Department of Biology

The major in biology provides a general framework of ideas concerning the diversity, functioning, and interactions of living things. In order to accommodate the requirements of differing career directions, the department offers several concentrations within the Biology major which allow specialization in areas of interest. After completing the core courses students can continue on a general Biology pathway or elect a concentration in Conservation Biology, Cell Molecular Biology, Ecology and Evolution, or Marine Biology.

The biology major provides opportunities for building the foundation of a career in one of the many specialties in private industry and in federal and state agencies that employ biologists. The major also prepares students for graduate programs in biology and marine biology (M.S. and Ph.D.) and for entry to medical, dental and veterinary colleges and programs for other health professions.

Students planning to enter graduate school should, in consultation with their advisor and the pre-grad school advisors, strongly consider calculus and research for credit courses. For those students interested in pursuing such broad fields of study as ecology, courses which stress statistics, data analysis, and database management are good foundation courses. Students considering such disciplines as cell and/or molecular biology and developmental biology should take courses in genetics, molecular and cell biology, genomics, and biochemistry.

The existing curriculum for biology majors satisfies most of the admissions requirements for medical, dental, veterinary and other graduate health professional programs. Physics laboratories should be added, and in many cases calculus is expected. Premedical students should complete their 300 and 400-level biology electives with courses such as General Microbiology, Genomics, Animal Physiology, Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, Developmental Biology, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, and Medical Anatomy and Physiology. These courses are very helpful when preparing for the MCAT exam. Ethics for Health Care Professionals serves as an excellent humanities elective. Check with the medical school you wish to enter for additional requirements such as psychology and statistics. For more details, seek the advice of members of the faculty premedical advisory committee, especially those in the Biology department.

Modern biology requires a wide range of supporting courses in such other fields of study as statistics, computer science, physics, and chemistry. Biology majors should consult with their advisors early in their course of study regarding possible career choices and plan to take appropriate elective courses that support their selected field of study.

Teacher Preparation Program Option:

Enrollment in the 4+1 (BA/BS-MAT) Teacher Preparation program allows undergraduate students to explore teaching as a profession through completion of graduate-level education coursework and field experiences within local public school settings. Students pursing teacher preparation at UMass Dartmouth graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in their chosen major, a Master’s degree in Teaching, and a Sheltered English Immersion endorsement. In order to develop a plan towards a license to teach, students should indicate their interest to both their biology major advisor and the Coordinator of Teacher Preparation Programs. Students may enroll in the 4+1 program once they have earned 30 credits with a 3.0 GPA or above.

Faculty and Fields of Interest

Diana Barrett, PhD 2016 University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Diego Bernal, BS 1995 Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, MS 2000, PhD 2002 University of California San Diego, Physiology of High Ferformance Fishes, Shark biology

Erin Bromage, BSc 1996, BSc 1997 James Cook University, Post-Doc Fellow 2002 VA Institute of Marine Science, PhD 2004 James Cook University, Immunology, Microbiology, Biosensor and Vaccine Development

Richard C Connor (emeritus), BA 1982 University of California at Santa Cruz, PhD 1990 University of Michigan, Evolution of Social Interactions, Marine Mammal Biology

Sarah Donelan, BA Wesleyan Univeristy, PhD Northeastern University, Marine Ecology, Predation Risk, Transgenerational Plasticity

Robert E Drew, BS 1994 Purdue University, MS 1997, PhD 2006 Washington State University, Genomic Analysis of Quantitative Traits

Robert Gegear, BSc 1992 and MSc 1995 Western University, Canada, BC 1998 Vancouver Community College, Canada, PhD 2002 Western University, Canada, Conservation Biology, Neuroecology, Pollinator-plan Interactions

Whitney E Hable (emeritus), BA 1990 University of Virginia, PhD 1996 University of Arizona, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology

Kathryn D Kavanagh, PhD 1998 James Cook University, Evolutionary and Ecological Development Biology

Genevieve Kozak, BS 2004 Cornell University, PhD 2010 University of Wisconsin-Madison, Genomics of Speciation, Evolutionary Biology

Cynthia Ladino, BA 1984 Wheaton College, PhD 1988 University of Massachusetts Lowell, Medical Microbiology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry

Elizabeth McCliment, BS 1997 Texas A&M University, PhD 2007 University of Delaware, Molecular, General Biology

Pia H. Moisander (Graduate Program Director), MS 1996 University of Helsinki, PhD 2002 University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Marine Microbiology, Phytoplankton Physiological Ecology, Marine Biofouling

Nancy J O’Connor (emeritus), BS 1980 University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, MS 1982 University of Delaware, PhD 1990 North Carolina State University, Invertebrate Biology, Nonindigenous Marine Species

Kenneth Oliveira (emeritus), BS 1986, MS 1989 University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, PhD 1994 University of Rhode Island, Fish Biology, Life History, Age and Growth of Fishes

Tara K Rajaniemi, BA 1995 Florida State University, PhD 2001 University of Michigan, Plant Community Ecology, Plant Competition, Species Diversity

Michael Sheriff, PhD 2010, University of British Columbia, Predator-prey Interactions, Ecology

Mark W. Silby (Chairperson), BSC 1993, MSC 1996 PhD 2002 University of Canterbury New Zealand, Microbial Genetics, Molecular Microbiology

Jefferson Turner, BS 1969 Guilford College, MA 1972 University of South Florida, PhD 1977 Texas A & M University, Biological Oceanography, Marine Plankton, Biogeography

Katrina Velle, BS 2012 University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, PhD 2018 University of Connecticut, Cell Biology, Mechanisms of Motility in Naegleria

Alan Ventetuolo, BA 1976 Boston University, M.ED 1984 Rhode Island College, DC 1998 University of Bridgeport, Medical Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology

Benjamin Winslow, BS 2004 University of New Hampshire, PhD 2011 Wesleyan University, General Biology, Developmental Biology