NYT features Gokcumen's study on how humans evolved to eat starch
12/11/24
The New York times features the work of Dr. Omer Gokcumen in an article by Carl Zimmer, How Early Humans Evolved to Eat Starch. Zimmer reports on two new studies that reveal how our ancestors began carrying more amylase genes in two major waves: the first one several hundred thousand years ago, possibly as a result of humans starting to cook with fire, and the second after the agricultural revolution 12,000 years ago. “This combination of adapting to diverse environments and modifying our diets is a core tenet of what makes us human,” said Omer Gokcumen, a geneticist at the University at Buffalo who led one of the studies. Read UB Now Research News.
FOXG1 Research Center's opening celebration
10/28/24
The FOXG1 Research Center (FRC) opened on September 26, 2024. Soo-Kyung Lee, director of the FRC and the parent of a child with FOXG1 syndrome, spoke to the crowd gathered to celebrate the center’s official opening: “Love for every individual living with FOXG1 syndrome and other neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as their caregivers, and hope that we can find a cure for FOXG1 syndrome and related disorders on the basis of scientific discoveries we are making.” Read the full story from UB News.
Our students learn by doing
4/8/24

Our curriculum provides students broad and deep training at the cutting edge of modern biology through a learn-by-doing philosophy. Our approach to teaching cross-disciplinary life sciences prepares students for today's accelerating pace of discovery in biological sciences.

We cultivate an active community of inquiry
12/18/23

Faculty teaching and research connects academic programs and experiential labs to cultivate an active community of results-oriented inquiry.

Our faculty 'lead with the lab'
4/26/22

The instructional philosophy, 'lead with the lab', allows our students to develop critical thinking skills while providing broad, deep, state-of-the art training in all life science disciplines.

previous next
APPLY TO ONE OF OUR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
APPLY TO ONE OF OUR GRADUATE PROGRAMS

SPRING 2025 Events

SEMINAR SERIES
 Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
O’Brian 109, UB North Campus                                               

3/27/25
Victor Albert, UB Biological Sciences
Roles of genomic "structural variants" in plant evolution   

4/3/25
Graduate Research Showcase:
Liwen Li and Roxana Gonzalez

4/10/25          
Jennifer Houtz, Allegheny College

4/17/25          
Mattheos Koffas
 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Engineering the production of animal-free animal natural products

5/1/25
Genevieve Konopka University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center

Also see UB Calendars:

See all Seminars>

News and Notes

  • Soo-Kyung Lee named honoree of 2025 Spotlight Symposia Series
    2/17/25
    Soo-Kyung Lee has been named the honoree of the 2025 Spotlight Symposia Series. The College of Arts and Sciences Spotlight Symposia Series recognizes and elevates faculty members. The event honors a particular faculty member by inviting distinguished speakers to our campus who share the honoree’s research field. As the 2025 symposium honoree, Soo-Kyung Lee will be at the center of vital national and international conversations. The event is an important venue for building scholarly relationships critical to the university.
  • Gokcumen receives Meyerson Award for Undergraduate Mentoring
    3/14/25
    The Department of Biological Sciences is pleased to announce that Professor Omer Gokcumen is the recipient of the President Emeritus and Mrs. Meyerson Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching and Mentoring for 2025. Dr. Gokcumen, a faculty member since 2013, was acknowledged for having "consistently been a shining light of undergraduate mentorship" in the department. A common remark among his mentees was the “warm energy of the lab” that made students feel "part of his team”. He was also noted for "fostering critical thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, [and] inclusivity”.  The award was presented to Dr. Gokcumen, March 12, 2025,  at the UB Mentoring Awards Breakfast.
  • Lindqvist collaborates with Wrangell Cooperative Association to repatriate 3,000-year-old human remains
    1/9/25
    Charlotte Lindqvist found herself tasked with transporting 3,000-year-old human remains across the Alaskan panhandle to their final resting place. The repatriated the individual is known as Tatóok yík yées sháawat (Young Lady in Cave) to her distant descendants, the Tlingit people of southeastern Alaska.  “As a biologist, you want to hold onto any ancient DNA samples in case you can possibly learn more from them in the future. However, these remains meant something to this community and returning them was the right thing to do,” Lindqvist says. “And I felt that it was very important to bring it there personally.”  Read Research News.
  • Research led by Vincent Lynch uses gorilla genome as a discovery tool
    10/18/24
    In a study published in eLife, UB-led researchers identified 109 reproductive-related gorilla genes that are often mutated when present in infertile men. There are likely even more yet to be identified. “We have a set of genes that are involved in sperm biology and have the signatures of harmful mutations when in gorillas. We can then look at those same genes in infertile men and see if they have mutations,” says the study’s lead author, Vincent Lynch, associate professor of biological sciences, College of Arts and Sciences. “Here the gorilla genome essentially acts as a discovery tool for finding candidate genes for human male fertility that we previously wouldn’t have been able to identify.”  Related Podcast, Driven to Discover: Animal Genes and Human Health with Vincent Lynch
Department News

