Research Areas

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Explore life from molecules to ecosystems

Research in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University at Buffalo spans the full range of life, from molecules and cells to organisms, populations and ecosystems. These research areas reflect big questions about how life works, adapts and responds to a changing world, and they offer many ways for students to get involved.

  • Animal Systems Biology
    1/29/26
    How do complex biological systems work together to keep an organism alive and functioning? Animal systems biology explores how signals move through bodies, how development unfolds and how physiological systems respond to internal and external change, with strong connections to human and animal health.
  • Cell and Molecular
    1/29/26
    At the heart of biology is the question of how cells turn genetic information into life. Cell and molecular biology investigates the processes that control gene expression, protein production and cellular function, revealing the fundamental mechanisms that power living systems.
  • Cellular Signaling
    1/29/26
    Cells are constantly sending and receiving messages. Cellular signaling explores how these communication networks control growth, metabolism, sensory perception and responses to the environment, and what happens when signaling goes wrong.
  • Ecology and Evolution
    1/29/26
    Life does not exist in isolation. Ecology and evolution examine how organisms adapt over time, interact with each other and shape ecosystems, connecting genetic change to environmental forces across generations and landscapes.
  • Fungal Biology
    1/29/26
    Fungi play essential roles in ecosystems, health and industry. Fungal biology explores how fungi grow, sense their environments and regulate genes and cell structure, using these organisms to answer broader questions about biology and disease.
  • Genetics
    1/29/26
    Genes influence everything from development to behavior. Genetics explores how genes are turned on and off, how they interact with each other and the environment and how genetic variation shapes individuals and populations.
  • Genomics
    1/29/26
    Genomics looks at biology through the lens of entire genomes. This research area explores how genomes evolve, how genetic variation arises and how large-scale genetic patterns help explain adaptation, diversity and disease across species.
  • Microbiology
    1/29/26
    Invisible life has enormous impact. Microbiology investigates how bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms survive, communicate and adapt, shaping ecosystems, health and global biological processes.
  • Neuroscience
    1/29/26
    Neuroscience explores how nervous systems detect the world, process information and guide behavior. Research in this area seeks to understand sensation, communication between neurons and the biological roots of neurological disorders.
  • Plant Biology
    1/29/26
    Plants form the foundation of life on Earth. Plant biology examines how plants grow, respond to stress, carry out photosynthesis and evolve over time, with implications for food systems, medicine and environmental resilience.

Get involved in research

Students are encouraged to explore these research areas and discover opportunities to participate in research through labs, independent projects and interdisciplinary collaborations.

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