Swimming in knowledge: Meet the head of Biology at UNI, an expert on fish
Swimming in knowledge: Meet the head of Biology at UNI, an expert on fish
A love for critical thought and an understanding of science is super important.
-Peter Berendzen
Department head of Biology
Peter Berendzen is eager to immerse himself in his work, figuratively and literally. “We jump in rivers and run around, then bring it back into the lab and do the lab work. I do both the field and lab components. I love my work,” said Peter Berendzen, head of the Department of Biology and professor of evolutionary genetics.
Berendzen’s passion for both his work and students is evident, from being a respected professor in his field to his recent appointment as biology department head.
He has had many stand-out experiences throughout his life, from a unique childhood in Albuquerque to earning a PhD in ichthyology, a branch of zoology that studies fish, offering unparalleled insight into the world of biology.
Both of Berendzen’s parents were also educators. “My dad worked in schools on reservations. He would always take us, so he’d take me and throw me in a class on a Native American Reservation and work all day long,” he says.
A CT scan of a Zebra Fish, which is a model organism. Biology students use the CT scan to look at various organisms in depth. Berendzen loved outdoor activities outside school, often playing in the desert foothills or traveling to places with his father like Alaska, Montana, and Arizona. “I saw whaling and all kinds of crazy cool things as a kid,” he recalls.
Berendzen began his studies at the University of New Mexico, majoring in Biology. He later transferred to the University of Kansas, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Slavic languages and literature and spent time studying in Russia.
He also earned a bachelor of science. in genetics and a master's degree in systematics and ecology, both from Kansas.
“Towards the end of my undergraduate, I worked in an evolutionary genetics of fish lab; I thought that was pretty cool. When I finished up, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, so I did a master’s in that same lab,” he says.
Although uncertain of his future path at the time, the lab helped provide clarity. “This was when I got really interested in genetics and fell into the fish component because of the labs I was working in, and then pursued a PhD in it,” he adds.
Berendzen earned his doctorate in ichthyology at the University of Minnesota, where he had a positive experience in a significant research environment. “It was great to be a graduate student there, but also a very demanding environment for soft faculty. I knew an R1 institution wasn’t what I wanted to do, but I wasn’t interested in a small liberal arts college either. UNI was the perfect fit,” he says, referring to his decision to teach at the University of Northern Iowa.
His devotion to his students is clear. He has consistently provided opportunities for both current and past students, including active involvement in study-abroad research trips. He is always looking for new ways to integrate active learning into his teaching.
“My favorite part about teaching is to see you guys move on. Seeing everyone succeed in their careers and seeing what they accomplish is great. It’s like watching your kids,” he says. When asked what he hopes all of his students will take away from his teachings, he says, “A love for critical thought and an understanding of science is super important.”
Though research is optional in his new role as department head, Berendzen still participates in various projects. One joint project involves the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
“We look at their stocking program, and I sequence their broodstocks, and then they sample and place these all throughout the state. They then resample them, and we help identify which strains are most successful by using genetics,” he explains.
Along with local work, Berendzen has published numerous research papers with his colleagues nationwide, including projects outside his fish specialty.
Berendzen’s passion for science and the outdoors also carries over into his personal life. In his free time, he enjoys bike rides, attending his children’s soccer games, or taking his annual backpacking trip with his high school friends. He even plans vacations with a nature component.
Something many don’t know about Berendzen is his interest in music; Berendzen played the violin from early childhood until his first year of college.
With many years of teaching behind him, Berendzen feels he has accomplished most of the goals he set for himself. “I do not want to toot my own horn, but in my field, which is very small, I’m respected for what I do. I’m decently cited in my work, and people reach out to me a fair amount. I’d love to keep active in that going forward,” he says.
Berendzen's aspirations remain strong with his new role as department head and many more students to mentor. “I always say this is the age of biology, so everything that happens in society seems biologically related. You don’t have to understand all of it, but you must realize that everything in your life today is a product of science. To understand that the basic research you’re doing now can lead to these crazy cool innovations down the road.”
Looking toward life after his teaching career, Berendzen has another plan: “I always joke that I’m going to have a food truck. I love to cook, and it sounds like a great idea, but it would take a lot of work. Maybe I’ll just roll the food truck out whenever I feel like it,” he says.
