Research areas

Bloody red shrimp swimming in the Great Lakes.

Within the department of Biology there are a number of research focus areas.

Bioinformatics, Systematics and Evolution

Research in Bioinformatics includes studies of protein folding and dynamics, DNA and protein sequence analysis techniques, and modeling of evolution and ecosystems. Much of modern evolutionary biology involves computational analyses of genome sequences. The area of systematics (traditionally taxonomy) is now also heavily reliant on bioinformatics analysis.

Topics include:

  • Environmental Genomics
  • Functional Genomics
  • Molecular Ecology
  • Neurobiology

View our faculty conducting research in bioinformatics, systematics, and evolution.

Ecology and Environmental Biology

The Department was founded largely in the area of aquatic research and field studies, and this research has spanned a wide geographical range as far reaching as the African Great Lakes and Canada’s North, as well as the Great Lakes and Grand River systems. There is also exceptional historic strength in environmental toxicology.

Topics include:

  • Aquatic Ecology
  • Environmental Genomics
  • Fisheries Biology
  • Integrated Water Resource Management
  • Molecular Ecology
  • Phytoremediation

View our faculty conducting research in ecology and environmental biology.

Microbiology

Another historical strength is in Microbiology with applications in environmental bioremediation and in studying microbial communities (metagenomics) and populations (Rhizobiales, extremophile physiology).

Topics include:

  • Environmental Genomics
  • Environmental Microbiology
  • Functional Genomics
  • Molecular Ecology
  • Molecular Microbiology
  • Plant-Microbe Interactions

View our faculty conducting research in microbiology.

Molecular Genetics

The Department has been active in Molecular Biology since the advent of recombinant DNA techniques. However, this has been strengthened by a series of hires in the 1990s and 2000s and the techniques of molecular biology now extend throughout research in the Department. The Department is taking a leading role in new research and training initiatives in Synthetic Biology, which the Department defines as the combination of Biology with the principles of Engineering to design and build organisms and biological systems with defined purpose. 

Topics include:

  • Environmental Genomics
  • Functional Genomics
  • Metabolomics
  • Molecular Microbiology
  • Plant-Microbe Interactions

View our faculty conducting research in molecular genetics.

Physiology, Cell and Developmental Biology

The combination of animals and plants into a single field that incorporates cell and developmental studies emphasizes the commonalities across the living world. Encouragement of interactions between researchers using similar techniques and experimental approaches can lead to new research advances.

Topics include:

  • Animal Physiology
  • Cancer Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Immunology
  • Metabolomics
  • Neurobiology
  • Plant Physiology
  • Plant Genetics
  • Plant-Microbe Interactions
  • Reproductive Biology

View our faculty conducting research in physiology, cell and developmental biology.