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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Events

Events
14th Annual Biological Sciences Research Symposium

Join us on Thursday, January 24, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. in the UB Center for the Arts Atrium for the 14th Annual Biological Sciences Research Symposium, presented by the Biological Sciences Graduate Student Association and the UB Department of Biological Sciences, and co-sponsored by the MFA Graduate Student Association. The keynote at 4:00 p.m. will be delivered by Dr. Irwin Gelman, Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

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New & Noteworthy

  • 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.  

  • 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.”
  • 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!

  • 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."
  • 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
  • CRISPR lab exercise proves successful with students
    CRISPR lab exercise proves successful with students
    11/30/18
    Our CRISPR lab focuses on disabling genes in baker’s yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Students know if they’ve employed CRISPR successfully because they can literally see the results: Classmates who used CRISPR to break a gene called ADE2 see yeast colonies turn a bubblegum pink within days, while those who used CRISPR to deactivate a gene called STE12 see colonies take on an uncharacteristic shape a few weeks later.
  • 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.

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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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. 

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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Recent Graduates

  • 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.

  • 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. 

  • 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.

  • 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

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