BIOL 351 Special Topics
Spring 2026
Biology 351: Food Microbiology with Lab
Instructor: Dr. Laura Runyen-Janecky
Microorganisms play an integral role in the production, preservation, and safety of the foods and beverages that humans consume. This lab-based course will examine these three aspects of food microbiology, with an emphasis on fermented products. After using cheese to model the three aspects, students will explore a food product of these choosing for class independent projects. Lab work will be centered around real-world projects in collaboration with an artisan cheesemaker and independent student projects. Students will be required to periodically check experiments out of scheduled class/lab time. This course is also designed to foster integrative learning, encouraging students to connect knowledge and skills from various disciplines and experiences through course assignments and reflections on their work. Click on this link for more information. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week.
BIOL351: Chemical Ecology with Lab
Instructor: Dr. Nathan Derstine
From the scent trails of ants to the chemical defenses of seaweeds, organisms use chemistry to communicate, compete, and survive. This course explores how chemical signals and toxins shape interactions among insects, plants, and marine life, and how humans can harness this knowledge in areas like agriculture, medicine, and pest management. In the lab, students will gain hands-on experience with chemical ecology techniques and conduct experiments that reveal the hidden chemical language of nature. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week.
BIOL 351*: Animal Physiological Ecology
Instructor: Dr. Allison Cornell
Examination of animal physiological responses to environmental conditions, focusing on mechanisms that enable survival and reproduction across habitats. Comparative coverage of vertebrates and invertebrates highlights evolutionary limits and tradeoffs shaping function. Three lecture hours per week.
BIOL 351*: Cooperation and Animal Societies
Instructor: Dr. Nathan Derstine
Why would an animal risk its own survival to help others? When does it pay to cooperate, and when is it better to cheat? This course tackles the evolutionary puzzle of cooperation, covering kinship, mutualism, reciprocity, and the origins of complex societies across animals from microbes to primates. Through case studies and theory, students will uncover how cooperation and conflict shape the social lives of species, and whether altruism is the paradox it seems. Three lecture hours per week.
BIOL 351*: Mechanisms of Emerging Therapeutics in Neurodegeneration
Instructor: Dr. John Peters
Neurodegeneration affects millions of people in the United States. Both domestically and internationally, neurodegeneration is burdening healthcare systems as populations in many nations are aging. Fortunately, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of several neurodegenerative diseases is improving. In this course, we will explore the current understanding of several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s Disease, ALS, and Parkinson’s Disease, with a focus on shared mechanisms across these diseases. We will also explore the molecular mechanisms of drug therapies for these diseases. We will consider both approved drugs and drugs in the clinical pipeline. Class sessions will include mini-lectures, discussion of primary literature, and group work, and the course will culminate with students writing a grant proposal. Three lecture hours per week.
*Courses will have no labs.