biology.buffalo.eduDepartment of Biological Sciences - University at Buffalo

University at Buffalo (UB) College of Arts and Sciences University at Buffalo (UB) College of Arts and Sciences Department of Biological Sciences Contact Toggle Navigation Menu 7/8/20 About 7/31/23 Undergraduate 11/11/19 Graduate 5/6/24 People 4/12/21 Research 5/16/23 News & Events 1/27/22 Alumni 7/8/20 About 7/31/23 Undergraduate 11/11/19 Graduate 5/6/24 People 4/12/21 Research 5/16/23 News & Events 1/27/22 Alumni Search Info For Info For Future Students Current Students Faculty and Staff Alumni Visitors Buffalo-Niagara Community Contact Our alumni shape the future 11/7/23 We take great pride in the achievements and success of our alumni, many of whom enjoy distinguished careers in the Biological, Biomedical and related fields. Pictured at the UB CAS graduate commencement, May 15, 2021 (left to right): Haniam Maria (PhD graduate), Laura Rusche (faculty), Paul Cullen (faculty), Aditi Prabhakar (PhD graduate), Rupkatha Banerjee (PhD graduate), Shermali Gunawardena (faculty). 1/27/22 Learn more about our alumni FOXG1 Research Center (FRC) to be established at UB 1/19/24 On the path to finding a cure for FOXG1, the work of Professors Soo-Kyung Lee and Jae Lee is leading to the foundation of the FOXG1 Research Center (FRC) at UB. The FRC aims to translate new discoveries from the lab to clinical trials and, ultimately, develop a cure for FOXG1 syndrome, as well as related autism spectrum disorders. Our faculty ’lead with the lab’ 4/26/22 The instructional philosophy, ’lead with the lab’, allows our students to develop critical thinking skills while providing broad, deep, state-of-the art training in all life science disciplines. Krabbenhoft Aquatic Ecology Lab testing how freshwater mussels may improve water quality of Niagara River 7/19/23 According to Dr. Corey Krabbenhoft (Department of Biological Sciences), Freshwater mussels feed by filtering things like bacteria and contaminants out of the water. A great way to help our waterways become healthier is to invest in freshwater mussels." UB Research News published an article about the work of Krabbenhoft, and Dr. Isabel Porto-Hannes (Department of Environment and Sustainability). They are conducting a pilot study to determine if the water and sediment quality of the upper Niagara River is acceptable for a possible large-scale reintroduction of freshwater mussels to naturally clean the waterway. Read the article by Jackie Hausler Our students learn by doing 4/8/24 Our curriculum provides students broad and deep training at the cutting edge of modern biology through a learn-by-doing philosophy. Our approach to teaching cross-disciplinary life sciences prepares students for today’s accelerating pace of discovery in biological sciences. 3/19/24 We invite you to apply to the program We cultivate an active community of inquiry 12/18/23 Faculty teaching and research connects academic programs and experiential labs to cultivate an active community of results-oriented inquiry. 4/12/21 Learn more about our research previous next APPLY TO ONE OF OUR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS APPLY TO ONE OF OUR GRADUATE PROGRAMS Student and Alumni News previous next CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CLASS OF 2024 5/3/24 The Department of Biological Sciences congratulates our Class of 2024. Graduation Ceremonies Countdown to Commencement Alber Aqil wins $1,000. in Three-Minute Thesis competition 3/11/24 BIO PhD student Alber Aqil’s presentation, Echoes from the Past", earned third place in UB’s 2024 Three Minute Thesis competition. Aqil, a PhD student with Dr. Omer Gokcumen, presented a research project that he conducted with Dr. Charlotte Lindqvist. The work examines the relationship of DNA from ancient bone fragments found in a cave in Alaska to modern-day humans living nearby. Their research shows that the Tlingit people, indigenous to Southeast Alaska, have been living in basically the same location for at least 3,000 years. Upon winning the award of $1,000, Aqil calculated he earned $333 for each minute of his presentation. Mahmud Amin wins PEARL grant awarded by the UB Experiential Learning Network 4/20/22 The Department of Biological Sciences is pleased to announce that UB’s Experiential Learning Network (ELN) has awarded a new grant of up to $2,500. to Mahmud Amin, a junior biological sciences major. Amin is one of the first recipients of the PEARL Award (Prepare, Engage, Add value, Reflect and Leverage). The award recognizes UB undergraduate juniors and seniors who have partnered with a faculty mentor and completed a necessary digital badge for their project. Read UBNow. Christopher Osborne, PhD student, wins 2023 SUNY GREAT Award 4/21/23 The UB Department of Biological Sciences is pleased to announce that Christopher Allen Osborne, PhD candidate, has won the 2023 SUNY Graduate Research Empowering and Accelerating Talent (GREAT) Award. Osborne is among 33 SUNY students selected as recipients of the awards recognizing outstanding students who are conducting innovative research tackling some of society’s most pressing issues. Osborne receives $5,000 in flexible funding for research expenses, professional development and stipend supplements. Emily Mehle wins UB Graduate School’s 2023 Excellence in Teaching Award 3/30/23 The Department of Biological Sciences is pleased to announce that Emily Mehle has won the UB Graduate School’s Excellence in Teaching Award for the year 2023. This prestigious award recognizes the skill and dedication of graduate students as a teacher. Emily is currently a PhD candidate in the lab of Dr. Denise Ferkey and was nominated for the award by Dr. Nitasha Sehgal, Clinical Assistant Professor. Kevin Greeley wins Dean’s Outstanding Senior Award for Biological Sciences 4/26/23 Kevin Greeley of Williamsville, NY, has received the 2023 Dean’s Outstanding Senior Award for Biological Sciences. Greely will be graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences. Greeley is a member of the university Honors College and the Biological Sciences Honors Research program. He has been performing research in Dr. Stephen Free’s laboratory on Neurospora Crassa and received the Knobloch Endowment Fellowship. Greeley, a teaching assistant for BIO 200 and BIO 315, serves on the junior board of directors for the Miracle League of Western New York. SPECIAL EVENT previous next Rotation Talks 5/2/24 May 21, 2024: Join us for the Graduate Student Rotation Talks. Presentations are in the areas of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cell and Molecular Biology; and Neurobiology. The event begins at 9:00 a.m. in Knox Hall, Room 04 Department News Faculty News previous next Sehgal and Arnavu named outstanding leaders 5/2/24 Nitasha Sehgal and Selin Arnavut are winners of the Pillars of Leadership Awards. The awards are designed to recognize individuals and organizations who have demonstrated a commitment to leadership, service, and the University at Buffalo. Sarah Chang and Robert Ditter win Art of Research competition 4/25/24 The Department of Biological Sciences is pleased to announce that Sarah Lu Chang and Robert Ditter have each won cash awards in the Art of Research. The competition took place April 16, 2024, in Hamlin Hall at the Buffalo Museum of Science. The event recognizes the extraordinary research of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars by showcasing original imagery inspired by the beauty inherent in research, scholarship and creative activities. Faculty investigate coffee’s origin story 4/16/24 Published in Nature Genetics, researchers have created what they say is the highest-quality reference genome to date of the world’s most popular coffee species, Arabica, unearthing secrets about its lineage that span millennia and continents. Their findings, suggest that Coffea arabica developed more than 600,000 years ago in the forests of Ethiopia via natural mating between two other coffee species. The large international team was co-led by Victor Albert, Empire Innovation Professor in the Department of...