Dr. Peter J. Russell received a B.Sc. in Biology from the University of Sussex, UK, in 1968 and a Ph.D. in Genetics from Cornell University in 1972. Peter has been a member of the Biology faculty of Reed College since 1972; he is currently a Professor of Biology. Dr. Russell teaches a section of the introductory biology course, a research literature course on molecular virology, an advanced molecular genetics course and a genetics course. In 1987, Dr. Peter Russell received the Burlington Northern Faculty Achievement Award from Reed College in recognition of his excellence in teaching. Since 1986, he has been the author of a successful genetics textbook; current editions are “iGenetics: A Mendelian Approach, iGenetics: A Molecular Approach,” and “Essential iGenetics”. Dr. Russell wrote nine of the BioCoach Activities for The Biology Place. Peter’s research is in the area of molecular genetics, with a specific interest in characterizing the role of host genes in pathogenic RNA plant virus gene expression; yeast is used as the model host. His research has been funded by agencies including the American Cancer Society, National Institutes of Health, and the National Science Foundation. Peter has published his research results in a variety of journals, including “Genetics, Nucleic Acids Research, Journal of Bacteriology, Plasmid, Molecular and General Genetics, and Molecular and Cellular Biology.” He has a long history of encouraging faculty research involving undergraduates, including co-founding the biology division of the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) in 1985. Peter was Program Director/Principal Investigator of an NSF Award for the Integration of Research and Education (AIRE) to Reed College, 1998-2002.