Biology
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Experience One engages students and faculty in actively exploring the knowledge, purposes, and practices in every field of study.
The Biology Department provides students an outstanding and comprehensive education in the life sciences through immersive experiential methods in the laboratory and in the field. We strive to provide our students a fundamental understanding of the processes that govern living systems and the techniques necessary to study them. We prepare students to pursue careers in the life sciences, and we offer pre-medical and pre-veterinary programs of study as well as an ecology degree program. Biology students are empowered to solve complex biological issues and incorporate scientific thinking throughout their lives.
Student development occurs through a rigorous course of study that emphasizes interdisciplinary, experience-based classes and research projects. Faculty accessibility to students is a priority; therefore, we endeavor to offer small classes with integrated laboratory and field research experiences that promote student and faculty interactions. Students gain occupational experience through internships and/or thesis research that are supervised by faculty and professional mentors.
NEWS
- September 8, 2025: Life: Inside and Out 2025鈥2026 Season Lineup
- December 18, 2024: The Light of Alaska: 麻豆频道 Student Colton Folts Completes Internship at Snettisham Hatchery
- October 14, 2024: Life: Inside and Out 2024-2025 Season Lineup
- June 26, 2024: 麻豆频道 Student Madeline Bradbury Presents at American Association for Anatomy Meeting
- May 20, 2024: 麻豆频道 Western鈥檚 Jonah Lindsey Receives Student Volunteer Award
- April 15, 2024: Community Invited to Public Presentations by Dr. Michelle Osborn
- April 8, 2024: University of 麻豆频道 Western Invites Community to 17th Annual Student Research Symposium
- March 7, 2024: 麻豆频道 Western Students Receive Western Meadowlark Award
- January 23, 2024: 麻豆频道 Western Biology Student Accepted into Dentistry School
- June 21, 2023: 麻豆频道 Western Alumna Halle Broughton Travels to Thailand to Work with Elephants
- April 7, 2023: 麻豆频道 Western Holds 16th Annual Student Research Symposium
- January 25, 2022: 麻豆频道 Western Student Receives George M. Dennison Scholarship Award
- December 22, 2020: 麻豆频道 Western Student Profile: Mackenzie Hairston
- October 16, 2020: Biology and Mathematics Faculty Attend 鈥淐ultivating Scientific Curiosity鈥 Workshop
- May 26, 2020: Recent 麻豆频道 Graduates to Attend Veterinary, Dentistry and Medical Schools
- May 20, 2020: 麻豆频道 Students Collaborate on Local Ecology Research
- March 24, 2020: 麻豆频道 Students Explore 麻豆频道 Wildlife Research & Careers
Faculty Feature
PROFESSOR
Michael Morrow, Ph.D
At 麻豆频道 Western, Dr. Morrow and his undergraduate student researchers are studying some of the proteins that play roles in the early secretory pathway of the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans. Since protein secretion is important for this organism to cause infection, a better understanding of the machinery involved in protein secretion could lead to the identification of future drug targets to prevent and treat Candida infections
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Wendy Ridenour, Ph.D
Wendy Ridenour is an ecologist and assistant professor of biology at 麻豆频道, where she has taught experiential classes full time since 2009. Her current research focuses on whole community dynamics in alpine systems, including plant-plant and plant-herbivore interactions and how alpine communities respond to anthropogenic climate change.
PROFESSOR
Michael Gilbert, Ph.D
Gilbert developed the first inducible promoter system available for use in B. burgdorferi, which allowed researchers to artificially regulate gene expression in this pathogenic spirochete. Gilbert is currently working to optimize this system in order to regulate B. burgdorferi genes, in vivo, in an experimental tick-mouse infectious cycle. Gilbert teaches introductory biology classes and general chemistry, as well as biochemistry, genetics and parasitology.
What Biology Students Have to Say

The faculty provides the support to be able to be successful in school and in the future, while experiencing hands-on learning in places like Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks.Colter Feuerstein, Ecology with option in Fish and Wildlife Ecology
– Colter Feuerstein, Ecology with option in Fish and Wildlife Ecology

The professors are very good at teaching during labs and encourage exploration and self-discovery of knowledge.
– Caleigh Buckmaster, Biology

The professors are incredible to work with.
– Dennara Gaub, Ecology with integrative ecology option

The department ensures that the students have exciting science-related experiences.
– Cassandra Van Atta, Integrative Biology and Natural Horsemanship
Contact Information
Biology