The Department of Biology is a thriving, diverse academic unit dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in research and teaching. We offer a core curriculum for all of the “biological sciences” taught at Western and exceptional graduate and undergraduate programs in Biology and sub disciplines. The Department, like the discipline, is diverse, offering both undergraduate and graduate students opportunities to study living systems at the level of genes and proteins to entire ecosystems.

Our faculty members are innovative researchers, conducting internationally recognized research in areas as different as the genetics of aging in mice to predicting the impacts of climate change on habitat loss, using theoretical and experimental approaches performed in state-of-the-art research facilities. There is real synergy between research and teaching as our best researchers are also in the classroom – as well, we offer many opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to actively engage in research activities in the Department.

Students in our programs acquire the knowledge, tools and skills that allow them to succeed in a wide range of careers, including research in academia, government, NGOs and industry, consultancy, medicine and law, to name a few.

Events


Undergraduate

Intent to Register March 1-31.

Biology Undergraduate Thesis Presentation Day Sat. Apr. 1 8:45 am-12:30 pm, NCB

Flexibility in Higher Education, Student survey ongoing.

See undergraduate events.

Weekly Seminars

Gonçalo Ferraz "Population density and site-occupancy dynamics of understory birds across an Amazon forest disturbance frontier" Fri. Mar. 24, 12:30 - 1:30 pm, on Zoom.

See the seminar schedule.

Graduate Seminars

Friday Philosophicals

Aaya Aboulnaga "The effect of species reintroduction on the genetic diversity of the mottled duskywing butterfly (Erynnis martialis)
Eileen Reinke "Utilizing cover crop mixtures to promote resilient soil health and potato yields" 
Pedro Conceicao "Post-glacial patterns of predatory mites across a peatland latitudinal-successional gradient" 
Fri. Mar. 24, 3:30 - 4:20 pm, Kresge Building K106

 See the seminar schedule.

Thursday Physiologicals

Alexander Harrison "Mite Adaptation to Polyphenolic Defense Compounds in A. thaliana"
Lauren Rego "Posttranslational modifications of mitochondrial proteins in hibernating thirteen-lined ground squirrels"
Lorena Yeung "Soybean Root Suberin: Enzyme Characterization and Plant Disease Resistance" Thurs. Mar. 23, 12:30 - 1:30 pm Kresge Building Room K 103.

See the seminar schedule.

Cell and Molecular Biology

No seminar this week.

See the seminar schedule.

Doctoral Lecture

No seminars scheduled at this time.

See announcement

Special Seminar

Brendon Samuels "Protecting Birds Against Population Decline" Thurs. May 11, 12:00 - 1:00 pm on Zoom.

See calendar

 

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