Brad Goodner started teaching undergraduates in 1994 and joined the Hiram College faculty in 2001. He teaches introductory biology, genetics, microbiology, medical microbiology, bioinformatics, and plant physiology. His research focuses on bacterial genomes which are the entire collection of genes and other DNA sequences in particular organisms. He routinely incorporates his research into his courses and independent projects at Hiram College and into outreach research projects with area high schools. He is also the founder of the Hiram Genomics Store, a Web-based entrepreneurial venture aimed at providing reagents for research projects in high school and college classrooms.

Education

• B.S., Biochemistry, Texas A&M University
• Ph.D., Biology, Purdue University

Research Interests

The determination of the entire DNA sequence of an organism, its genome, exposes hundreds to thousands of potential genes and just as many new questions for future research. My students and I use a variety of wet-lab and digital tools to understand how “simple” bacteria do their thing. Specifically, we are interested in how bacteria organize their genes into a genome, how the action of their genes account for cellular functions, and how they interact with the environment and other organisms.

Selected Publications

• Slater. S., J.C. Setubal, B. Goodner, K. Houmiel, J. Sun, R. Kaul, B.S. Goldman, S.K. Farrand, N. Almeida Jr, T. Burr, E. Nester, D.M. Rhoads, R. Kadoi*, T. Ostheimer*, N. Pride*, A. Sabo*, E. Henry*, E. Telepak*, L. Cromes*, A. Harkleroad*, L. Oliphant, P. Pratt-Szegila, R. Welch, & D. Wood, 2013. Reconciliation of sequence data and updated annotation of the genome of Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58, and distribution of a linear chromosome in the genus Agrobacterium. Applied & Environmental Microbiology 79:1414-7.
• Setubal J.C., P. Dos Santos, B.S. Goldman, H. Ertesvåg, G. Espin, L.M. Rubio, S. Valla, N.F. Almeida, D. Balasubramanian*, L. Cromes*, L. Curatti, Z. Du, E. Godsy, B. Goodner, K. Hellner-Burris*, J.A. Hernandez, K. Houmiel, J. Imperial, C. Kennedy, T.J. Larson, P. Latreille, L.S. Ligon, J. Lu, M. Mærk, N.M. Miller, S. Norton, I.P. O’Carroll, I. Paulsen, E.C. Raulfs, R. Roemer*, J. Rosser, D. Segura, S. Slater, S.L. Stricklin, D.J. Studholme, J. Sun, C.J. Viana, E. Wallin*, B. Wang, C. Wheeler, H. Zhu, D.R. Dean, R. Dixon, & D. Wood, 2009. The genome sequence of Azotobacter vinelandii, an obligate aerobe specialized to support diverse anaerobic metabolic processes. Journal of Bacteriology 191:4534-45.
• Slater S.C., B.S. Goldman, B. Goodner, J.C. Setubal, S.K. Farrand, E.W. Nester, T.J. Burr, L. Banta, A.W. Dickerman, I. Paulsen, L. Otten, G. Suen, R. Welch, N.F. Almeida, F. Arnold*, O.T. Burton, Z. Du, A. Ewing*, E. Godsy, S. Heisel, K.L. Houmiel, J. Jhaveri, J. Lu, N.M. Miller, S. Norton, Q. Chen, W. Phoolcharoen, V. Ohlin*, D. Ondrusek*, N. Pride*, S.L. Stricklin, J. Sun, C. Wheeler, L. Wilson*, H. Zhu, & D.W. Wood, 2009. Genome sequences of three Agrobacterium biovars help elucidate the evolution of multichromosome genomes in bacteria. Journal of Bacteriology 191:2501-11.
• Goodner, B., G. Hinkle, S. Gattung, N. Miller, M. Blanchard, B. Qurollo, B.S. Goldman, Y. Cao, M. Askenazi, C. Halling, L. Mullin, K. Houmiel, J. Gordon, M. Vaudin, O. Iartchouk, A. Epp, F. Liu, C. Wollam, M. Allinger, D. Doughty*, C. Scott*, C. Lappas*, B. Markelz*, C. Flanagan*, C. Crowell*, J. Gurson*, C. Lomo*, C. Sear*, G. Strub*, C. Cielo*, & S. Slater, 2001. Genome sequence of the plant pathogen and biotechnology agent Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58. Science 294:2323-2328.
• Goodner, B.W., B.P. Markelz*, M.C. Flanagan*, C.B. Crowell, Jr*, J.L. Racette*, B.A. Schilling*, L.M. Halfon*, J.S. Mellors*, & G. Grabowski*, 1999. Combined genetic and physical map of the complex genome of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Journal of Bacteriology 181:5160-5166.

* indicates undergraduate student co-author

Fun Facts

• I was born and raised in north-central Texas (apologies in advance for the accent), but I don’t wear boots, a ten-gallon hat, or a belt with a big buckle. I do love BBQ, chili, and wide open spaces.
• My life outside of science is happily dominated by the 3 women in my life – my wife and 2 daughters. We love to cook, read, travel, play games, and sing at the top of our lungs together.

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