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

  • 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."
  • 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!

  • 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.”
  • 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.
  • 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
  • Six fellowships are awarded to select students each year.
    Six fellowships are awarded to select students each year.
    9/4/18

    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.

Events

Events
Spring Seminar Series

Each semester we host the Biological Sciences Seminar Series sponsored in part by the Orrin Foster Lecture Fund. Dates and speakers for the Spring 2019 Seminar Series will be announced soon.

See Events Page>

Research Areas

  • 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.

  • Animal Models
    Animal Models
    6/6/18

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

  • 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 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 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Microbiology
    Microbiology
    6/6/18

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

See All

Alumni

  • 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.

See All