As an important part of a student-centered research university, the Biology Department provides instruction on research and offers its undergraduates and graduate opportunities to participate in research.

• Yasir Ahmed-Braimah: Computational genomics, evolutionary genetics, speciation, molecular basis of reproductive interactions.
• David M. Althoff: Evolutionary ecology of species interactions, insect community ecology, molecular ecology, phylogenetics.
• Katie M. Becklin: Physiology, ecology, and evolution of species interactions, and their responses to environmental change.
• Carlos A. Castañeda: Biochemistry and biophysics of protein structure and dynamics.
• Heather D. Coleman: Plant biotechnology.
• Steve Dorus: Evolutionary genetics and genomics of reproductive systems.
• Scott Erdman: Eucaryotic cellular organization and differentiation, functional genomics in fungal systems.
• Christopher Fernandez: Mycorrhizal ecology; ecosystem ecology; mycology; plant-microbe interactions; soil biogeochemistry.
• Austin Garner: Organismal attachment, functional morphology, biomechanics, anatomy, bio-inspired adhesion, biomimetics.
• Sarah E. Hall: Cellular memory of developmental history in C. elegans.
• Heidi Hehnly: Understanding the interface between cytoskeletal dynamics and membrane transport, and defining how they co-regulate one another to control essential cellular processes such as cell division, fate, and polarity.
• James Hewett: Neuromodulators and epilepsy; function of arachidonic acid metabolism, Cyclooxygenase-2, and interleukin-1 in the central nervous system.
• Jamie Lamit: Ecology of plants, microbes and soil, with an emphasis on global change and wetlands.
• Katharine (Kate) Lewis: Specification and patterning of spinal cord interneurons, formation of functional neuronal circuitry, evolution of spinal cord patterning and function, dorsal-ventral neural tube patterning, zebrafish development.
• Sarah K. Lucas: Human microbiome, metagenomics, bioinformatics, anaerobic microbiology, experimental microbiology
• Jessica MacDonald: Genetic and epigenetic mechanisms regulating neuronal development and function; gene-environment interactions and neurodevelopmental disorders.
• Vera McIlvain: Cellular and molecular mechanisms of eye and brain development.
• Angela Oliverio: Eco-evolutionary dynamics, experimental biology, bioinformatics, soil microbiology, systems and computational biology, metagenomics, synthetic sourdough starter microbiomes.
• Susan E. Parks: Behavioral ecology, acoustic communication, marine science, conservation biology.
• Melissa E. Pepling: Regulation of mouse oocyte development, hormone signaling in oocyte differentiation.
• Scott Pitnick: Evolution of reproduction and life history traits.
• Ramesh Raina: Epigenetic mechanisms regulating plant defense against pathogens and plant development.
• Surabhi Raina: Molecular basis of plant responses to stresses.
• Roy D. Welch: Molecular aspects of signaling among a homogeneous population of bacteria.
• Michele G. Wheatly: Comparative physiology of decapod crustacea, cellular and molecular biology of epithelial (branchial/renal) ion motive proteins, biocomplexity.
• Jason R. Wiles: Education research in the life and earth sciences with special attention to teaching and learning about biological evolution; science education at all academic levels.