Faculty Research

  • Animal Systems Biology
    8/23/23
    Faculty in Animal Systems Biology study complex physiological and developmental processes in model animals. These systems offer important experimental advantages in their accessibility, genetic resources, or amenability to specialized biochemical and molecular analysis. The systems used include rats and mice, zebrafish, the fruit fly Drosophila, and the nematode worm C. elegans. With modern tools and techniques, our faculty creatively explore key questions relating to sensory biology and neuronal processing, gene and protein expression in metabolic syndromes, and organismal integration through endocrine signaling.
  • Ecology and Evolution
    8/9/24
    Faculty research concerns plant evolutionary biology; development and genomics; evolutionary biology; molecular phylogenetics and population genomics; chromatin and its impact on gene expression; genome stabilit; chromosome function; evolutionary genetics of aquatic invertebrates; and community and ecosystem ecology.
  • Genetics
    7/14/23
    Faculty in Genetics explore the molecular regulation of gene expression at various stages, including transcription, splicing, translation, and post translation modification. Our faculty also use molecular genetics approaches to study signaling, cell wall formation, protein trafficking, and neurobiology. Other faculty use population genetics approaches to identify the selective forces that act on genes.
  • Neuroscience
    5/2/24
    The Neuroscience faculty explore signal transduction events during sensory perception, synaptic transmission, and disease. Specific areas of interest include hearing, taste, smell, and neurodegenerative disease. This group of researchers uses a wide array of techniques spanning the fields of electrophysiology, cell and developmental biology, microscopy and imaging, and molecular genetics.
  • Plant Biology
    1/5/24
    Faculty address diverse areas of plant biology. Their work investigates molecular regulation of the photosynthetic pathway in C4 plants, biosynthetic pathways of plant products that are important as pharmaceutics, growth in difficult or contaminated environments, evolutionary biology by combining state-of-the-art genomics with molecular analyses to understand plant origins and diversification.
  • Signaling
    11/28/23
    Signaling faculty study cellular communication and the intracellular pathways that regulate activity. These faculty use a wide range of model organisms and techniques to examine a diverse array of signaling pathways involved in hormonal regulation, sensory transduction, and cell growth and metabolism.
  • Fungal Biology
    1/5/24
    Faculty explore how filamentous fungi and budding yeasts assess nutrient availability and respond appropriately by adjusting gene expression, budding patterns, cell morphology, and cell wall structure. Some of these studies involve opportunistic fungal pathogens. Our faculty also use yeast as a model organism to investigate the molecular basis of gene expression, including transcription, RNA processing and translation.
  • Publications
    5/30/24
    The Department of Biological Sciences has a strong history of research going back to our founding. Faculty, postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduate students all contribute to our research mission. We work with scientific colleagues across the University and around the world. Our productivity speaks volumes about our commitment to research. Please refer to the profile pages for an updated listing of publications by each faculty member.
  • Cell and Molecular
    11/28/23
    The Cell and Molecular faculty explore how genetic information is encoded in genomes and how it is interpreted to produce functional proteins. The research interests of the faculty focus on the regulation of transcription, translation, splicing, and post-translational modifications.
  • Funding and Grants
    3/6/24
    The Department of Biological Sciences supports the research of our faculty, postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, and undergraduates through funding obtained from many granting agencies, including both government and private foundations. Active and completed grants are listed on this page.
  • Genomics
    4/19/24
    Genomics faculty address questions concerning the mechanisms that drive evolutionary change. A variety of theoretical, descriptive and novel experimental approaches using recent advances in genomic methodology are being used to address the roles played by various evolutionary processes in shaping organisms and populations.
  • Microbiology
    4/19/24
    Faculty study the ecology of microorganisms including how bacteria use phage-encoded toxins to evade protozoan predators, how the protozoan Tetrahymena uses chemosensation to find food, and how transcription termination regulates gene expression in Bacillus subtilis.  Other microbiology faculty study how filamentous fungi and budding yeast adapt to their environments.
See All

