The Biology and Microbiology Department provides an intellectually vibrant, collegial and interdisciplinary research environment. Here students and faculty seek to further our understanding of biological systems and processes, and contribute to solutions for the challenges facing humankind. Research is focused in seven areas, and faculty work on a range of life forms including mammals, plants, fungi, bacteria and viruses. Research in the various laboratories is supported through grants from various funding agencies, including NSF, NIH and USDA, shared departmental equipment and three core facilities - functional genomics core facility, genomics sequencing facility and mass spec facility. Our graduates find positions in academia, medicine, veterinary and medical research and biotech industry.