Welcome to the Department of Biological Sciences!

The teaching and research mission of the Department of Biological Sciences is to develop a deeper understanding of contemporary biology at multiple levels, from molecules and cells, to organisms and entire ecosystems.

News and Events

GAANN Fellowship Funding

The Department of Biological Sciences has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Education to establish a Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Program. The GAANN program provides fellowships (stipend and tuition) to doctoral students of superior academic ability in financial need, particularly from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds in the field of biological sciences. To learn more about the GAANN program and qualifications for the fellowship, click here. 

Research Opportunities for Undergraduates

Are you an undergraduate interested in getting involved with research? Check here to find out which professors currently have openings for undergraduates.

Recent extramural awards

Dr. Tony Gamble, associate professor, has received a $1.17 million grant from the National Science Foundation to study sex chromosome evolution in lizards and snakes.

Dr. Martin St. Maurice, associate professor, has received a $382,506 grant from the National Science Foundation for studies aimed to unveil the first complete description of the metabolic pathways nature applies to the degradation of guanidinium compounds by wastewater and human gut microbes.

Dr. Chelsea Cook, assistant professor, has received a $754,826 grant from the National Science Foundationn to study the behavioral and physiological response of animals to manage daily and seasonal environmental fluctuations such as temperature changes.

Dr. Allison Abbott, associate professor, has received an NIH R15 to support her research on "Functional Analysis of microRNAs in C. elegans spermatogenesis"

Undergraduate Summer Research Applications are now open

 

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major, Joceline Helmbreck, honored as the first Difference Maker of 2022 by President Lovell

Together with Dr. Nicholas Reiter, assistant professor of chemistry, Joceline is engaging in groundbreaking research to honor her sister’s memory.  Learn more about Joceline’s story in this feature from Spectrum News.

Faculty Kudos

Dr. Rosemary Stuart has been elected by her colleagues as the Wehr Distinguished Professor for 2012-2014

Dr. Tony Gamble has been promoted to Associate Professor beginning fall of 2022.

Dr. Nate Lemoine has been awarded a Way Klingler Young Scholar Award for the 2022/23 academic year.

Dr. Stephen M. Downs (Emeritus), Dr. Robert H. Fitts (Emeritus), Dr. Tony Gamble, Dr. Stefan A. Schnitzer, and Dr. Rosemary Stuart have been ranked in the top 2% of scientific researchers in the world a team at Stanford University.

Graduate Student Achievements

2022-23
Arthur J. Schmitt Leadership Fellowship: Adam Knier.
Richard W. Jobling Distinguished Research Assistantship: Aaron Jones.

2022 Scholl Graduate Student Award: Felipe Mello for his paper entitled "Can Functional Traits Explain Plant Coexistence? A Case Study with Tropical Lianas and Trees” published in Diversity. 

2022 Oliver H. Smith Academic Achievement Award: Aaron Jones