Meet our students

  • Shruti Patel, 2025 UB Student Ambassador
    3/28/25
    “Join many clubs. There are many different clubs at UB. I made many friends through a variety of clubs, and it took away a lot of stress from studying.”
  • David Oughterson, 2025 UB Student Ambassador
    3/28/25
    “My advice for future students would be to ensure they utilize the available resources on campus, such as tutoring, writing assistance, career design services, campus librarians and attending professors' office hours.”
  • Noor Ismail, 2025 UB Student Ambassador
    3/28/25
    “My advice for future UB students is to be willing to step out of your comfort zone and explore various clubs and opportunities. It's a great way to make friends and really figure out if you are doing what truly interests you!”
  • Axel Bermudez, 2025 UB Student Ambassador
    3/28/25
    “My advice for future UB students is to embrace every opportunity that comes their way, whether it's academic, extracurricular or personal growth. College is a time for exploration and learning, so don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Remember, it's okay to make mistakes along the way; they're valuable learning experiences that contribute to your growth and development.”
  • Justin Uralil, 2025 UB Student Ambassador
    3/28/25
    "A piece of advice I have for future UB students is to get outside their comfort zone and explore. UB offers a plethora of opportunities to learn about different careers and cultures, which gives students the ability to further learn about things that could help them in the future."
  • Catherine Clark, 2025 UB Student Ambassador
    3/28/25
    “Whether you attend clubs and events, do research, or get involved elsewhere, it's important to have something to look forward to outside of academics!”
  • Jasmin Gill, 2025 UB Student Ambassador
    3/28/25
    “Having been able to TA for several classes in the Biological Sciences department, I have been able to fully appreciate how dedicated our professors are to student success, and how we are very much a learning community made of esteemed experts and students!”
See all

Meet our undergraduate alums

  • Aniket Maini
    4/1/25
    “The UB Bio Department was instrumental in finding my path - great faculty, staff and peers surrounding you is key for a supportive environment. I felt as though my science basis was super strong, I was encouraged to participate in research, and had opportunities to teach others - all things that are at the epicenter of medicine.”
  • Sydney Brongo
    4/1/25
    “I have been with the Department of Biological Sciences since 2019. I have gained invaluable mentorship from the department, which has helped with major decisions and deciding what the best path was for me. Moreover, everyday I get to see what I look forward to when I become a professor.”
  • Serena Teh
    4/1/25
    "The (BIO) department has great resources and programs that helped me prepare for graduate school. I was involved with research programs and TAing which helped me get a sense of what grad school is like."
  • Vincent Lactaoen
    4/1/25
    "I was part of the Bio Honors Program and it has helped more than I could think of. It has surrounded me with like minded individuals whose goals are also similar to mine. It has also prepared me for the rigor, complexity, and effort professional health school requires."
  • Nathan Pfeffer
    4/1/25
    "The Department of Biological Sciences at UB provided me with opportunities to conduct meaningful research in biology and take courses that prepared me for grad-school level work. I was also fortunate enough to be awarded an undergraduate fellowship through the Department of Biological Sciences, the Joseph T. Abate Research Fellowship"
  • Pia Schwarz
    4/1/25
    "One of the biggest impacts in setting me up for a research career was my honors research project which I completed in lab of Dr. Trevor Krabbenhoft. Being accepted into the Biological Sciences Honors program opened a new door to explore my research interests in speciation and to complete a research project during my senior year. Both the technical and soft skills that I acquired while completing my project prepared me for developing my own projects in my PhD."
  • Ryan Dewan
    4/1/25
    “The Department of Biological Sciences helped to build a strong foundation within many different disciplines to help me prepare for my goal of attending medical school. First it provided me a chance to delve deeper into research through the BIO Honors Program. The department also helped to build my network and connections as every professor has been super friendly and always willing to help"
  • Selin Arnavut
    4/1/25
    “Our amazing faculty! Each faculty member encourages students to ask questions, stay curious, engage in extracurricular activities, and pushes them to succeed in their goals. I also want to give a shout-out to the Honors Biological Program, which truly helped me think critically about research.”
  • Ethan Tong
    4/1/25
    "The Department of Biological Sciences provided me with a strong foundation in scientific principles, inquiry, and research methodology. Through coursework and research opportunities, I developed critical thinking and analytical skills that have shaped my approach to medicine. My studies in bioinformatics and computational biology have broadened my perspective and diversified my skill set, reinforcing my passion for using science to improve patient care and medical innovation."
See all

