College of Arts and Sciences

School of Biological Sciences

Welcome


Thanks for visiting the website of the School of Biological Sciences (SBS).

Our faculty and students are engaged in exciting research, insightful education, and important public outreach that cover widely the range of biology.

  • For undergraduate students, SBS is the home to majors in biology and zoology, and each of those majors includes various options. Those options provide opportunities for students interested in health sciences, including pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-veterinary, and pre-physical therapy tracks.
  • For graduate students, SBS offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in biology and plant biology. We have excellent educational and research facilities.
  • Using the links on this homepage you can discover more about experiences in SBS and the education and research opportunities we offer. We hope you will explore our website and please feel welcome to visit us on campus.

Student Learning Outcomes

Plagiarism

Biology Courses

Photo Gallery

SBS Seminar Series

Fall 2016 schedule


Advising Walk-in Hours for September 26-30 

 

(Abelson 324):

Tina Krauss - Thursday 1-3

Jenny Lewis - by appointment only

 

 

News from SBS

Ongoing research on a devastating transmissible cancer in Tasmanian devils by SBS Professor Andrew Storfer, his former postdoctoral associate Brendan Epstein, and coworkers, recovered evidence of rapid evolution in two small genomic regions containing genes associated with immune response and cancer in humans. The evidence of an evolutionary response to the cancer has created new hope for conservation of Tasmanian devils. The article, in Nature Communications, has been receiving broad coverage in the international press. See the article: B. Epstein et al. Rapid evolutionary response to a transmissible cancer in Tasmanian devils. Nature Communications. Vol. 7, August 30, 2016, p. 12684. doi: 10.1038/ncomms12684. Or see the Washington Post article.

[Updated 08/31/2016]

Recent books by SBS faculty: In the past few months, four SBS faculty have been coauthors of new books.

Todd Feinberg and SBS Associate Professor Jon Mallatt are the authors of The Ancient Origins of Consciousness: How the Brain Created Experience, which was published by MIT Press. Jon Mallatt recently presented a seminar to SBS on the evolutionary timing for the origin of animal consciousness and the groups that possess consciousness.

SBS Associate Professor Paul A. Verrell and Norah R. McCabe are the authors of How to be a Scholar: Smoothing the Transition from High School to College...and Beyond, which was published by Kendall Hunt. The book includes recommendations that Paul Verrell has been sharing for many years with students in classes and workshops at WSU.

SBS Professors Shelley McGuire and Kathy Beerman published a new edition of their textbook NUTR2, which was published by Wadsworth.

 [Updated 08/31/2016]

IN MEMORIUM: Leonard B. Kirschner 1923-2016

The School of Biological Sciences was saddened by the death in May 2016 of Leonard B. Kirschner, who was 92. Len was a great friend of the School and an emeritus Professor. He served as a faculty member in the Department of Zoology from 1953 to 1993, teaching physiology courses, mentoring graduate students, and conducting research on the cellular mechanisms that enable animals to live in fresh water.

Len was an intellectual dynamo, and he remained active in research and the WSU community well into his retirement. He maintained an office in the School and was on campus most days throughout his retirement. He was exceptionally committed to the success of our faculty, post-doctoral researchers, and students. In recognition of his commitments and accomplishments both the Leonard B. Kirschner Endowed Lectureship, which supports visiting speakers, and the Leonard B. Kirschner Fund for Excellence in Sciences, which supports scholarships and student activities, were established in his honor.

 [Updated 07/12/2016]

News Archive

School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, PO Box 644236, Pullman WA 99164-4236, 509-335-3553, Contact Us
The SBS main office is located in 312 Abelson Hall on the Pullman campus.