Biology
- Degree Type Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Science
- Department Biology
- Academic Division The College
- Offerings Animal Biology minor Ecology minor Molecular/Cell Biology minor Physiology minor Quantitative Biology minor
The biological sciences play a key role in human society, from the conservation of biodiversity to medicine. The Department of Biology cultivates an exciting academic environment to study, research and contemplate the spectrum of life sciences.
Biology
Biology majors receive a broad education in the biosciences. The curriculum promotes effective scientific communication, the understanding and use of the scientific method, the understanding of the major concepts in biology, the use of the tools and techniques of science, an understanding of the scientific literature and the importance of quantitative techniques. Studying biology at W&L includes hands-on experience, including independent research experience and lab and/or fieldwork, often incorporating original research projects. Graduates are competitive for entry to graduate programs, medical and other professional programs, and employment in all sectors of research, development and commerce.
We believe in the value of a personal educational experience, achieved through small classes and laboratories and opportunities for independent study and research. Faculty embrace the teacher-scholar model and pursue varied research interests with student collaborators.
Student Research
As well as directed-individual study, directed-individual research and honors theses projects, students have the opportunity to work side by side with faculty in the Summer Research Scholars program. Many of our students travel nationally and internationally over the summer to participate in internships encompassing a variety of projects, or to present their research at national society meetings. Students can also take advantage of the Marine Science Educational Consortium with the Duke University Marine Biology Laboratory in Beaufort, North Carolina.
“After I conducted biology research at W&L the summer following my freshman year, I knew that I wanted to major in biology.”
Hannah Archer
Class of 2020
W&L’s Catherine McKean ’24 Selected For Fulbright to Germany
McKean has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to teach English in Germany.
W&L Alumni and Student Awarded NSF Fellowships
Emma Aldrich ’22, Tanajia Moye-Green ’23 and Jules Seay ’24 have received pre-doctoral graduate research fellowships from the National Science Foundation to support their research.
Alicia Reigel Published in the Journal Communications Biology
The first-year biology professor co-authored a paper titled “Sponge-derived matter is assimilated by coral holobionts.”
W&L’s Reigel Published in the Marine Ecology Progress Series Journal
First-year biology professor co-authored a paper titled “Microbiome environmental shifts differ between two co-occurring octocoral hosts.”
W&L Student Co-Authors Paper Published by the Pain Medicine Journal
Lucy Worthy ’24 assisted in the research and helped publish the results alongside two W&L alumni.
W&L Outcomes: Lauren Shelby ’23
Lauren Shelby ’23 will be pursuing her master’s degree at New York University.
Robert Humston will assess over 30 years of data collected by the U.S. Forest Service within the George Washington and Thomas Jefferson National Forests.
Professor of Biology Robert Humston’s Spring Term course takes a deep dive into environmental problem-solving.
W&L Professors and Students Co-Author Peer-Reviewed Paper on Web-Weaving Spiders
Professors Nadia Ayoub and Kyle Friend, and students Jamal Magoti ’23, Maria Luzaran ’23, Cooper Lazo ’24 and Eman Muamar ’24 all contributed to the paper that appeared in the open science platform Frontiers.
W&L Presents Senior Recital with Sam Boyd ’23
Boyd’s piano recital will be held in person and via Livestream on May 17 at 7 p.m.
W&L’s Jules Seay ’24 Awarded Two Prestigious Scholarships to Support Her Undergraduate Studies
Seay has been selected for the Goldwater Scholarship to support a research career in science, mathematics and engineering, and also earned the Udall Scholarship in the environmental category.
W&L’s Ava Boussy ’23 Awarded Fulbright to India
Boussy has been awarded a Fulbright-Nehru research grant to study Buddhist shrines and temples in India.
Meet the Faculty
At W&L, students enjoy small classes and close relationships with professors who educate and nurture.
Bill Hamilton
Biology Department Head and Professor of Biology
Hamilton teaches courses in biology and environmental studies, such as Yellowstone Ecology and Experimental Botany. His research pertains to ecosystem dynamics with a focus on animal-plant-soil interactions in Yellowstone National Park.
