Welcome to the Department of Biology
UMass Boston's Department of Biology in the College of Science and Mathematics offers dynamic curricula, research opportunities, and mentoring at the undergraduate, Masters, and Ph.D. levels. Our integrative programs foster a deep understanding of biology at the levels of molecules, cells, organisms, and ecosystems.
Academic Programs
Undergraduate Programs
Graduate Programs
- Biology MS
- Biology PhD
- Molecular, Cellular and Organismal Biology Track
- Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology Track
- Biomedical Engineering & Biotechnology PhD
- Biotechnology & Biomedical Science MS
- Biotechnology Professional Science MS
- Computational Sciences PhD
- Integrative Biosciences PhD
- Biotechnology Certificate
About Our Department
Biology is the natural sciences discipline concerned with the study of living organisms; their genetic, cellular, and physiological functions; their development; their evolution; and their interaction with each other and the environment. UMass Boston’s Department of Biology is a vibrant, collaborative research and teaching community. The faculty of the department have diverse interests and experiences that span a wide range of disciplines within the biological sciences, conduct cutting-edge research, and are committed teachers. The undergraduate curricula of the Biology and Biochemistry majors emphasize hands-on practical and laboratory experience, foster critical thinking, and offer numerous opportunities for engagement in research in the life sciences. The department also sponsors multiple research-driven Ph.D. and Masters-level graduate programs, including with other departments on campus.
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Departmental Achievements
- Dr. Catherine McCusker and the Woodhams lab have contributed to a new study on Broad host susceptibility of North American amphibian species to Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans suggests high invasion potential and biodiversity risk.
- Dr. Jarrett Byrnes was recently quoted in an article entitled, “The Most Mysterious Forests on Earth are Underwater” on the general interest website Vox. He discussed his own personal experiences diving in kelp forests.
- Assistant Professor Nichola Hill has received significant media coverage for her research on the global spread of bird flu. The recent expansion of the virus into North America is being studied by the Hill Lab, and their work has been featured by The Guardian, The Boston Globe and Nature News.
- In collaboration with the Shevchenko lab (Max Planck Institute, Dresden, Germany), the Rister lab studied the effects of vitamin A deficiency on the morphology, lipidome, and proteome of the eye.The publication is part of a Special Issue on ‘Invertebrates as Emerging Model Organisms in Nutrition Research.’
- The Woodhams lab and collaborators describe rewilding the amphibian microbiome in preparation for reintroductions from captivity in Panama in an article published in Biological Conservation entitled, "Effects of captivity and rewilding on amphibian skin microbiomes".
- Uzezi Okinedo, a PhD student in Brook Moyers’ lab, has been awarded the American Association of University Women’s International Fellowship for 2022-2023.
Resources
Advising
Advising helps you to find the right program and courses, stay on track to graduate, and get ready for a successful career. The Office of Advising Excellence coordinates academic advising across UMass Boston.
Contact
Alexa MacPherson
Office: W-3-21
Telephone: 617.287.6600
Fax: 617.287.6650