Biology

Welcome to the Department of Biology

The biology department is housed in the Science Building, which opened in 2005. This 50,000- square-foot facility provides state-of-the art teaching and research laboratories for faculty and students.

The biology faculty includes specialists in the fields of zoology, botany, ecology, human anatomy and physiology, animal and plant physiology, cellular and molecular biology, microbiology and genetics. You will find that we are close-knit family who work together and are always available to assist you. One advantage of a small department such as ours is the opportunity for individual attention; you will get to know and work with each of your professors. Although we represent diverse specialties, we each work toward a common goal of integrating faith in learning, leading and serving.  One unique aspect of our program of study is the opportunity for research within the department. Faculty members are actively engaged in research projects in a varied range of disciplines:

Biochemistry/molecular biology: elucidating the role of ceramide (lipids) and ceramide metabolism in aging cells investigating the beneficial effects of endogenous proteins in the cardiovascular and renal systems.

Botany: Understanding the translational regulation of artificial microRNA targets in the plant, Arabidopsis thaliana; development of hybrid orchids.

Developmental biology: role of phospholipids in fertilization and embryo development (sea urchin model).

Reproductive endocrinology: ovarian hormone analysis (e.g., ovarian reserve assessment); environmental impact on reproductive potential in endangered species (e.g., manatees, elephants, Eld’s deer).

Dr. Bill Roudebush, Chair