College of the Pacific
Mark Brunell
My science career started when I became interested in insects during my early undergraduate years.
This interest gradually shifted toward plants however I still enjoy the insect world.
I did my undergraduate degree at California State University at Fullerton in Southern California.
I was in a department that had a lot of excited field-oriented people, both professors and students.
I became swept-up in their enthusiasm and eventually learned from them and became a biologist.
I then worked on my Master’s degree in that department and at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden and did a project on native plant conservation genetics.
I then moved on to the Ph.D. at the University of California, Riverside where I continued my studies on rare plants.
I eventually earned the Ph.D. and subsequently did a post-doc at UCR working in wheat genetics.
All of these experiences broadened my background in biology.
My first faculty position was in Beaumont, Texas at Lamar University where I taught biology for three years.
I then moved on to southwest Missouri to teach at Missouri State University for two years.
I then returned to California to teach at UOP in 2002.
Ever since that time I have been learning the plants of Central – Northern California and enjoying every minute of it!
Dr. Brunell teaches: Principles of Biology, Plant Kingdom, California Flora, and Introduction to Biology.
Mark Brunell
Assistant Professor of Biology
Biological Lab Sciences Bldg, Room 109
Email: mbrunell@pacific.edu
209-946-7479
Area: Molecular systematics of plants
