{"id":2549,"date":"2023-05-15T10:00:16","date_gmt":"2023-05-15T15:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/?page_id=2549"},"modified":"2026-03-04T09:24:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T14:24:46","slug":"biology","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/biology\/","title":{"rendered":"Department of Biological Sciences"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to the <strong>Department of Biological Sciences<\/strong> at Marshall University! Our department is dedicated to the study of life in all its forms, from the smallest molecules to the largest ecosystems. Our faculty, staff, and students are passionate about exploring the intricacies of the living world and the ways in which it interacts with the non-living world.<\/p>\n<h2>Academic Programs<\/h2>\n<p>Our <strong>undergraduate<\/strong> program in Biological Sciences is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in the principles of biology, from genetics and biochemistry to ecology and evolution. Students have the opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research with faculty members, participate in fieldwork, and take courses in specialized areas such as microbiology and marine biology. Our graduates have gone on to successful careers in fields such as medicine, biotechnology, and conservation.<\/p>\n<p>Our <strong>graduate<\/strong> program in Biological Sciences offers students the chance to pursue advanced study and research in a range of areas, including molecular and cellular biology, physiology, ecology, and evolution. Students work closely with faculty mentors to develop their research projects and gain hands-on experience in laboratory techniques, fieldwork, and data analysis. Our graduates are well-prepared for careers in academia, industry, and government, as well as for further study in doctoral programs.<\/p>\n<p>Our department is home to a diverse and dynamic community of scholars, researchers, and students. Our faculty members are recognized leaders in their fields, with expertise in areas such as plant biology, animal behavior, and microbial ecology. Our students come from a variety of backgrounds and bring a wide range of interests and experiences to their studies. We strive to create an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can thrive and achieve their full potential.<\/p>\n<p>Thank you for visiting the Department of Biological Sciences. We invite you to explore our website to learn more about our programs, our faculty and staff, and our research. If you have any questions, please don&#8217;t hesitate to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"flex flex-wrap justify-center items-stretch gap-8 cards-per-row-2\">\n\t\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card flex flex-col rounded-lg overflow-hidden relative transition-all duration-200 ease-out shadow-sm self-stretch\">\n\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 right-0 h-1 bg-linear-to-r from-green to-green-bright\"><\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"p-6 pb-0 pt-7 bg-gray-50\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"inline-flex items-center justify-center w-10 h-10 rounded-lg mb-4 bg-green\/10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg data-slot=\"icon\" class=\"h-[18px] w-[18px] shrink-0 text-green\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><path d=\"M21.42 10.922a1 1 0 0 0-.019-1.838L12.83 5.18a2 2 0 0 0-1.66 0L2.6 9.08a1 1 0 0 0 0 1.832l8.57 3.908a2 2 0 0 0 1.66 0z\"\/><path d=\"M22 10v6\"\/><path d=\"M6 12.5V16a6 3 0 0 0 12 0v-3.5\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"uppercase font-bold text-lg tracking-wider leading-tight text-gray-900\">\n\t\t\t\tDegrees\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"h-0.75 mt-4 w-10 bg-green\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"px-6 pt-4 pb-7 flex flex-1 flex-col styled-list text-[15px] bg-gray-50 text-gray-500\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"flex-1\">\n<p><strong>Undergraduate<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"styled-list\"><ul class=\"\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/academics\/programs\/biological-sciences-ba\/\">Biological Sciences, B.A.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/academics\/programs\/biological-sciences-bs\/\">Biological Sciences, B.S.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<p><strong>Graduate<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"styled-list\"><ul class=\"\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/biology\/amd\/\">Accelerated Master&#8217;s Degree in Biological Sciences, M.S.\/M.A.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/academics\/programs\/biological-sciences-ma\/\">Biological Sciences, M.A.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/academics\/programs\/biological-sciences-ms\/\">Biological Sciences, M.S.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"card flex flex-col rounded-lg overflow-hidden relative transition-all duration-200 ease-out shadow-sm self-stretch\">\n\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 right-0 h-1 bg-linear-to-r from-green to-green-bright\"><\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"p-6 pb-0 pt-7 bg-gray-50\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"inline-flex items-center justify-center w-10 h-10 rounded-lg mb-4 bg-green\/10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg data-slot=\"icon\" class=\"h-[18px] w-[18px] shrink-0 text-green\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><path d=\"M10 18v-7\"\/><path d=\"M11.12 2.198a2 2 0 0 1 1.76.006l7.866 3.847c.476.233.31.949-.22.949H3.474c-.53 0-.695-.716-.22-.949z\"\/><path d=\"M14 18v-7\"\/><path d=\"M18 18v-7\"\/><path d=\"M3 22h18\"\/><path d=\"M6 