Department of Biology - School of Arts and Sciences

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.

Biology Feature Stories

Wu Recognized
Carrie Wu, associate professor of biology, received the 2020 Distinguished Educator Award for outstanding contributions to excellence in education.

Quintero Recognized
Omar Quintero, associate professor of biology, was named one of “100 Inspiring Hispanic/Lantinx Scientists in America” by Cell Mentor.

Grayson Awarded
Kristine Grayson, associate professor of biology, has been awarded $97,272 from the United States Department of Agriculture - Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to fund a second year of her project, Research and Development on a Rearing System for Emerald Ash Borer.

Grayson Awarded
Kristine L. Grayson, associate professor of biology, has been awarded $28,660 in supplemental funding from the National Science Foundation for, Collaborative Research: RUI: Linking thermal tolerance to invasion dynamics: Climate and physiological capacity as regulators of geographical spread.

Pierce Awarded
B. Daniel Pierce, assistant professor of biology, received a $104,500 award from the Thomas F. and Kate Miller Jeffress Memorial Trust for his research project, Determining the Precise Molecular Interactions Between Plant Phenols and the Agrobacterium Receptor VirA.

Grayson Awarded
Kristine L. Grayson, associate professor of biology, was awarded $104,500 from the Thomas F. and Kate Miller Jeffress Memorial Trust for her research project, Forecasting the Spread of an Invasive Forest Pest.

Four University of Richmond Faculty Receive Jeffress Memorial Trust Grants to Support Research in Their Fields of Study

Four University of Richmond faculty, the most in UR’s history, have received Thomas F. and Kate Miller Jeffress Memorial Trust grants to support their research in chemical, medical, or other scientific fields.

Biology Professor Kristine Grayson Receives Jeffress Memorial Trust Grant to Support Ongoing Research On Invasive Species

Kristine L. Grayson, associate professor of biology, has been awarded $104,500 for her research project, Forecasting the Spread of an Invasive Forest Pest.

Biology Professor Dan Pierce Receives Jeffress Trust Award for Research on Bacterium that Causes Tumors in Plants

Biology professor B. Daniel Pierce has received a $104,500 award from the Thomas F. and Kate Miller Jeffress Memorial Trust to advance his research on a bacterium that causes tumors in plants and destroys billions of dollars of crops each year.

Sending Science to Students: University of Richmond Biology Professor Mails Science-Themed Kits to Incoming STEM Students

When biology professor Shannon Jones realized the global pandemic would prevent her from bringing students to campus this summer for University of Richmond’s signature URISE program experience, she figured out a way to send science to them.

Quintero Published
Omar A. Quintero, associate professor of biology, published the chapter "Myosin XIX" in the recently published book, Myosins, 2nd edition (Springer) edited by Lynn Collucio. His co-authors included Jennifer L. Bocanegra, a post-baccalaureate researcher from his research group at UR.

Wu and Nolin Published
Carrie Wu, associate professor of biology, Kristine Nolin, associate professor of chemistry, and three UR students/alums (Sofia Bustamante Eguiguren, Ha An Nguyen, and Lexi Caldwell) published “Convergence of glandular trichome morphology and chemistry in two montane monkeyflower (Mimulus, Phrymaceae) species” in Flora.

de Sá Awarded
Rafael de Sá, professor of biology, has been awarded more than $400,000 from the National Science Foundation for his research on the diversity and evolution of a frog species found in South America.

University of Richmond Biology Professor Rafael O. de Sá Awarded $400K NSF Grant for Frog Biodiversity Research in South America

Professor of Biology Rafael de Sá has been awarded more than $400,000 from the National Science Foundation for his research on the diversity and evolution of a frog species found in South America.

University of Richmond Donates Thousands of Safety Gloves from Science Labs to Local Healthcare Workers to Assist with COVID Impact

University of Richmond faculty gathered up nearly 7,000 pairs of gloves to donate to local healthcare workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resources

Gottwald Science Center

Biology Seminar Series

Library Research Guide

Integrated Inclusive Science Program

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

Office of Sustainability

Laboratory Incident Report Form

Contact Us

Mailing address:
Biology Department, Gottwald Science Center B-100
138 UR Drive
University of Richmond, VA 23173

Phone: (804) 289-8871
Fax: (804) 289-8233

Department Chair: Krista Stenger
Administrative Coordinator: Carol Esposito
Administrative Coordinator, Pre-Health and Integrative Science: Deatrice Cleaton

Biology feature story

Dr. Carrie Wu, Dr. Kristine Nolin, and three UR students have published "Convergence of glandular trichome morphology and chemistry in two montane monkeyflower (Mimulus, Phrymaceae) species” in the journal Flora.

Bustamante Eguiguren S, H Nguyen, A Caldwell, KA Nolin, and CA Wu. 2020. Convergence of glandular trichome morphology and chemistry in two montane monkeyflower (Mimulus, Phrymaceae) species. Flora 265: 151567.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0367253020300311

2019 Student Award Winners

Congratulations to the following student award winners:

Dickinson Award: Sofia Bustamante, Anthony Isenhour
Smart Award: Jasmine Feng, Katrina Kuhn, Jennifer Piciw, Jonathan Huang