Biology Research

Research in the department ranges from scales of the gene to the ecosystem, with many faculty bridging sub-disciplines of biology in their areas of interest.

graduate student and professor point and discuss plants

A Top Research University

The University of Mississippi is designated as a R-1 Highest Research Activity University by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. We are in an elite group of 2.5% of universities nationwide for world class research faculty, spending on research, and production of graduate students.

The Department of Biology is a comprehensive life science department with faculty working in many diverse areas of biology. We are a highly collaborative department, sharing interests and expertise. We train our graduate and undergraduate students to think broadly, to use interdisciplinary approaches, and to develop innovative insights into fundamental biological processes.

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 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.”

graphic of purple cell on a blue background

Cellular and Molecular Biology

From the molecular basis of plant development and adaptation, to cell physiology and differentiation, researchers in this area emphasize the fine scale examination of biological problems at a cellular and molecular level. They explore the mechanisms behind an organism’s growth, development, and behavior.

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Conservation and Restoration Biology

Departmental research in the area of conservation and restoration biology ranges from Mississippi old growth forests to the Gulf of Mexico to the tropics and the Southern Hemisphere. Researchers in this area study ways of restoring ecosystems and conserving and maintaining global biodiversity.

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Evolution, Biodiversity, and Systematics

From microorganisms to coral reefs to the evolution of traits and behaviors, researchers in the area of evolution, biodiversity, and systematics investigate biological diversity at scales from molecules to communities. Some researchers focus on patterns in species diversity while others focus on evolutionary aspects of biodiversity.

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Freshwater, Marine, and Wetland Ecology

Departmental researchers in this area study organisms and biological processes in freshwater, marine, and wetland ecosystems. This research makes us of local resources such as the University of Mississippi Field Station, Sardis Lake, or the Mississippi River, and goes further afield to the Gulf of Mexico and marine environments around the world.

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graphic of light purple bacteria on blue background of a petri dish

Microbiology

Departmental research in the area of microbiology focuses on different aspects of microorganisms, from how bacterial cells develop, how microorganisms communicate, how their interactions evolve, and how communities of microorganisms change depending on the environment or host organism.

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graphic of black neuron on blue background

Neurobiology, Behavior, and Physiology

Researchers in the area of neurobiology, behavior, and physiology tend to look at organismal processes, whether it is how an organism behaves or how an organism’s physiology changes under different conditions. Research spans the range of biology, from the molecular and cellular basis of behavior to interactions between organisms in an ecological context.

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Symbiosis and Species Interactions

Departmental research in the area of symbioses and species interactions focuses on how organisms belonging to different species interact. These interactions can be tight symbioses such as mutualism or parasitism, or looser interactions in the broader sense of community ecology.

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graphic of hands holding a green glass globe on a blue background with a brain in the background

Biology/Science Pedagogy

The field of biology education research uses interdisciplinary knowledge and methods to enhance teaching and learning in university science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs.

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