Our faculty lead with the lab
Our faculty 'lead with the lab'
5/4/18

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.

Our students learn by doing
Our students learn by doing
3/19/18

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.

Faculty research and teaching connects academic programs and experiential labs to cultivate an active community of results-oriented inquiry.
We cultivate an active community of inquiry
5/4/18

Faculty teaching and research connects academic programs and experiential labs to cultivate an active community of results-oriented inquiry.

Our alumni shape the future
Our alumni shape the future
5/8/18

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.

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APPLY TO ONE OF OUR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
FALL 2018 UNDERGRADUATE COURSE REGISTRATION
APPLY TO ONE OF OUR GRADUATE PROGRAMS
FALL 2018 GRADUATE COURSE REGISTRATION

Research Areas

  • Geneticists investigate biological processes by examining the phenotypic consequences of altering genes. Our faculty study how information encoded in DNA is interpreted to produce functional proteins.
    Genetics
    5/4/18

    Geneticists investigate biological processes by examining the phenotypic consequences of altering genes. Our faculty study how information encoded in DNA is interpreted to produce functional proteins.

  • Faculty study evolutionary change using a variety of techniques capitalizing on recent advances in genomics methodology and the evolution of viruses, plants, fish, and humans.
    Genomics
    5/4/18

    Faculty study evolutionary change using a variety of techniques capitalizing on recent advances in genomics methodology and the evolution of viruses, plants, fish, and humans.

  • Our faculty study cell biology and signalling pathways that are used by filamentous fungi and budding yeast to adapt to their environments. Our research uses yeast as a model organism to study the mechanisms of gene expression.
    Fungal Biology
    5/4/18

    Our faculty study cell biology and signalling pathways that are used by filamentous fungi and budding yeast to adapt to their environments. Our research uses yeast as a model organism to study the mechanisms of gene expression.

  • Our faculty study a variety of model systems using electrophysiology and imaging techniques to understand sensory signalling and the cellular processes underlying important neuronal disorders.
    Neuroscience
    5/4/18

    Our faculty study a variety of model systems using electrophysiology and imaging techniques to understand sensory signalling and the cellular processes underlying important neuronal disorders. 

  • Signaling faculty study cellular communication and the intracellular pathways that regulate activity. These faculty use a wide range of model organisms and techniques to examine a diverse array of signalling pathways involved in hormonal regulation, sensory transduction, and cell growth and metabolism.
    Signaling
    5/4/18

    Signaling faculty study cellular communication and the intracellular pathways that regulate activity. These faculty use a wide range of model organisms and techniques to examine a diverse array of signalling pathways involved in hormonal regulation, sensory transduction, and cell growth and metabolism.

  • Cell & Molecular faculty study the regulation of protein expression, from transcription to translation to post-translational modification.
    Cell and Molecular
    5/4/18

    Cell and Molecular faculty study the regulation of protein expression, from transcription to translation to post-translational modification.

  • Animal Models
    Animal Models
    6/6/18

    Faculty study essential biological processes with particular relevance to the understanding of animal life.

  • Faculty research focuses on photosynthesis, plant evolution, plant genomics, gene regulation, environmental remediation, and metabolic engineering of pharmaceutical compounds.
    Plant Science
    5/4/18

    Faculty research focuses on photosynthesis, plant evolution, plant genomics, gene regulation, environmental remediation, and the metabolic engineering of pharmaceutical compounds.

  • Our research concerns plant evolutionary biology; molecular phylogenetics and population genomics; chromatin and gene expression; genome stability; and the genetics of aquatic invertebrates.
    Ecology and Evolution
    5/4/18

    Our research concerns plant evolutionary biology; molecular phylogenetics and population genomics; chromatin and gene expression; genome stability; and the genetics of aquatic invertebrates.

  • Microbiology
    Microbiology
    6/6/18

    Microbiology faculty study microorganisms including viruses, bacteria, and protozoans.

