Our main priority as faculty members in the Department of Biological Sciences is to offer students courses and opportunities that enhance their abilities to succeed as biologists!
Whether it is a course on forensic molecular biology, ethnobotany, desert ecology, endocrinology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, ethology, mycology, marine biology, outdoor survival, electron microscopy, or tropical ecosystems, our professors are interested in integrating traditional approaches with innovative techniques to offer students exciting and challenging opportunities to learn. This commitment, in combination with our small class sizes, allows us to offer undergraduates a premier education in the biological sciences.
Participating in research is an important way in which students can immerse themselves in the process of science. Many of our undergraduates work with faculty mentors on collaborative research projects in areas such as cell biology, molecular genetics, plant pathology, systematics, microbiology, and tropical ecology. Some of our students have even spent time doing research in the tropical rainforests of Ecuador. Faculty mentors and their undergraduate collaborators in our Department have gone on to win grants and recognition for their work.
Working as interns or doing independent studies allow undergraduates to become more familiar with an areas of knowledge that may relate to their career goals while earning college credit. Internships are student-driven; while advisors may help guide students toward opportunities, the responsibility for gaining the internship is on the shoulders of the student. Students then work with faculty advisors to complete the appropriate paperwork. Independent study credit is earned when students work on a semester-long project under the supervision of a faculty mentor. Students are responsible for approaching faculty in order to begin the process.
Biology professor Dr. Bruce Bauerle and former Mesa State professor Dr. Duane Hrncir have created a guide to assist teachers and students in learning more about the natural history of the Grand Mesa.
