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Biological Research

Research in the School of Biological Sciences 

Within the College of Applied and Natural Sciences, the School of Biological Sciences offers exciting opportunities for research at the undergraduate, graduate, and faculty levels.

 

Why Get Research Experience?

Research experience is one of the most valuable parts of your academic journey. By joining a lab, you’ll:

  • Gain transferable skills that boost career success

  • Build relationships with faculty and peers

  • Earn credit toward your degree (undergraduate and graduate options available)

  • Strengthen your oral and written communication skills

  • Benefit from mentorship and professional guidance

 

 

How to Get Started

The first step is finding a faculty mentor whose research interests align with yours. Reach out directly—send an email, stop by their office, or introduce yourself after class. Faculty are eager to work with motivated students, so don’t hesitate to ask about opportunities!

 

 

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

  • Volunteer in a Lab – Try out research and explore different fields.

  • Concurrent Enrollment Program – Earn graduate credit while completing your undergraduate degree.

  • Course Credit – Enroll in BISC 240 or BISC 360 (up to 5 credit hours with a faculty mentor).

  • Honors Thesis (HNRS 499) – Conduct original research and complete a publishable thesis.

  • Internships (BISC 478 or ENSC 478) – Gain credit for research experience outside the university.

 

Faculty Research Labs

Earl Lab

Focus: Ecosystem connections & global change

  • Studies how leaf litter affects aquatic communities and ecosystem processes

  • Examines the impacts of land use, climate change, disease, and invasive species on wildlife—especially amphibians

Giorno Lab

Focus: Bacterial spore assembly

  • Investigates Bacillus anthracis and Clostridium difficile

  • Uses genetic and proteomic tools to understand resistance, germination, and virulence

Hill Lab

Focus: Ecological interactions in marine & freshwater systems

  • Studies animal behavior, predator-prey dynamics, and human impacts

  • Uses crustaceans and small fish as models, emphasizing novel, feasible experiments

Maness Lab

Focus: Survival & reproduction in natural environments

  • Research areas: behavioral ecology, conservation, toxicology, ecoimmunology, endocrinology, and senescence

Nestorova Lab

Focus: Applied genomics & biotechnology

  • Studies epigenetic regulation of DNA repair proteins

  • Develops lab-on-a-chip technologies for detecting DNA, proteins, and antibodies

  • Prepares students for careers in academia, pharmaceuticals, and biotech

Newman Lab

Focus: Stem cell biology

  • Undergraduate and graduate students learn cell culture and molecular biology techniques

  • Opportunities to present research at professional conferences

Vandenbrink Lab

Focus: Plant tropisms & space biology

  • Studies how plants sense and respond to their environments

  • Investigates plant growth in reduced gravity (Moon, Mars, and beyond)

Voziyanov Lab

Focus: Gene editing, protein engineering, & aging

  • Uses recombinases (Flp, Cre) and CRISPR/Cas9 to study genetic diseases

  • Engineers proteins with new DNA specificities

  • Investigates ways to reverse harmful cellular changes associated with aging