Academy Council

Dr. Paul Doss is Professor of Geology at the University of Southern Indiana (USI). Doss has served as the Supervisory Geologist for Yellowstone National Park and the NPS Coordinating Scientist for the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. He was honored as the Integra Distinguished Professor at USI in 2007 and IUPUI School of Science Distinguished Alumnus in 2016. His current scholarship focuses on bedrock aquifers in Southern Indiana, and the impacts of commercial groundwater extraction, ecosystem restoration, and climate change on aquatic resources in Manistee National Forest, Michigan. At USI, Doss teaches courses on Environmental Geology, Environmental Science, Geology of National Parks, and Water Resources, and directs student research. He is an active proponent of incorporating scientific and environmental knowledge into the daily lives of everyone, and into the development of sound public policy at local, state, federal, and international levels.

Dr. Finkler has presented at the Annual Meeting, been awarded an IAS Research Grant, organized the Annual Meeting at IU Kokomo in 2009, and was Zoology Section Chair. He served as Budget Committee Chair and was President in 2012-2013. In June 2015, he accepted the duties and responsibilities of Treasurer. Mike brought public visibility to the Academy as President when he appeared on “Inside Indiana Business”. Mike is also active in Community Service, as a Biology instructor for “Science Rocks”, a summer science camp program for middle school-aged students from underrepresented groups.

Dr. Dolan recently retired from the Dept. of Biological Sciences, Butler University, after 33 years of teaching and research. He regularly taught courses in genetics and evolution as well as organismal courses in mycology and phycology. Research interests focus on the biology of the Oomycota. Dr. Dolan joined Butler in 1985. His background in budgeting and fiscal administration led him to consecutive terms as department chair, followed by extensive service on university committees and work groups focused on university budgeting and capital allocation. Dr. Dolan has served IAS since 2012 as an Academy Foundation Trustee.

Michelle Marincel Payne is an environmental engineer and Associate Professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. She holds a BS in Nuclear Engineering and MS in Environmental Engineering from University of Missouri-Rolla and Missouri University of Science and Technology. At Rose-Hulman, Michelle co-leads an Undergraduate Research Community to support undergraduate learning through research. She works with students to investigate the use of engineered wetlands to remove stormwater pollutants. Michelle served as the Engineering Section Chair of the Academy prior to her election as Secretary.

Bruce Kingsbury is Professor of Biological Sciences at Purdue University Fort Wayne. Bruce’s areas of research include wildlife ecology, behavior, and conservation. He is considered an expert on several imperiled species, including the federally threatened Copper-bellied Watersnake and Eastern Massasauga, and the Blanding’s Turtle. Much of Kingsbury’s work has been applied, going beyond basic ecological studies to explore management solutions for the conservation of threatened populations. Bruce directs the Environmental Resources Center, or ERC, whose mission is to promote the understanding and conservation of the natural resources in the region. In 2017, Bruce was awarded the Lowell W. Beineke Medal, the highest honor in the College of Arts and Sciences, Bruce is a Fellow of the Indiana Academy of Science. He has served the Academy in a variety of ways over the years, notably as Section Chair of the Ecology Section and member of the Biodiversity and Natural Areas Committee.

Zhihai Li was born in a small village where everybody knows everybody. The peaceful country life brought him a lot of beautiful memories. He became quite interested in nature during my childhood. As a student, Li's favorite subjects were physics and chemistry and his deep enjoyment then was playing equations, formula and doing calculation and studying science. Li now feels fortunate that he can work on what he loves – teaching chemistry and doing scientific research at Ball State. Zhihai's research belongs to analytical, materials, and physical chemistry, with a focus on the electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy and its applications in molecular assembly and devices, nanomaterials, energy conversion.

Dr. Akbar’s broad research interests include genetic and molecular analysis of gene regulation in both Gram positive and Gram negative pathogenic bacteria as well as molecular analysis of host-pathogen interactions. The research projects in her lab focus on studying multiple antibiotic resistance in bacteria from different sources including humans, animals, and the natural environment. Currently, her lab is focusing on the isolation and characterization of multiple drug resistant bacteria from fresh bodies of water in greater Indianapolis area. As chair of the DEI committee, Akbar worked to put together a DEI statement and strategic plan for the Academy. As part of the strategic plan, the DEI committee requested and received a grant of $15,000 from the IAS to invite proposals for projects that focus on DEI issues from academic institutions across Indiana. The committee awarded six grants to graduate students and faculty from different universities in Indiana.

Dr. Palacio enjoys leading diverse teams and empowering individuals towards a more equitable society through STEM Education and Innovation. He serves as the Executive Director and CEO of the Diversity & Innovation Institute; is actively engaged in the community by serving in various advisory boards, mentoring, teaching, providing consulting, and designing solutions to improve equity, workforce development, poverty conditions, diversity, and other challenges that affect society. Dr. Palacio holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, a Ph.D. in Physics, and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Indiana. The focus of his primary research is at the intersection of protein structure and conditions that lead to dis-function. He has conducted Neutron Scattering experiments at Oak Ridge National Laboratories, X-Ray Scattering experiments at Argonne National Laboratories, and Light Scattering experiments at IUPUI to support his research. Dr. Palacio is thankful for the opportunities he has had to gain valuable STEM experience while working at General Electric Power Conversion Global Engineering Headquarters and at Alivio Medical Center; and for the opportunity as a National Science Foundation G-K12 Fellow to gain insightful experience about education, teaching, mentoring, and learning. At the Academy, he has also served as Chair for the Engineering Section, Vice-Chair for the Physics Section, and member of the Membership Committee.

Dr. Erika Sorenson-Kamakian is a molecular and cell biologist who uses the nematode C. elegans to investigate genes and mechanisms responsible for maintaining stem cells in a naïve and totipotent state. Erika is also interested in developing novel methods to control protein expression with tissue specificity and at various time points in development in the nematode. She has been a member of the faculty at Wabash College since 2016. Erika served the Academy as Vice Chair and Chair of the Cell Biology section from 2019-2021 and is a member of the Emerging Scientist Research Competition Task Force.