Department of Biology

The Department of Biology offers students the opportunity to study the living world, from biomolecules to ecosystems. Knowledge of biology is critical for addressing current medical, environmental, and social issues in our rapidly changing world.

Major & Minor Courses

Congrats 2025 Biology Award Winners!

Willie M. Reams Award in Biology: Lindsey Abellard, Kalynn Cheeks
Nominee for the Clarence Denoon Award: Ritika Relwani
Nominee for the Cole Memorial Scholarship Award: Nora Correiro
Biology Service Awards: Mollie Fenn, Maya Allione
Biology Teaching Assistant Awards: Shermin Uzair, Brooke Gibson
Biology Research Awards: Nicholas Parlavecchio, Joyce Stern, Domenic Caruso, Audrey Breckenridge, Yulia Shatalov
John Neasmith Dickinson Memorial Research Awards: Noelle Ledoux
Robert F. Smart Summer Research Awards: Lindsey Abellard (Jones), Moriam Animashaun (Carpenter), Judy Asare (Jones), Kalynn Cheeks (Richardson), Amy Jablonski (Brinkerhoff), Grace Park (Boland)

Congrats to all biology majors, award winners, and graduating seniors!

Faculty Highlights

Erickson and student publish on mechanisms underlying invasive species' success

Priscilla Erickson, assistant professor of biology, along with Camille Walsh-Antzak, ’24, published "Strength of Enemy Release From Parasitoids Is Context Dependent in the Invasive African Fig Fly, Zaprionus indianus" in Ecology and Evolution.

Peters received NSF award for neuroscience research

John Peters, a biology professor at the University of Richmond, has received a $502,981 National Science Foundation award to support his neuroscience research on the mechanisms of learning and memory.

Wu promoted to professor

Carrie Wu was promoted to professor of biology. Her research investigates the mechanisms of adaptive differentiation and speciation and examines how environmental variation influences phenotypic and genetic variation among natural plant populations.

Richardson awarded tenure and promotion

Jonathan Richardson was promoted to associate professor of biology. Jonathan integrates ecology, evolution and genomics to study applied issues related to urban ecology, epidemiology, and wildlife conservation.