Welcome From the Leadership

The Department of Biology in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences is proud to be home to nearly 600 students, 29 full-time faculty, and 18 dedicated staff members who are passionate about advancing science, education, and outreach.

Our department offers several dynamic academic programs, including the Biology B.S. and Biology Pre-Medical B.S. These degree programs provide the opportunity for students to tailor their learning to their interests within several areas of emphasis spanning Global Change, Human Health, Cell & Molecular Biology, and Integrative Biology. 

All Biology undergraduate students benefit from innovative curricular experiences like Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs), integrated across all levels of study. The Department of Biology also co-administers the intercollegiate B.S. program in Biochemistry and the interdepartmental B.S program in Neuroscience and provides robust graduate training through our M.S. and Ph.D. programs in Biology.

Research and teaching excellence are at the heart of what we do. Our faculty specialize in areas such as Infectious Disease, Behavioral Neuroscience, Genetics and Genomics, Global Climate Change, and more. Over the past two years, our faculty and students have been awarded over $22 million in research funding and published more than 80 peer-reviewed articles. Each year, undergraduate students engage in hands-on research alongside our faculty. Our community is recognized through university-wide honors, including the Benedum Distinguished Scholar, Eberly Outstanding Researcher and Teacher Awards, and the Nicholas Evans Award for Excellence in Advising.

Our facilities, including a state-of-the-art microscopy suite, herbarium, genome sequencing core, the ecotron and greenhouse, and the scenic Core Arboretum, enhance both learning and discovery. We are equally committed to public service and education, partnering with 14 high schools statewide through the ACCESS program, donating nearly 900 pounds of produce through our campus food garden, and leading hands-on, field-based science programs for K-12 students. We actively engage with the local community through citizen science programs, interactive nature experiences in the Core Arborteum, and festivals like the annual pawpaw Festival and the spring wildflower festival.

Whether you are a prospective student, parent, colleague, or community partner, we invite you to explore the vibrant opportunities within our department. Thank you for your interest in the Department of Biology.

Warm regards,

Jennifer Hawkins
Professor and Chair, Department of Biology
West Virginia University

Department Leadership

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