Apr 24, 2024  
2015-2016 Graduate Catalog 
    
2015-2016 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biology


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Colleges and Departments

Faculty

Steven M. Ackerman, PhD, University of Pennsylvania

  • Gene Regulation in Plants and Animals

Kamaljit S. Bawa, PhD, Punjab University

  • Conservation and Conservation Genetics

Gregory Beck, PhD, State University of New York, Stony Brook

  • Evolutionary and Molecular Immunology

Jennifer Bowen, PhD, Boston University

  • Microbial and Ecosystem Ecology
  • Biogeochemistry

Solange Brault, PhD, University of London

  • Population and Conservation Ecology

Jarrett Byrnes, PhD, University of California, Davis

  • Marine Ecology
  • Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function
  • Climate Change

Kenneth L. Campbell, PhD, University of Michigan

  • Reproductive Endocrinology

Robert Chen (School for the Environment), PhD, University of California, San Diego

  • Environmental Monitoring

Alan Christian, PhD, Miami University

  • Freshwater Ecology

Adan Colon-Carmona, PhD, University of California, Irvine

  • Plant Signal Transduction and Molecular Biology

John P. Ebersole, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles

  • Effects of Natural Events and Human Activities on Structure of Coral Reef Fishes

Ron J. Etter, PhD, Harvard University

  • Evolution and Ecology of Marine Invertebrates

Katherine Gibson, PhD, Princeton University

  • Microbial Molecular Genetics
  • Plant-Microbe Interactions

Andrew Grosovsky, PhD, Harvard University

  • Genome Stability
  • Mutagenesis

Robert Guimond, PhD, University of Rhode Island

  • Comparative Respiratory Physiology

William Hagar, PhD, Temple University

  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Photobiology

Linda Huang, PhD, California Institute of Technology

  • Cell Biology
  • Regulation of Cell Morphology

Richard Kesseli, PhD, University of California, Davis

  • Population and Molecular Genetics
  • Invasive Species Genomics

Jill Macoska, PhD, City University of New York

  • Biochemistry
  • Personalized Cancer Therapy

Alexia Pollack, PhD, University of Virginia

  • Neuropharmacology
  • Neuroanatomy

Liam Revell, PhD, Harvard University

  • Phylogenetics
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Bioinformatics

Michael A. Rex, PhD, Harvard University

  • Deep-Sea Biology

Todd Riley, PhD, Rutgers University

  • Gene Regulation
  • Cancer Genomics
  • Computational Biology
  • Bioinformatics

William E. Robinson (School for the Environment), PhD, Northeastern University

  • Aquatic Toxicology

Kellee Segfried, PhD, University of Wisconsin Madison

  • Developmental Biology
  • Genetics

Michael P. Shiaris, PhD, University of Tennessee

  • Microbial Ecology

Rachel C. Skvirsky, PhD, Harvard University

  • Molecular and Microbial Genetics

Robert Stevenson, PhD, University of Washington

  • Animal Physiology
  • Ecoinformatics

Manickam Sugumaran, PhD, Indian Institute of Science

  • Protein Chemistry and Enzymology

Alexey Veraksa, PhD, University of California at San Diego

  • Cell Signaling
  • Gene Regulation in Development

Brian White, PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • Science Education

The Program

The Graduate Program in Biology is designed to accommodate students of various backgrounds who wish rigorous training leading to the master of science degree in biology, or to the PhD in biology/environmental biology track or molecular, cellular, and organismal biology track. In most cases, students are supported by either teaching or research assistantships.

Students may choose to concentrate in one or more of these areas: biodiversity, cell biology, conservation biology, developmental biology, endocrinology, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, neurobiology, physiology, plant sciences, population biology, reproductive biology, and science education. With the help of a faculty advisor, a cohesive course of study is designed from among the wide variety of faculty research and study interests.

Facilities and Resources

The Biology Department’s modern facilities support a broad spectrum of research interests within the biological sciences. The well-equipped research laboratories contain DNA sequencing and analysis, real-time PCR, wide-field and confocal microscopy, image analysis, protein and DNA analysis, animal care, and a wide array of environmental instrumentation. In addition, ample field equipment, boats, a greenhouse, salt water tanks, and other support facilities are available for enhancing studies in marine, aquatic, and terrestrial environments.

Because the campus is located on Boston Harbor, one type of marine environment is readily accessible. Near the campus are island systems, protected bays, and exposed open ocean areas. Arrangements can be made for the use of the marine facilities and laboratories (Grace Grossman Environmental Center) on Nantucket Island that provide access to additional marine, aquatic, wetland, and terrestrial ecosystems. Through the cooperation of the Waltham Field Station of the university, facilities are available for large plantings of botanical materials. In addition, the department runs the university’s tropical greenhouse. The program also has informal arrangements with other institutions in the area, which provide access to additional specialized facilities.

Eligibility for Courses

All 600-level courses with the exception of BIOL 698  and BIOL 699  are open to appropriately prepared advanced undergraduates and non-matriculated students and all 600-level courses require the permission of the instructor. Please consult UMass Boston’s undergraduate catalog for complete information about the undergraduate courses listed below as required preparation for individual graduate-level courses.

500-Level Courses

Students who possess a bachelor’s degree from an institution of recognized standing, meet individual course prerequisites, and are enrolled in the UMass Boston MEd program are eligible to enroll in 500-level graduate courses offered by the Biology Department. Students must get permission of the instructor to register.

Programs

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Colleges and Departments