Nadia Ayoub
Associate Professor of Biology
- P: 540-458-8892
- E: ayoubn@wlu.edu
Ayoub teaches Evolution, Genetics, Genomics, Foundations of Modern Biology and Genetic Engineering and Society. Her research focuses on how diversity at the molecular level translates into diversity at the organismal level. Current projects include describing the entire suite of genes needed for silk synthesis in the black widow spider and closely related cobweb weavers and developing phylogenetic markers for spider systematics.
Sarah Blythe
Associate Professor of Biology; Neuroscience Program Head
- P: 540-458-8342
- E: blythes@wlu.edu
Professor Blythe teaches Addiction and Drugs of Abuse, Vertebrate Endocrinology, Anatomy and Physiology, Food for Thought and Experimental Neurophysiology. Her research explores the physiological and neurobiological effects of obesity. Current projects in her laboratory involve diet-induced cognitive impairments, the gut-brain connection (microbiome), and time-restricted feeding paradigms.
Paul Cabe
Professor of Biology
- P: 540-458-8894
- E: cabep@wlu.edu
Professor Cabe teaches a number of genetics courses, as well as ornithology. His research interests focus on using modern molecular methods to collect data useful in answering questions in the areas of population genetics and evolutionary biology. He is also interested in ornithology, ecology and conservation biology.
Robert Humston
John Kyle Spencer Director for Environmental Studies and Professor of Biology
- P: 540-458-8341
- E: humstonr@wlu.edu
Humston teaches Introduction to Environmental Studies, Aquatic Ecology and Ecological Modeling, among other courses. He has researched fisheries management, fish ecology and dispersal/movement behavior of animals and plants.
Lawrence E. Hurd
Herwick Professor of Biology
- P: 540-458-8484
- E: hurdl@wlu.edu
Hurd teaches zoology, ecology and biodiversity conservation. His research is on tropical biodiversity and entomology.
Helen I’Anson
AIM Program Co-Director, John T. Perry Professor of Biology and Research Science
- P: 540-458-8974
- E: iansonh@wlu.edu
Professor I'Anson teaches courses in fundamentals of biology, animal physiology, microanatomy, reproductive physiology and neuroendocrinology. She also supervises W&L students in the Biology Department’s St. Andrews-W&L Partnership Program. She is currently researching the neurobiology of puberty.
David Marsh
Professor of Biology
Marsh teaches Intro to Behavioral Ecology, Microbiome, Field Herpetology, Animal Behavior and Statistics for Biology and Medicine. His research includes effects of climate change on endemic mountaintop salamanders, effects of roads and land use on frog and toad populations across the Eastern and central U.S., and population dynamics of terrestrial salamanders.
Natalia Toporikova
Associate Professor of Biology
Professor Toporikova’s courses include Biological Clocks and Rhythms, The Architecture of Living Systems, Dynamics of Biological Systems and Pregnancy: A Kiss in Time? In her research, she applies methods of computational modeling to study a wide range of biological systems. Some recent projects include neural control of breathing, pregnancy initiation in rats, and daily circadian cycle.
Fiona Watson
Associate Professor of Biology
- P: 540-458-8864
- E: watsonf@wlu.edu
Professor Watson’s courses include Cell Biology, Animal Development, Neural Imaging and CSI: W&L. Her overall research interests encompass two main areas of investigation: 1) the recovery of optic nerve axons of adult Xenopus using a nerve crush injury model, and 2) the effects of pesticide exposure on the neurogenesis of sensory neurons.
Gregg Whitworth
Associate Professor of Biology
Whitworth’s courses include Data Science: Visualizing and Exploring Big Data and The Molecular Mechanics of Life.
Charles Winder
Laboratory Instructor
- P: 540-458-8444
- E: winderc@wlu.edu
Winder holds a bachelor\'s degree in biology from the University of North Carolina, Asheville, and a master\'s in botany from the University of Tennessee