Effective coordination between cells through cell communication and signaling enables multicellular organisms to develop and survive. Conversely, aberrations in these pathways are at the heart of a wide variety of human diseases. In this seminar course, we will discuss the molecular and cellular mechanisms of cell communication using a series of human diseases as a framework. The course will introduce postbac and advanced undergraduate students to the fundamental principles of cell signaling and will explore current questions of interest to the field. The synergistic nature of research directed at understanding basic cell biology, development and physiology with research aimed at elucidation and control of specific human ailments will be emphasized. The course will be comprised of a combination of introductory lectures and extensive discussion of primary literature. Students are expected to have a basic knowledge of cell biology, biochemistry and cell structure. BIOL 2201 and BIOL 2801 are recommended pre-requisites.

Effective coordination between cells through cell communication and signaling enables multicellular organisms to develop and survive. Conversely, aberrations in these pathways are at the heart of a wide variety of human diseases. In this seminar course, we will discuss the molecular and cellular mechanisms of cell communication using a series of human diseases as a framework. The course will introduce postbac and advanced undergraduate students to the fundamental principles of cell signaling and will explore current questions of interest to the field. The synergistic nature of research directed at understanding basic cell biology, development and physiology with research aimed at elucidation and control of specific human ailments will be emphasized. The course will be comprised of a combination of introductory lectures and extensive discussion of primary literature. Students are expected to have a basic knowledge of cell biology, biochemistry and cell structure. BIOL 2201 and BIOL 2801 are recommended pre-requisites.

This course is designed for advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students with a particular interest in infectious disease biology. Note that this course is not a comprehensive survey of the field and is not appropriate for students seeking a lecture course on disease. The primary objective of this course is to teach students considering a career in the biomedical sciences how to read, discuss, and question research papers effectively. Intensive classroom discussions focus on the experimental methods used, results obtained, interpretation of these results in the context of pathogen interactions with host cells and organisms, and implications for basic research and therapeutic development.

This course is designed for beginning graduate students and advanced undergraduates with a particular enthusiasm for cell biology. Biology 4010 does not attempt to cover all aspects of cell biology, and is therefore not appropriate for students seeking a lecture course which provides a comprehensive survey of the field. Rather, the primary objective of this course is to teach those students considering a career in the biomedical sciences how to read, discuss, and question original research papers effectively. Intensive classroom discussions focus on the experimental methods used, results obtained, interpretation of these results in the context of cell structure and function, and implications for further studies.

This course is designed for beginning graduate students and advanced undergraduates with a particular enthusiasm for cell biology. Biology 4010 does not attempt to cover all aspects of cell biology, and is therefore not appropriate for students seeking a lecture course which provides a comprehensive survey of the field. Rather, the primary objective of this course is to teach those students considering a career in the biomedical sciences how to read, discuss, and question original research papers effectively. Intensive classroom discussions focus on the experimental methods used, results obtained, interpretation of these results in the context of cell structure and function, and implications for further studies.

This course will focus on the molecular mechanisms by which fundamental cellular processes are disrupted in the development of cancer.

Early development of microbiology, pathology, and immunobiology; molecular and cellular bases of immune phenomena including: immunity to pathogens, immune diseases, autoimmunity, and hypersensitivity. This course is open to students in the College of Liberal and Professional Studies only.

This course uses a biological foundation to explore general issues at the interface of biology and society. We will use both historical and contemporary reading materials, with an emphasis on the primary scientific literature, to inform discussions on often controversial issues in biology as well as the social responsibility of scientists to respond to these issues. The course will cover how science has shaped social and political opinions on such topics as race, ethnicity, and gender, as well as how society and politics are influenced by and impact science. This course will provide a background and context in which to consider, anticipate, and respond to biology's present and future ethical and social implications.

The importance of microbiology in complex issues, such as the impact of the microbiome in human health or as alternative energy sources, is being appreciated more and more each day. This upper level laboratory course provides students with a robust technical skill set while also giving them an opportunity to participate in an authentic research project that may lead to novel discoveries. Students will generate research questions, formulate hypotheses, design experiments, analyze data, and present their research findings to the class. In each project, students will use the cutting edge approach of metagenomics to evaluate the microbial diversity of their environment via Next Generation Sequencing. Students will also examine the function of microbial species within their communities. Potential projects include the isolation of novel antibiotic producers and the antibiotic they produce, designing and optimizing microbial fuel cells that can be used to generate electricity, or isolating antibiotic resistant bacteria and attempting novel approaches to inhibit or prevent their growth.

An introduction to marine biology and oceanography. Topics will include chemical and physical oceanography, a survey of form, function and phylogeny of algae, invertebrates and vertebrates, and an examination of ecological and evolutionary principles as applied to marine organisms and ecosystems.