At Lawrence you won’t just study biology; you will do biology.
One of our largest majors at Lawrence, the biology program’s coursework and collaborative research with faculty will help you study and apply your talents to create new knowledge. Experimental work increases in sophistication as you flex your creative muscles and synthesize new information with previous discoveries.
Since biological entities span a range from macromolecules such as DNA and proteins within cells, to organs such as animal hearts or plant leaves, to entire ecosystems, you’ll be exposed to the breadth of biology through courses, labs, local and global field experiences and research. Your path toward the major will be unique.
Genetics, cell biology, microbiology, molecular biology, immunology, and more!
In your first year, you’ll work in small groups with faculty members on a co-designed research project, building skills in experimental design and implementation, data analysis and scientific presentation. You'll build on this with courses covering the diversity of organisms and experimental design and analysis, followed by more research opportunities through upper-level courses and Lawrence University Research Fellowships.
Marine biology at a land-locked college? Yes! Take courses on coral reef ecology, environmental microbiology and ecological energetics, and spend two weeks on a Caribbean island, diving to undertake a census of coral reef biodiversity and complete a self-designed research project.
With upper level courses in aquatic ecology, terrestrial ecology and plant ecology you can sample lakes and rivers and search for bats and bugs in fields and woodlands. In cell biology, you will create a portfolio of images using our confocal microscope (check out the video below). In genetics you can map genes and fingerprint DNA.
Completion of Biology Senior Experience.
A Secret to the Synapse? Investigating Targets of the Transcription Factor, DAF-19, in the Nervous System of C. elegans.
Education: Smith College, B.A.; Johns Hopkins University. M.S.; University of Wisconsin-Madison, Ph.D.
Education: Loyola University, B.A., B.S.; University of Illinois-Chicago, Ph.D.