The Department of Biology is home to an interactive community composed of faculty, instructors, researchers, staff, advisors, graduate students, and undergraduate students. Our primary work centers around research, teaching, mentoring and outreach. We value the contributions that each person makes towards supporting this mission. We work together to build a welcoming, inclusive, engaged community where all can grow and thrive.

Research in the Department spans the full range of biology including conservation biology, ecology and evolution, genetics and genomics, molecular, cellular and developmental biology, physiology, quantitative biology, synthetic biology and systems biology. We strive to understand the essential principles of life, and how organisms thrive or struggle in our changing world.

The Department serves as a hub for life sciences at Colorado State University. Many of our faculty and students are members of interdisciplinary programs including Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB), the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology (GDPE), Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neuroscience (MCIN), the School of Global Environmental Sustainability (SoGES), and the School of Biomedical Engineering (SMB.) This rich inter-disciplinary community enhances collaboration and collegiality.

We are proud of our thriving MS and PhD programs emphasizing original research. In addition, our Professional Science Masters program in Zoo, Aquarium and Shelter Management is well-recognized and unique.

We are constantly challenging ourselves as educators to provide an outstanding undergraduate experience with a diverse, cohesive and skills-oriented curriculum. All faculty in the department contribute to the educational and mentoring mission. Highlights of our curriculum include:

• Major in Biological Sciences or Zoology.
• Combine coursework and original research in any of our four CURE (Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience) courses.
• Experience field work firsthand through summer courses or internships.
• Enhance your experience as a member of the University Honors Program. Honors stand-alone or honors break-out sections are offered for several core courses.
• Engage in short term biology-themed study abroad courses (1-2 weeks) in Australia, Ecuador, Baja CA, Madagascar, Mexico, Honduras, or Kenya.
• Enroll in graduate (500)-level courses that spark your interest.

We value learning by doing. The Department fosters an array of opportunities for undergraduate engagement:

• Start your scientific career as an undergraduate researcher in the labs of research-active faculty.
• Learn to lead as a paid Undergraduate Learning Assistant in introductory core courses.
• Learn to lead as an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant in Biology’s course labs.
• Learn the principles of museum science as an intern with the Biology Teaching Collections.
• Meet friends at the Zoology Club or the Biological Artists Guild.
• Join forces with other STEM majors as a member of the Amplify Learning Community in the College of Natural Sciences.
• Find connections with peers through our Key Community programs.

We invite you to explore this website and learn more about our programs, faculty research, courses, outreach, and community.  Please get in touch if you have questions or would like to arrange a visit.