18v-7\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"uppercase font-bold text-lg tracking-wider leading-tight text-gray-900\">\n\t\t\t\tPrograms\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"h-0.75 mt-4 w-10 bg-green\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"px-6 pt-4 pb-7 flex flex-1 flex-col styled-list text-[15px] bg-gray-50 text-gray-500\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"flex-1\">\n<div class=\"styled-list\"><ul class=\"\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/biology\">Biological Sciences<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n<\/div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Strategic Plan<\/h2>\n<p>In alignment with the university\u2019s strategic plan, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/strategicplan\/\">Marshall for All, Marshall Forever<\/a>, we are focusing on developing an excellent environment for scientific and personal development through three priorities: grow undergraduate and graduate enrollment, improve student success at Marshall and beyond, and increase external funding. Read more about our strategic plan on our Plan-on-a-Page.<\/p>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/files\/BSC-Plan-on-a-Page-20240523.pdf\" target=\"_self\" class=\"button button--secondary \">\n\t\t<span>View our Plan-on-a-Page<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-8 lg:my-12\">\n\t\t\t<h2>Department News<\/h2>\n\t\n  <div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-4 md:gap-8\">\n\t\t      <article class=\"news-card group bg-white border border-gray-200 hover:border-green rounded-lg  flex flex-col transition-all duration-200 ease-snappy relative overflow-hidden hover:-translate-y-0.5 hover:shadow-md\">\n\n        <div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 right-0 h-0.75 bg-green scale-x-0 origin-left transition-transform duration-300 ease-snappy group-hover:scale-x-100 z-10\"><\/div>\n\n                <div class=\"aspect-video overflow-hidden\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover transition-transform duration-300 ease-snappy group-hover:scale-105\" src=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/files\/biology-plant-taxonomy-huntington-museum-of-art-300x200.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/files\/biology-plant-taxonomy-huntington-museum-of-art.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/files\/biology-plant-taxonomy-huntington-museum-of-art-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, (max-width: 1024px) 50vw, 25vw\" alt=\"Biology students explore plant diversity during Earth Day visit\" style=\"object-position: 50% 50%;\">\n        <\/div>\n        \n        <div class=\"p-5 flex flex-col flex-1\">\n          <a class=\"text-base lg:text-lg font-semibold leading-snug flex-1 mb-4 no-underline text-green hover:text-green-dark hc:text-gray-900 contrast-more:text-gray-900 group-hover:underline after:absolute after:inset-0 after:content-['']\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/2026\/04\/23\/biology-students-explore-plant-diversity-during-earth-day-visit\/\">\n            Biology students explore plant diversity during Earth Day visit\n          <\/a>\n\n          <span class=\"text-sm font-medium pt-3 text-gray-400 hc:text-gray-600 contrast-more:text-gray-600 border-t border-gray-100\">\n            April 23, 2026\n          <\/span>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/article>\n\t\t      <article class=\"news-card group bg-white border border-gray-200 hover:border-green rounded-lg  flex flex-col transition-all duration-200 ease-snappy relative overflow-hidden hover:-translate-y-0.5 hover:shadow-md\">\n\n        <div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 right-0 h-0.75 bg-green scale-x-0 origin-left transition-transform duration-300 ease-snappy group-hover:scale-x-100 z-10\"><\/div>\n\n                <div class=\"aspect-video overflow-hidden\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover transition-transform duration-300 ease-snappy group-hover:scale-105\" src=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/files\/biology-plants-group-carter-caves-2026-300x200.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/files\/biology-plants-group-carter-caves-2026.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/files\/biology-plants-group-carter-caves-2026-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, (max-width: 1024px) 50vw, 25vw\" alt=\"Biology plants group explores spring flora at Carter Caves Wildflower Weekend\" style=\"object-position: 50% 50%;\">\n        <\/div>\n        \n        <div class=\"p-5 flex flex-col flex-1\">\n          <a class=\"text-base lg:text-lg font-semibold leading-snug flex-1 mb-4 no-underline text-green hover:text-green-dark hc:text-gray-900 contrast-more:text-gray-900 group-hover:underline after:absolute after:inset-0 after:content-['']\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/2026\/04\/11\/biology-plants-group-explores-spring-flora-at-carter-caves-wildflower-weekend\/\">\n            Biology plants group explores spring flora at Carter Caves Wildflower Weekend\n          <\/a>\n\n          <span class=\"text-sm font-medium pt-3 text-gray-400 hc:text-gray-600 contrast-more:text-gray-600 border-t border-gray-100\">\n            April 11, 2026\n          <\/span>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/article>\n\t\t      <article class=\"news-card group bg-white border border-gray-200 hover:border-green rounded-lg  flex flex-col transition-all duration-200 ease-snappy relative overflow-hidden hover:-translate-y-0.5 hover:shadow-md\">\n\n        <div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 right-0 h-0.75 bg-green scale-x-0 origin-left transition-transform duration-300 ease-snappy group-hover:scale-x-100 z-10\"><\/div>\n\n                <div class=\"aspect-video overflow-hidden\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover transition-transform duration-300 ease-snappy group-hover:scale-105\" src=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/files\/biology-chandraekar-american-physiological-society-surf-300x200.