Professor Francesca Borja began teaching at Hope in 2022. She teaches Introduction to Cell Biology and serves as coordinator of its lab sections. In recent years she also was a lab instructor for other biology courses including Genetics and General Biology. 

Her research to date has focused on issues related to the long-term, sustainable care and management of animals in zoos. In her master’s thesis, she explored the gap in knowledge about the background of captive chimpanzees at two Michigan zoos, combining molecular data with other methods of pedigree analysis. In an independent research project as an undergraduate, she tested whether providing enriching experiences (including treats and toys) to tigers, grizzly bears, lions and bobcats at John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids would reduce stereotypical negative behaviors. She found that enrichment had the most dramatic positive effects when offered before or during the afternoon, and that the category of enrichment influenced the behavior of some individuals more strongly than others. Her findings lead to future undergraduate research conducted on different categories and times of presentation of enrichment to help identify what would be the best combination of enrichment to enhance behaviors of individual animals.

During Professor Borja’s graduate study she served as a mentor to undergraduate researchers in the lab where she had conducted her own undergraduate research. Her primary roles were to help students statistically analyze animal behavior data and develop posters for local and national presentations. 

She is a member of the Association of Women in Science and the Animal Behavior Society.

Areas of Expertise

Professor Borja’s background is in the areas of genetics and animal behavior, but her current focus is on teaching and laboratory development. Her role at Hope College has been two-fold: working with students in introductory biology courses through both lecture and laboratory instruction, and teaching Genetics labs. She enjoys working with students at every stage of their collegiate career and gets excited when students have lightbulb, “ah-ha” moments.

Education

• M.A., biology, Grand Valley State University, 2021
• B.S., biology, Grand Valley State University Frederik Meijer Honors College, 2018

Selected Presentations

• “Making the Most of Enrichment: Efficacy with John Ball Zoo’s Carnivores,” with T. Orr and J. Hunt, poster presentation at Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) annual meeting, 2017 
• “Win-win Collaboration: Establishing an Applied Research Program with a Regional Public University, ”with J. Hunt and T. Orr, poster presentation at AZA annual meeting, 2017

Outside the College

Professor Borja and her husband, Andrew, recently welcomed a new addition to their family — their daughter, Emberly. They are a self-proclaimed “cat family” and have three — Oliver, Ella and Wiggles. Professor Borja enjoys spending time outdoors, taking walks, and exploring local parks. She loves teaching early morning classes (yes, she means 8 a.m.!) and watching students learn something new for the first time. Her favorite days include curling up with a good book on a rainy afternoon and spending time with her family.