R. Restricted inactivation of serum response factor to the cardiovascular system. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 101: 17132-17137, 2004.