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Faculty News

  • Derek Taylor
    Taylor among first to research NIRVs as "viral fossil record'
    7/25/18
    “We’re using a multidisciplinary approach to understand the evolution, structure and function of a viral gene co-opted by a mammal,” says UB evolutionary biologist Derek J. Taylor. “From an evolutionary standpoint, it’s rare that you can actually see a viral gene sequence like this that has remained intact in a mammalian host. Most of these things are eroded over time — they get chopped up and shuffled around."
  • Omer Gokcumen
    Gokcumen zeroing in on a gene important in senescence
    6/21/18
    “Our research identifies CD36 as a candidate for further study. Senescence is a fundamental aspect of being a cell, but there is still a lot that we don’t know about it,” says Omer Gokcumen, assistant professor of biological sciences, College of Arts and Sciences. “Senescence seems to have implications for old age and cancer, so understanding it is very important.”
  • Gunawardena
    Gunawardena studies new avenues for treating or preventing Alzheimer’s
    6/6/18
    "A lot of the treatments being developed for Alzheimer’s are targeting beta-amyloid, but maybe we should be targeting processes that happen earlier on, before plaques are formed.” Shermali Gunawardena
  • Medler
    Medler changing dogma in taste science
    6/6/18
    Medler's lab studies the physiology of signal transduction pathways and the regulation of these pathways in neuronal systems. We focus on peripheral sensory systems, primarily the taste system. The long term goal of the lab is to understand how signaling mechanisms are regulated within taste cells and how this regulation impacts the generation of the stimulus signal to the brain. We use molecular and physiological techniques, including patch clamp analysis and calcium imaging to investigate how signaling mechanisms function in taste cells.
  • Paul Gollnick
    Gollnick wins 2017-18 Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring Award
    1/19/18
    Paul Gollnick is one of two recipients of the 2017-18 Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring Award, presented by the Graduate School to recognize UB faculty for their support and development of graduate students through their mentoring activities.
  • Jessica Poulin
    Poulin wins 2017 UB Teaching Innovation Award
    10/17/17
    The Department of Biological Sciences is pleased to announce that Jessica Poulin is a recipient of the 2017 UB Teaching Innovation Award. The award recognizes faculty members who have contributed significantly to engaging students with new methods and approaches to teaching that have enhanced student-learning outcomes.
  • Omer Gokumen
    Gokcumen's work published in Oxford's Genome Biology and Evolution
    10/26/17
    WHAT MAKES US HUMAN? A new study is exploring the legacy of interspecies trysts, with a focus on Western Asia, where the first relations may have occurred was recently published in Genome Biology and Evolution. The research analyzes the genetic material of people living in the region today, identifying DNA sequences inherited from Neanderthals.
  • Lindqvist co-authors study on DNA of enigmatic bears.
    Lindqvist co-authors article on DNA of enigmatic bears
    11/28/17
    Lindqvist's paper, published in Proceedings B, the Royal Society’s flagship biological research journal, accepting original articles and reviews of outstanding scientific importance and broad general interest. The main criteria for acceptance are that a study is novel, and has general significance to biologists.
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Student Success

  • Farr receives the 2018 Graduate Student Excellence in Teaching Award
    Farr receives the 2018 Graduate Student Excellence in Teaching Award
    3/19/18

    PhD candiate Kim Farr has received the Graduate Student Excellence in Teaching Award.  Kim has taught lab sections of Evolutionary Biology, Cell Biology, and Developmental Biology.  She also designed and taught a study skills course for incoming freshmen, and she mentored three middle school girls on a NASA-sponsored project to study the effects of space travel on food crops.  Kim’s thesis research explores how genomic organization influenced the evolutionary convergence of carnivorous plants. Congratulations to Kim!

  • Sara Fox wins $500. UB CURCA Student Research Award, 2017
    Sara Fox wins $500. UB CURCA Student Research Award, 2017
    3/19/18

    Sara Fox has received the 2017 Undergraduate Research Award through CURCA, which includes a grant of $500. supported by the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education. Congratulations Sara and keep up the great work! We look forward to all your future achievements!

  • Six fellowships are awarded to select students each year.
    Six fellowships are awarded to select students each year.
    3/19/18

    Generous alumni and friends of the Department of Biological Sciences have provided funds to underwrite a number of scholarships and fellowships to provide support for our students. As a result, our faculty selects six undergraduate students to receive annual fellowships.

  • Internet mentoring leads to postdoc fellowship
    Internet mentoring leads to postdoc fellowship
    3/19/18

    Marie Saitou was working on her PhD at the University of Toyko last year when she read a paper published by UB biologist Omer Gokcumen’s research group. The long-distance research relationship worked so well that Saitou applied for and received a postdoctoral fellowship at UB to continue her research on metabolizing genes. Gokcumen is now officially her faculty mentor.  

Recent Graduates

  • Timothy Hansen
    Timothy Hansen
    3/19/18

    "As an undergraduate in the department of biological sciences at UB, I was truly able to receive a unique education with the ability to customize and individualize my experience. Over the course of three years I was able to develop a research project of my own, and receive close mentorship from many faculty members. I developed skills in basic science research, as well as grant writing and public speaking. This led to a summer research internship at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, and a trip to San Diego to present my work at a national genetics conference."

    Current Activity: UB Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Class of 2019

  • Sampurna Chakrabarti
    Sampurna Chakrabarti
    5/8/18

    "I loved that the Bio department offered a variety of introductory and specialized courses. I felt the Neurobiology courses and Honors research methodology course prepared me well for graduate school. I am also grateful to the department for awarding me the Knobloch fellowship that helped me pursue my research in the lab of Professor Malcolm Slaughter."
    Current Activities:     Gates Cambridge Scholar pursuing a PhD in Pharmacology in University of Cambridge, UK, researching arthritic pain to develop novel drug targets. 

  • Gary
    Gary
    3/21/18

    "My work in Dr. Gunawardena’s lab focused on developing a methodology to advance our understanding of how proteins and other vital cargos are trafficked across the long distances in neurons. Our new system allowed us to visualize and directly measure the movement of these cargoes over a period of neural development. My success thus far has been the direct result of the opportunities and support I have received during my undergraduate research. These early experiences have helped to make my ambitions of becoming a scientific investigator on the forefront of human knowledge a possibility."

    Current Activity: Continuing to develop my ability to explore fundamental problems in nature by pursuing my PhD in Biochemistry at UB.

  • Vijyendra Ramesh
    Vijyendra Ramesh
    3/19/18

    "The UB Biological Sciences department is a great place to grow as a student and a future communicator of science. Established scientists are really friendly and willing to mentor you, let you work in their labs and even let you be teaching assistants for their classes. I thoroughly enjoyed my time here!"

    Current Activities: Ph.D. Student in Molecular & Cellular Biology at Duke University School of Medicine, currently doing lab rotations.

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