Dave Cummings, Ph.D.

Dave Cummings, Ph.D.

  • Professor of Biology
  • Phone: 619.849.2642

Education

  • B.A., English Literature, Point Loma Nazarene College
  • M.S., Zoology, University of Idaho
  • Ph.D., Microbiology, Molecular Biology, and Biochemistry, University of Idaho

Background

Dr. Cummings earned a BA in English Literature from Point Loma Nazarene College in 1995, an MS in Zoology from the University of Idaho in 1998, and a Ph.D. in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, and Biochemistry from the University of Idaho in 2000.  He was a post-doctoral fellow at the Idaho National Laboratory from 2000-2004, and joined the Biology faculty at PLNU in 2004.

Dr. Cummings has been married to Ann (Rowlett) Cummings since 1997 and they have three amazing children:  Sydney, Ryan, and Josh.

TEACHING

Dr. Cummings is primarily responsible for teaching Cell Biology and Biochemistry (BIO210), Microbiology of Infectious Diseases (BIO220), and Microbiology (BIO315).  Additionally, he team-teaches Neotropical Ecology (BIO495) with Dr. Mooring every other spring, ending with a visit to the cloud and rain forests of Costa Rica.  He also participates in Southern Nazarene University’s Tropical Ecology and Sustainability course in Costa Rica.

RESEARCH

As an environmental microbiologist, Dr. Cummings’ research focuses on the interactions between anthropogenic pollutants and native bacteria in natural water, soil, and sediment habitats.  Click to read more about research in the Cummings lab.

Dangerous DNA

CA Sea Grant Article

PUBLICATIONS

Please click to see the various Publications.