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/files\/biology-chandraekar-american-physiological-society-surf.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/files\/biology-chandraekar-american-physiological-society-surf-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, (max-width: 1024px) 50vw, 25vw\" alt=\"Biology student earns prestigious national research fellowship\" style=\"object-position: 50% 50%;\">\n        <\/div>\n        \n        <div class=\"p-5 flex flex-col flex-1\">\n          <a class=\"text-base lg:text-lg font-semibold leading-snug flex-1 mb-4 no-underline text-green hover:text-green-dark hc:text-gray-900 contrast-more:text-gray-900 group-hover:underline after:absolute after:inset-0 after:content-['']\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/2026\/04\/09\/biology-student-earns-prestigious-national-research-fellowship\/\">\n            Biology student earns prestigious national research fellowship\n          <\/a>\n\n          <span class=\"text-sm font-medium pt-3 text-gray-400 hc:text-gray-600 contrast-more:text-gray-600 border-t border-gray-100\">\n            April 9, 2026\n          <\/span>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/article>\n\t\t      <article class=\"news-card group bg-white border border-gray-200 hover:border-green rounded-lg  flex flex-col transition-all duration-200 ease-snappy relative overflow-hidden hover:-translate-y-0.5 hover:shadow-md\">\n\n        <div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 right-0 h-0.75 bg-green scale-x-0 origin-left transition-transform duration-300 ease-snappy group-hover:scale-x-100 z-10\"><\/div>\n\n                <div class=\"aspect-video overflow-hidden\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover transition-transform duration-300 ease-snappy group-hover:scale-105\" src=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/files\/biology-valluri-chemoid-breakthrough-device-300x200.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/files\/biology-valluri-chemoid-breakthrough-device.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/files\/biology-valluri-chemoid-breakthrough-device-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, (max-width: 1024px) 50vw, 25vw\" alt=\"Biology professor Dr. Valluri recognized for breakthrough cancer diagnostic innovation\" style=\"object-position: 50% 50%;\">\n        <\/div>\n        \n        <div class=\"p-5 flex flex-col flex-1\">\n          <a class=\"text-base lg:text-lg font-semibold leading-snug flex-1 mb-4 no-underline text-green hover:text-green-dark hc:text-gray-900 contrast-more:text-gray-900 group-hover:underline after:absolute after:inset-0 after:content-['']\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/2026\/04\/09\/biology-professor-dr-valluri-recognized-for-breakthrough-cancer-diagnostic-innovation\/\">\n            Biology professor Dr. Valluri recognized for breakthrough cancer diagnostic innovation\n          <\/a>\n\n          <span class=\"text-sm font-medium pt-3 text-gray-400 hc:text-gray-600 contrast-more:text-gray-600 border-t border-gray-100\">\n            April 9, 2026\n          <\/span>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/article>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2>Administration<\/h2>\n<div class=\"flex flex-wrap -mx-2 lg:-mx-6 py-6 border-b border-gray-100 first:mt-0\"><div class=\"columns w-full lg:w-1\/6 lg:px-6 mt-6 lg:mt-0\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/files\/antonsenb-300x300.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/files\/antonsenb.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/files\/antonsenb-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/files\/antonsenb-150x150.jpg 150w\" alt=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/files\/antonsenb-300x300.jpg\" class=\"rounded-lg\" \/><\/div><div class=\"columns w-full lg:w-5\/12 lg:px-6 mt-6 lg:mt-0\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/profile\/brian-antonsen\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"underline hover:no-underline\">Brian Antonsen<\/a><\/strong><br>Biology Chair<br>Location: Science Building 350<br>Telephone: <a href=\"tel:+1-304-696-6496\">304-696-6496<\/a><br>E-mail: <a href=\"mailto:antonsenb@marshall.edu\">antonsenb@marshall.edu<\/a><\/div><div class=\"columns w-full lg:w-5\/12  lg:px-6   mt-6 lg:mt-0\"><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to the Department of Biological Sciences at Marshall University! Our department is dedicated to the study of life in all its forms, from the smallest molecules to the largest ecosystems. Our faculty, staff, and students are passionate about exploring the intricacies of the living world and the ways in which it interacts with the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":224,"featured_media":2589,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2549","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2549","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/224"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2549"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2549\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5099,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2549\/revisions\/5099"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2589"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/cos\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2549"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}