Dr. Coons is the Director and a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Sciences.  He received his Ph.D. in 1970 from North Carolina State University.  Following a postdoctoral position in the Molecular Toxicology Program at N.C. State University, he established the Electron Microscope Center at Mississippi State University in 1973.  Dr. Coons came to The University of Memphis in 1976 to establish the Center for Electron Microscopy.  This became the Integrated Microscopy Center in 1996.  He is a vector biologist with research interests in the cell and molecular biology of blood sucking arthropods.  Dr. Coons' responsibilities include the administration of the Center's operations.