Amy Hark

Professor Hark serves as the Director of the Teaching and Learning Center and teaches in the Biology Department.

Educational Background
B.S. Biology, summa cum laude, College of William and Mary, 1994
M.A. Molecular Biology, Princeton University, 1997
Ph.D. Molecular Biology, Princeton University, 2000
Postdoctoral research, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University 2001-2004

Teaching and Research Interests
At Bucknell, Professor Hark teaches courses in the cellular/molecular area. Prior to coming to Bucknell, Professor Hark was a full-time faculty member for two decades at Muhlenberg College, offering courses in the areas of biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, and genomics for both science majors and non-majors. 

Professor Hark’s scientific research interests have centered on how genome organization and packaging evolve and impact gene function. Much of her recent work has been in collaboration with the Genomics Education Partnership, a consortium that facilitates undergraduate research in genomics. Dr. Hark has also been active in projects designed to enhance undergraduate education, developing several pedagogical activities and approaches. Studies in both of these areas have led to publications co-authored with undergraduate students.

Recent Publications   *denotes undergraduate co-author

Lawson, M.E.*, M.A. Sharp*, L.K. Reed, N. Velazquez-Ulloa, A.T. Hark, J. Stanga, and C.P. Rele 2025. Gene model for the ortholog of Pdk1 in Drosophila grimshawi. microPublication Biology. 10.17912/micropub.biology.001042.

Gruys, M.L.*, M.A. Sharp*, Z. Lill*,  C. Xiong*, A.T. Hark, J.J. Youngblom, C.P. Rele, and L.K. Reed 2025. Gene model for the ortholog of Glys in Drosophila simulans. microPublication Biology. 10.17912/micropub.biology.001168.

Washco, L.E.* and A.T. Hark. 2024. X-ploring Fragile X: The Science Behind the Syndrome. CourseSource 11. https://doi.org/10.24918/cs.2024.26 

Koehler, A.C.*, J. Cohen*, I. Romo*, V. Le*, J.J. Youngblom, A.T. Hark, C.P.Rele, and L.K. Reed. 2024. Gene model for the ortholog of Glys in Drosophila yakuba. microPublication Biology. 10.17912/micropub.biology.000983

Lopatto, D., S.C.S. Key, M. Van Stry, J. Siders, W. Leung, K.M. Sandlin, C.P. Rele, Members of the Genomics Education Partnership^, and L.K. Reed. 2023. Supporting the democratization of science during a pandemic: Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) as effective remote learning strategies for genomics. Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education, published online September 22, 2023 https://doi.org/10.1128/jmbe.00039-23

Hark, A.T. and L.E. Washco*. 2023. Fragile States: A case study exploring genetics, molecular biology, and biochemistry through the lens of Fragile X syndrome. CourseSource 10. https://doi.org/10.24918/cs.2023.33

Lopatto, D., A.G. Rosenwald, R.C. Burgess, C.S. Key, M. Van Stry, M. Wawersik, J. DiAngelo, A.T. Hark…and L.K. Reed (~100 authors). 2022. Student attitudes contribute to the effectiveness of a genomic CURE. Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education. doi.org/10.1128/jmbe.00208-21

Poulios, S., D. Dadarou, M. Gavriilidis, N. Mougiou, N. Kargios, V. Malliori, A.T. Hark, J.H. Doonan, and K.E. Vlachonasios. 2021. The transcriptional adaptor protein ADA3 modulates flowering of Arabidopsis thaliana. Cells 10: 904.

Lopatto, D., A. Rosenwald, J. DiAngelo, A. Hark…and S.C.R. Elgin (~100 authors). 2020. Facilitating Growth through Frustration: Using Genomics Research in a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience. Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education 21(1). doi:10.1128/jmbe.v21i1.2005

Wagner, M.*, J. Hanna*, and A.T. Hark. 2020. Making Connections: The role of dystrophin in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science. https://sciencecases.lib.buffalo.edu/collection/detail.html?case_id=1104&id=1104