Student and Alumni News

  • Fellowship Awardees 2024
    4/20/22
    Our students win fellowships. The Department of Biological Sciences is pleased to announce the winners of this year's Undergraduate Fellowship Awards. The fellowships aim to provide financial support for our students entering their senior year. The awards are made possible by generous alumni and friends who establish endowments for academic programs aimed at enhancing the educational experiences of our students.
  • Aniket Maini named 2024 Outstanding Senior
    6/4/24
    Aniket Maini of Syracuse, N.Y., has been named 2024 Outstanding Senior. He graduates summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences and a minor in Spanish. Maini has served as the president of the University at Buffalo Badminton Club and the Association of Pre-Medical Students, and as an ambassador for the College of Arts and Sciences. A member of the University Honors College, Maini has served as a teaching assistant for biology courses six times under Professors Jessica Poulin and Nitasha Sehgal. He has also completed research under Assistant Professor David Heppner in the Department of Chemistry, receiving the Raszl Endowment Fellowship from the Department of Biological Sciences along the way. In the fall, Maini will pursue a medical degree at the University of Massachusetts T.H. Chan School of Medicine.
  • Alber Aqil wins $1,000. in Three-Minute Thesis competition
    3/31/25
    BIO PhD student Alber Aqil's presentation, “Echoes from the Past", earned third place in UB's Three Minute Thesis competition. Aqil, a PhD student with Dr. Omer Gokcumen, presented a research project that he conducted with Dr. Charlotte Lindqvist. The work examines the relationship of DNA from ancient bone fragments found in a cave in Alaska to modern-day humans living nearby. Their research shows that the Tlingit people, indigenous to Southeast Alaska, have been living in basically the same location for at least 3,000 years. Upon winning the award of $1,000, Aqil calculated he earned $333 for each minute of his presentation.

Commencement Ceremonies

Meet Our Undergraduate Graduates

> Ryan Dewan > Nathan Pfeffer > Pia Schwarz > Selin Arnavut > Ethan Tong > Vincent Lactaoen > Serena Teh > Sydney Brongo > Aniket Maini
  • Ryan Dewan
    4/1/25
    “The Department of Biological Sciences helped to build a strong foundation within many different disciplines to help me prepare for my goal of attending medical school. First it provided me a chance to delve deeper into research through the BIO Honors Program. The department also helped to build my network and connections as every professor has been super friendly and always willing to help"
  • Nathan Pfeffer
    4/1/25
    "The Department of Biological Sciences at UB provided me with opportunities to conduct meaningful research in biology and take courses that prepared me for grad-school level work. I was also fortunate enough to be awarded an undergraduate fellowship through the Department of Biological Sciences, the Joseph T. Abate Research Fellowship"
  • Pia Schwarz
    4/1/25
    "One of the biggest impacts in setting me up for a research career was my honors research project which I completed in lab of Dr. Trevor Krabbenhoft. Being accepted into the Biological Sciences Honors program opened a new door to explore my research interests in speciation and to complete a research project during my senior year. Both the technical and soft skills that I acquired while completing my project prepared me for developing my own projects in my PhD."
  • Selin Arnavut
    4/1/25
    “Our amazing faculty! Each faculty member encourages students to ask questions, stay curious, engage in extracurricular activities, and pushes them to succeed in their goals. I also want to give a shout-out to the Honors Biological Program, which truly helped me think critically about research.”
  • Ethan Tong
    4/1/25
    "The Department of Biological Sciences provided me with a strong foundation in scientific principles, inquiry, and research methodology. Through coursework and research opportunities, I developed critical thinking and analytical skills that have shaped my approach to medicine. My studies in bioinformatics and computational biology have broadened my perspective and diversified my skill set, reinforcing my passion for using science to improve patient care and medical innovation."
  • Vincent Lactaoen
    4/1/25
    "I was part of the Bio Honors Program and it has helped more than I could think of. It has surrounded me with like minded individuals whose goals are also similar to mine. It has also prepared me for the rigor, complexity, and effort professional health school requires."
  • Serena Teh
    4/1/25
    "The (BIO) department has great resources and programs that helped me prepare for graduate school. I was involved with research programs and TAing which helped me get a sense of what grad school is like."
  • Sydney Brongo
    4/1/25
    “I have been with the Department of Biological Sciences since 2019. I have gained invaluable mentorship from the department, which has helped with major decisions and deciding what the best path was for me. Moreover, everyday I get to see what I look forward to when I become a professor.”
  • Aniket Maini
    4/1/25
    “The UB Bio Department was instrumental in finding my path - great faculty, staff and peers surrounding you is key for a supportive environment. I felt as though my science basis was super strong, I was encouraged to participate in research, and had opportunities to teach others - all things that are at the epicenter of medicine.”