Rate My Professor Roderick Morgan

Roderick Morgan is a Professor of Biology at Grand Valley State University (GVSU). He earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Central Michigan University and his Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia. Following his doctoral studies, Morgan completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Microbiology at The Ohio State University, where he investigated the genetics of methanogenesis in archaea. He joined the GVSU Biology Department as a visiting assistant professor for two years before transitioning to a tenure-track position. At GVSU, he teaches a range of courses including Introductory Biology, Human Genetics, Biomedical Bioethics, Cell Biology, and Advanced Genetics. Morgan is recognized for his dedication to undergraduate education and mentorship, having received the Pew Teaching Excellence Award in 2013 and the Distinguished Undergraduate Mentoring Award from the Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence in 2017. He also earned a service award in 2022.

Morgan's research focuses on microbiology, particularly the development of novel antimicrobial agents and methodologies for detecting enteric microorganisms in surface water to assess fecal pollution in Michigan waterways. In collaboration with chemist Robert Smart and William Schroeder, he co-led a $114,738 grant from the Michigan Initiative for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in 2008 to study inhibitors effective against drug-resistant bacterial infections, resulting in a patent filed by GVSU. More recently, he has partnered with geologist Peter Wampler on projects evaluating sand-based filtration systems for potable water production, including tests along the Grand River and applications for Haiti, where sand matrices foster predator/prey microbial environments that reduce E. coli and coliform bacteria. Morgan has mentored numerous students through programs like McNair Scholars and Student Summer Scholars, co-authoring publications such as Rohraff and Morgan (2014), 'The Evaluation of Essential Oils for Antimicrobial Activity,' which demonstrated the bactericidal potential of cinnamon bark oil, and supporting Nkrumah Grant's 2013 work on anthranilic acid derivatives against MRSA. His contributions extend to conference presentations, including a 2024 study on long-term sand filter efficacy. Morgan's work advances antimicrobial research and global water quality solutions while fostering student scholarship.