Welcome

The Department of Biological Sciences provides the biological component of the liberal arts education at Central Washington University. We promote student understanding of biological concepts relevant to the individual and to society, and foster an appreciation of scientific inquiry.

Evolution is the unifying theme of our curriculum. Our students obtain a broad education covering a wide variety of biological disciplines. Our teaching philosophy and facilities support a rich education experience with small class sizes, hands-on experience, regular interaction with expert faculty, and opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate research.

We offer a full complement of competitive pre-professional programs, strong programs in regional field biology, and a high-quality program for secondary biology educators.  

Biology Office Contact Information

Biology Main Office
Science Building, Room 338
400 E. University Way
Ellensburg, WA 98926-7537
Phone: (509) 963-2731
Email: biology@cwu.edu

Biology Chair
Dr. Holly Pinkart
(509) 963-2710
email: pinkarth@cwu.edu

Announcements

Darwin Day Guest Presentation

"Evolution in a Rapidly Changing World."
Dr. Sarah (Sally) P. Otto, Dept. of Zoology, Univ. of British Columbia; Ph.D. Stanford University.

Using mathematical modeling and experimental evolution, Dr. Otto investigates the evolutionary forces generating biological diversity. With over 200 publications and a book, awards include a MacArthur Fellowship, a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Steacie Prize, a Canada Research Chair, and fellowship in the Royal Society of Canada and the National Academy of Sciences.

February 10th, 12:00 p.m. 

Dr. Otto will present over Zoom, with audience viewing of the talk held in Science Building, Room 147.  

2023 Renewable Energy Education Intership

Puget Sound Energy is seeking part time interns for the Renewable Energy Center at the Wild Horse Wind Facility.  The Renewable Energy Education Internship is a blend of public relations, tourism, education, and science. The internship will give staff a broad knowledge of the wind industry, wind turbine technology, and natural history, as well as an education and tourism experience.

Good News

• Graduate Alum, Jenna Chapman, accepted a position with Whitetail Environmental to become the Junior Wildlife Biologist at the U.S. Army's Yakima Training Center.
   
• CWU Geology staff member, Nick Zentner, featured Biology Master's student Adrian Slade recently on his popular YouTube channel.  The interview discusses Adrian's research and her promotion and love of rattlesnakes.

• CWU Biological Sciences faculty member, Dr. Paul James and Joe Blodgett (Biology B.S. 1997), participated in podcast series “THE WILD” hosted by Chris Morgan. 

Listen to the episode: "Make it like it was: Clean, cold and flowing Gold Creek of Snoqualmie Pass" 

Chris is the host and co-creator of 'THE WILD with Chris Morgan’ , a podcast that transports people back to nature through exquisite storytelling about wildlife, conservation, and the wonders of our wild planet. Within its first year, the podcast hit the top 1% of all podcasts and has become a hub for Chris’s storytelling through audio and film; all part of his mission to reconnect people with nature, so they fall in love with it, and want to protect it.
Listen to Episodes | Chris MorganWildlife 
www.chrismorganwildlife.org 
 

• Crystal Davidson (Biology alumnus) joined the Palouse Rock Lake Conservation District staff recently as their Resource Technician Lead. 
   

• Graduate Student Jenna Chapman presented her thesis research on bat activity along I-90 at the International Bat Research Conference in Austin, Texas in August, 2022.

• Jordan Ryckman (Biology B.S. 2018, Biology M.S. 2020) and Dr. Kris Ernest (CWU Biological Sciences faculty member) recently co-published in Western Wildlife.  Ryckman contributed a portion of her Master's thesis to the article Genetic Analysis Leads to Range Extension of the Olympic Shrew (Sorex rohweri) to the Eastern Slopes of the Cascade Range in Washington State (9:17–23 • 2022).
   

•  Dr. Anna Pidgeon (Biology M.S. 1995) is a professor with expertise in Avian ecology and landscape ecology within the Forest and Wildlife Ecology Department in the College of Agricultural & Life Sciences at University of Wisconsin-Madison. 
   

• Sam Nueffer completed a PhD in Molecular Biosciences from WSU and published thesis work entitled “AP-3 complex subunit delta gene, ap3d1, regulates melanogenesis and melanophore survival via autophagy in zebrafish (Danio rerio)” https://doi.org/10.1111/pcmr.13055.  Nueffer also recently started working as a research scientist at Bloodworks Northwest Research Institute in Seattle. 

• Dr. Jenny Dechaine named new Associate Dean / Director of the School of Education of the College of Education and Professional Studies [CEPS]

• And Related:  CWU Teach STEM Receives National Science Foundation Grant to Enrich Teachers

• CWU Biology Professor, Dr. Blaise Dondji, in the News for his Humanitarian Efforts

• News Article on CWU's role in the WSDOT I-90 Snoqualmie Pass Project

See Also:

Alumni Video Spotlight 

• Connor Parrish (CWU Biology Masters alum) discusses a multi-agency project he is working on to rescue stranded bull trout.

• Helen Lau, CWU Biology Masters alum, is featured in The Nature Conservancy video "WA Women and Climate Action".

• CWU Biology alums, Anjanette Wilson, Brian Hiatt, Bud Taylor, and Shelley Lankford assist the State Department of Health, working to combat the COVID-19 outbreak. Full Story

• CWU Biology alums, William Meyer and Helen Lau, discuss an upcoming wetlands restoration partnership project of the Gold Creek Valley near Snoqualmie Pass.