Biology Professor - Dr. Jenn Houtz '18

Alumnus overview:

Dr. Jenn Houtz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Allegheny College. She received her Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Cornell University after graduating with her B.S. in Animal Behavior from Millersville in 2018. She studies physiological mediators of stress resilience in wild birds including hormones and gut microbiota. She mentors undergraduates in ornithological field and lab research and teaches biology courses in ecology, evolution, endocrinology, and behavior. As an undergraduate at Millersville, she studied the social behavior of birds in Ecuador and the development of avian gut microbiota.

 

Advice to current & future students:

"Be fearless in the pursuit of your passion! There are many different subfields within biology so don’t hesitate to try out research experiences that may be outside what you are familiar with. College is a time to explore your passions so push yourself outside your comfort zone."