Department of Biology and Microbiology

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Yajun Wu, Interim Department Head
Department of Biology and Microbiology
Alfred Dairy Science Hall 228
605-688-6141

Faculty

Professors

Bruce Bleakley, Volker Brözel, Charles Fenster, Radhey Kaushik, Wanlong Li, Madhav Nepal, Sen Subramanian, Xiuqing Wang, Yajun Wu, Ruanbao Zhou

Associate Professors

Nicholas Butzin, Greg Heiberger, Bishnu Karki, Ananda Nanjundaswamy, Mark Messerli, Ethan Snow, Natalie Thiex

Assistant Professors

Ryan Hanson, Gergely Imre

Senior Lecturers

Mandy Orth

Lecturers

Andrew Ellis, Kristin Lenertz, Jessica Mediger, Randall Warren

Instructors

Ashley McConnell, Brietta Nelson, Teresa Pederson, Omar Rodriguez

Emeritus

Nels Granholm, Michael Hildreth, Scott Pedersen, Gary Peterson, Neil Reese, Yang Yen

Overview

The Biology and Microbiology department provides a vibrant environment in which students learn, discover, and grow. Faculty are dedicated to offering learning environments that prepare students for productive, successful careers, contributing to industry, healthcare, and research. The department is equally dedicated to probing the fascinating intricacies of living systems in order to contribute to regional and national needs. Research teams collaborate in multi-disciplinary and multi-national teams to seek solutions for pressing problems in agriculture, health, and energy.

Programs

Majors

• Biology (B.S.)  
• Biology (B.S.) - Secondary Education Specialization  
• Biotechnology (B.S.)  
• