About the Department of Biology

Learn about our department faculty and program offerings. Explore the opportunities to apply your knowledge to the science that are closely related to our lives and environment.

woman crouched on the ground and planting a tree

Department of Biology

Who We Are

The University of Mississippi is classified by Carnegie as an R1 university, a designation reserved for the top 2.5% of universities in the nation. As part of a research-intensive university, our faculty are at the top of their field.

Being at an R1 university matters for students because it means they will have professors who bring exciting new discoveries into the classroom and give students a chance to work alongside them as they break barriers.

Faculty research encompasses areas of biology ranging from cell and molecular biology to evolution to ecology. We have many areas of interdisciplinary strength, including symbioses and species interactions, restoration and conservation biology, behavior and neurobiology, biodiversity, microbiology, and freshwater/wetlands ecology.

A few of our faculty research projects include:

Dr. Josh Bloomekatz’s current research is supported by a grant from NIH entitled “Investigating collective myocardial cell movement during heart tube formation.”

Dr. Tamar Goulet's current research is supported by a grant from NSF entitled "Vision and Change in Undergraduate General Education Life Sciences Courses."

Dr. Erik Hom’s current research is supported by a grant from NASA entitled “Elucidating the Molecular Basis for Anhydrobiosis Using Biological Soil Crusts as a Model.”

Dr. Chris Leary's current research is supported by a grant from NSF entitled “Polyploidization, gene dosage, and the evolution of hormonal phenotypes.”

Dr. Michel Ohmer’s current research is supported by a Biology Integration Institute grant from NSF titled, “BII: Uncovering mechanisms of amphibian resilience to global change from molecules to landscapes.”

Dr. Mariel Pfeifer’s current research is supported by a grant from NSF entitled “Collaborative Research: Synthesis of the Barriers and Solutions in STEM Postsecondary Settings for Undergraduate Students with Disabilities.”

What We Do

The Department of Biology’s mission is to advance understanding of living systems through research and education. We are a highly collaborative department committed to education, mentorship, and research. We train our students to think broadly, use interdisciplinary approaches, and develop innovative insights into life science and biological processes.

What We Offer

The Department of Biology offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees. Find detailed information about our programs here.

Minor in Biology

UG

Biological Science, B.A.

Use scientific methods to understand and predict natural phenomena in the world around us.

Oxford

UG

Biological Science, B.S.

Engage in the scientific study of living systems and all their complexities.

Oxford

GRAD

Biological Science, M.S.

Prepare yourself for a career teaching biology or participating in diverse fields of biological research.

Oxford

GRAD

Biological Science, Ph.D.

Learn to apply the principles of biology, advanced analytical techniques, and experimental methods to conduct groundbreaking research.

Oxford

Our Vibrant Community

Biology faculty and students engage with the community, both on and off campus. We take field trips in the US and abroad to expand our knowledge and create a supportive community.

Three female students looking at the muscle tissue parts of a plastic skeleton that is lying on a table in class. — Students in Carol Britson's Bisc 310 Human Anatomy class examine “Gloria,” the synthetic cadaver.

A woman and child hunch over a table while intently gazing at butterflies and beetles showcased in a glass box. — Oxford community members check out the biology table at the Neighborhood Nature event at the public library.

A woman and a man in a field knee high in water collect data in large buckets. — Biologist Pablo Bacon (left) and Rachel Anderson, a graduate of the UM Department of Biology, work with Mississippi Delta farmers to help wetlands.

A woman with gloves inspects samples in a petri dish from a large array of samples on shelves.. — A biology graduate student does research on bacterial isolation from algae culture to extract anti-cancer drug.

Inside photo taken from above of a staircase with students walking down it. — Students fill up the newly opened STEM teaching building, Jim and Thomas Duff Center for Science and Technology Innovation, during a class change.

Man spreads his arms while speaking to a girl. — Jason Hoeksema's BISC 334: Ornithology class in the field.

Two girls outside looking at a board with content on it. — Undergraduate biology majors presenting research at a department showcase.

Welcome from the Chair

Headshot of Chair of Biology, Sixue Chen. If you are interested in biological sciences and want to make transformative changes in your lifetime, it is the perfect time to join the UM Biology family.

In Shoemaker Hall, the home of UM Biology, we are a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive community of researchers, educators, and learners. We are excited to be part of the new 202,000 square-foot STEM building. This building is equipped with state-of-the-art instruments and technologies that revolutionize teaching and education and facilitate our mission to train life-long critical thinkers and future leaders.

Our research faculty are conducting frontline research in many areas of biology, including microbiology, symbiosis and species interactions, biodiversity and conservation, cell and molecular biology, physiology, neuroscience and behavior, as well as omics and systems biology. Their research has attracted an unprecedented level of extramural funding and created many research opportunities for students to actively participate in scientific discoveries and innovation.

Our goal is to form a close, uplifting community dedicated to supporting your academic journey, unleashing your potential and creativity, and helping you realize your dreams. We do this not only in the classrooms and research labs, but also in the broader public sphere, e.g., inspiring K-12 students to pursue science, joining forces with farmers for sustainable agriculture and food security, and working with citizen scientists to monitor and protect our natural environment. By educating tomorrow’s workforce for many different areas, such as human health, veterinary medicine, life sciences, forensic science, pharmacology, biotechnology, agriculture, environmental science, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence, together we lift barriers, transform lives, and make our world a much better place for the generations to come.

Sixue Chen, Ph.D., Chair
Department of Biology
662-915-5871 | schen8@olemiss.edu