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Olga Kopp

Faculty Member

Dr. Olga Kopp

Biography

I joined the Department of Biology at UVU in July 2003. Prior to this, I was a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I completed my Ph.D. in biology with an emphasis on plant molecular biology/plant-microbe interactions. I also have a Master's degree in Ornamental Horticulture. I enjoy teaching and mentoring students to engage them in their learning. I am interested in research dealing with plant micropropagation of endangered species, fungal and bacterial biofilms, and other interesting biology questions.

Education

PhD, University of Tennessee, 2002

Major: Plant Molecular Biology

MS, University of Tennessee - Knoxville, 1996

Major: Plant tissue culture

BS, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, 1991

Major: Biology

Teaching

BIOL 481R

Biology Internship, Summer 2025

BIOL 481R

Biology Internship, Summer 2025

BIOL 481R

Biology Internship, Spring 2025

BIOL 481R

Biology Internship, Spring 2025

BIOL 481R

Biology Internship, Spring 2025

BIOL 1610

College Biology I BB, Spring 2025

BOT 3800

Ethnobotany WE, Spring 2025

BIOL 492R

Professional Development, Spring 2025

BIOL 492R

Professional Development, Spring 2025

BIOL 489R

Student Research, Spring 2025

Presentations

Parker, Claire , Cottam, Tatum , Rivera, Zach , Turgeon, Gabby , Kopp, Olga , College of Science Research Symposium (Spring 2025), "An overview of CAM use for the treatment of different forms of dementia. (Spring 2025)", Utah Valley University, Orem, UT. (April 21, 2025)
Twitty, Conner (Presenter & Author), Finklea, Parker (Presenter & Author), Tingey, Kyle (Presenter & Author), Kopp, Olga (Co-Author), College of Science Research Symposium (Spring 2025), "Combined antimicrobial effects of essential oils and conventional antibiotics (Spring 2025)", Utah Valley University, Orem. (April 21, 2025)
Jackson, Riley (Co-Author), Johnson, Elise (Presenter & Author), O'Donnal, Audrey (Co-Author), Robinson, Braden (Co-Author), Kopp, Olga (Co-Author), College of Science Research Symposium (Fall 2024), "Effects of heavy metal uptake in the growth and development of Lactuca sativa.", Utah Valley University, Orem, UT. (March 22, 2025)
Twitty, Conner (Presenter & Author), Kopp, Olga , UCUR - (Spring 2025), "Synergistic effects of essential oils and antibiotics (Spring 2025)", Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research., Utah Valley University, Orem, UT. (February 28, 2025)
Finklea, Parker , Hayhurst, Austin , Fullmer, Herby , Kopp, Olga , College of Science Research Symposium (Fall 2024), "Assessing Fungal Spore Diversity in Spiderwebs_ Evaluating elevation levels. (Fall 2024)", Utah Valley University, Orem, UT. (December 4, 2024)
Baum, Abbigale , Crook, Jessica , Parkin, Diana , Kopp, Olga , College of Science Research Symposium (Fall 2024), "Collenchyma growth in young sunflowers subjected to localized mechanical stress. ", Utah Valley University, Orem, UT. (December 4, 2024)

Scholarly/Creative Works

Bailie, Cori , Kopp, Olga R, (2025) "Antibiotic bioprospecting from soil bacteria against safe relatives of ESKAPE pathogens (Spring 2025)." . Utah: Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters.. https://www.utahacademy.org/
Kopp, Olga , "Revision of manuscript_ Pharmacological activities and effective in-vitro propagation of Tridax procumbens_ An ethnomedicinal powerhouse plant " . Polland: Bio Technologia.
DeNittis, Alyson , Larson, Joseph , Kopp, Olga , Springer, Array , (2023) "Micropropagation of Lepidium ostleri (Brassicaceae) a native endemic species. (Submitted 2023)" (Issue: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11627-023-10376-y, vol. 59). Springer: In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology- Plant. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11627-023-10376-y#:~:text=Micropropagation%20of%20L.,production%20or%20experimental%20out%2Dplanting.
Slezak, Cyrill , Anderson, Karaleen , Hillock, Tyson , Kopp, Olga , Sterflinger, Katja , Dungel, Peter , Miller, Mariel , Slezak, Paul , (2022) "Shockwaves increase in vitro resilience of Rhizopus oryzae biofilm under Amphotericin B treatment (2022)" (Issue: 16, vol. 23). International Journal of Molecular Sciences. https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/16/9226
Kopp, Olga , Hunt, Kendall , (2022) "Ethnobotany: A Modern Perspective - Rani Vajravelu (2022)" .
Houghton, Sydney , Meyer, Susan E, Kopp, Olga , (2022) "Propagation by means of embryo excision for endangered clay phacelia ex situ seed production (2022)" (Issue: 1, vol. 23). United States: Native Plants Journal. https://npj.uwpress.org/content/23/1/115

Awards

Honors Mentor of the Year Award. May 5, 2022.

Honors program - May 5, 2022

Award given to an outstanding mentor of a student in the Honors program

Outstanding Educator of the Year Award - 2018

UVU - based on votes from the class of 2018 - May, 2018

Outstanding Educators Awards are awarded based on votes from the Class of 2018.

Higher Education Academy -Senior Fellow 2016

Higher Education Academy - October 10, 2016

recognition of attainment against the UK Professional Standards Framework for teaching and learning support in higher education. PRI07027 – 10/10/2016

Presidential Award of Excellence - Engagement 2017

Office of the President - May, 2016

The UVU Awards of Excellence recognize faculty and staff who dedicate their time and talent to students, scholarship and the advancement of higher education

College of Science & Health Dean's Award of Excellence - Scholarship 2016

Office of the Dean - March 30, 2016

Given by the dean for_ "the outstanding job you do for the Department of Biology and the College of Science & Health"

Outstanding Faculty 2014-2015

Department Chair - June 30, 2015

Exemplary service to the Utah Valley University Biology Department