New Space for New Ideas
New Space for New Ideas
2/18/19

Major renovations are underway within the Cooke-Hochstetter Halls. After more than a year of construction, the Department of Biological Sciences began the spring semester on a newly redesigned floor. See more.

CRISPR lab exercise proves successful with students
CRISPR lab exercise proves successful with students
11/30/18

Our students know if they’ve employed CRISPR successfully because they can literally see the results. Read more.

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 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.

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.

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New & Noteworthy

  • Rupkatha Banerjee wins UB Student Excellence Award
    Rupkatha Banerjee wins UB Student Excellence Award
    4/20/19

    Congratulations to Rupkatha Banerjee, a PhD student in Dr. Shermali Gunawardena’s lab, for receiving the 2019 UB Student Excellence Award, as an honoree of the College of Arts and Sciences. Rupkatha will be presenting her work and receiving the award at
    the Celebration of Student Academic Excellence. Join us for the CURCA Poster Celebration, April 25, in the Center for the Arts (CFA), starting at 1:00 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony at 3:00p.m.

    The Awards for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creativity recognize outstanding contributions from each decanal area that achieve superiority in presentation, content, and scope, and which therefore merit acknowledgement as efforts worthy of university-wide distinction. The awards recognize student projects that exhibit the highest characteristics of achievement among this select group.

  • Kelsey Swinter, a master’s student in biological sciences, examines fruit flies through a microscope.
    Gunawardena Lab is featured by UB Seen
    4/8/19
    Shermali Gunawardena's research focuses on how genetic mutations in the fruit fly can lead to “traffic jams” in the brain's transport system. Some scientists think such blockages may precede formation of plaques in certain neurological disorders. Gunawardena's work aims to inform new avenues for treating or preventing diseases such as Alzheimer’s. The Gunawardena Lab is now featured in a slideshow by UB Seen.
  • Vickie Searight
    Vickie Searight wins Sigma Alpha Pi award
    4/3/19
    Congratulations to Vickie Searight, Undergraduate Secretary, on receiving an award from the National Society of Leadership and Success, Sigma Alpha Pi. The award will be presented at the NSLS Buffalo Chapter induction and awards ceremony, to be held on Sunday, April 28, 2019, at 12:00 noon in Room 145 Student Union on UB North Campus. All are welcome to attend. Searlight was nominated for the award by UB students as a professional staff member whose work exemplifies leadership, mentorship, and has demonstrated a commitment to bettering the lives of students.
  • Yen-Lung Lin
    Yen-Lung Lin and Omer Gokcumen find new insights on the malleability of human DNA
    3/25/19
    Their study, published in Genome Biology and Evolution, contributes to a better understanding of the mutational and adaptive landscape of the genome.
  • Jessie Pelosi
    Jessie Pelosi wins 2019 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence
    3/25/19
    Congratulations to Jessie Pelosi on being named a recipient of the 2019 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. Pelosi, a dual Biological Sciences Honors Scholar and University Honors College Scholar, received a UB Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creativity Award. He helped develop a community outreach program introducing students to environmental awareness. He also leads research projects that are focused on evolutionary ecology and coral bleaching at Buffalo Undersea Reef Research Lab. Pelosi graduates with a bachelor of arts in biological sciences and a bachelor of science in environmental geosciences.
  • Izzy Starr
    Izzy Starr wins Microsoft Research fellowship
    1/22/19
    Starr uses computational modeling to investigate how microbes that live on the skin influence how a person’s genes are expressed, and how that in turn affects immunity. As Starr explains, human skin and the microbes that inhabit it evolved together, and the makeup of the microbiome on skin — and changes to this microbiome — can influence a person’s immune response. The focus of Starr’s current work is psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune condition that can cause symptoms such as cracked skin, which can lead to increased exposure to microbes. Down the line, this work could open opportunities for customized treatments for people with psoriasis or other diseases.
  • 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."
Department News

Events

Events
Seminar Series

Seminars begin at 4:00 p.m.,
220 Natural Sciences Complex

April 25, Dr. Karim-Jean Armache
 NYU Biochemistry/Pharmacology

May 2, Dr. Angie Hilliker
Richmond School of Arts & Sciences

May 9, Dr. Krystel Huxlin
University of Rochester Medical Center

See Events Page>

Research Areas

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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. 

  • 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.

  • Animal Models
    Animal Models
    6/6/18

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

  • Microbiology
    Microbiology
    6/6/18

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

  • 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.

  • 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.

See All

Alumni

  • 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.

  • 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. 

  • 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

  • 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.

See All