The mission of the Department of Biology is to provide excellence in undergraduate and graduate education. We strive to provide the attention and opportunities students at all levels need to succeed in biology. At the undergraduate level we combine classroom and laboratory experience with research opportunities. At the graduate level we provide state-of-the-art research infrastructure and facilities supporting internationally recognized research programs. Our research programs are supported by funding from many Federal and private agencies: NIH, NSF, American Heart Association and Roy J. Carver Foundation to name a few.

We also foster an environment that encourages interdisciplinary approaches to teaching and research. We encourage our faculty to work closely with other departments on campus and around the globe addressing the most challenging research questions.

The Department of Biology focuses on teaching and research in four primary areas:

• Genetics and Biotechnology
• Evolution
• Neurobiology
• Cell and Developmental Biology

The Department of Biology houses facilities and centers to assist faculty, students and staff in their pursuit of research excellence:

• Sciences Library
• Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank (DHSB)
• Biology Engineering Systems Group
• Biology Greenhouse
• Biology Information Technology Group
• Roy J. Carver Center for Genomics & DNA Sequencing and Microarray Facility (CCG)
• Roy J. Carver Center for Imaging (CCI)
• W.M. Keck Dynamic Image Analysis Facility
• Iowa Biosciences Academy (IBA)
• Aging Mind and Brain Initiative (AMBI)

To read more about each of these, see the Core Research Facilities page.

To learn more about our faculty research visit our Faculty Research pages.