With a degree in Biological Sciences from Central Washington University, you’ll develop a strong understanding of biological concepts relevant to you and your future, both as a biologist and as a citizen. Evolution is the unifying theme of our curriculum; here you will gain an appreciation for scientific inquiry, developing skills in a wide variety of biological disciplines.
The CWU Department of Biological Sciences faculty, staff and facilities support your goals by offering small class sizes, hands-on laboratory and field work, daily interaction with expert faculty, and opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate research. Our biologists contribute in a myriad of ways to our scientific knowledge and how we impact our world—and we want you to be part of it.
"Dynamic Mechanisms for Cellular-Scale Structure and Organization in Bacteria Cells"
May 19th, 12:00-1:00pm in Science Building, Room 147
Presenter: Dr. Nathan Kuwada, CWU Department of Physics
CWU alum Catherine Treichel (BS 2017) published Top-down design of protein architectures with reinforcement learning in Science. She was also accepted into the Global Wildlife Health and Conservation (MSc) program at the University of Bristol.
Binder AK, Peecher DL, Qvigstad AJ, Gutierrez SD, Magana J, Banks D & Korach KS. Differential Strain-Dependent Ovarian and Metabolic Responses in a Mouse Model of PCOS. Endocrinology. 2023; 164(4). https://doi.org/10.1210/endocr/bqad024
Dr. Kris Ernest's research with colleagues on capacity for pikas and other small mammals to adapt to climate change has been published in Biological Conservation: Beever, EA, JL Wilkening, PD Billman, LL Thurman, KA Ernest, et al. 2023. Geographic and taxonomic variation in adaptive capacity among mountain-dwelling small mammals: Implications for conservation status and actions. Biological Conservation 282 (2023) 109942 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2023.109942
Congratulations to Dr. Lixing Sun on the publication of his new book, The Liars of Nature and the Nature of Liars: Cheating and Deception in the Living World (Princeton University Press, 2023). This book explores how lying and cheating have contributed to evolution and biodiversity, and concludes with identifying the kinds of cheating that spur innovation and cultural vitality in human society. Dr. Sun has been interviewed on NPR, and his book was reviewed by Elizabeth Kolbert in The New Yorker magazine and by David Barash in The Wall Street Journal.
Graduate student Kyle Sease (mentor Dr. Lucinda Carnell) presented his work on the effects of phthalate replacements on neurons at the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Seattle, March 25-28) and was featured in Neuroscience News. Kyle was recently admitted to a neuroscience doctoral program at the University of Montana.
Undergraduate student, Marlee Weets (mentor, Dr. April Binder), won Best Presentation at the American Association for Advancement of Science (Pacific Division) Meeting held March 21-24 for her work on the effects of testosterone on pregnant mice. She was awarded $1000 and invited to present her work at the AAAS national meeting in February 2024 (Denver, CO).
CWU Biology alumnus and McNair Scholar Bryan Plankenhorn was awarded an NSF Graduate Student Fellowship for his PhD work at the University of Rhode Island School of Oceanography.
Natalie Conroy (undergraduate student, B.S. Biology expected Spring 2023) has been accepted to WSU Veterinary School.
Thomas McIntyre (M.S. Biology 2019) has accepted a new job as a wildlife biologist with Jacobs Engineering Group based in Issaquah.
Jenna Chapman (M.S. Biology 2022) was hired as Junior Wildlife Biologist for Whitetail Environmental, which does wildlife monitoring and research on the Yakima Training Center.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
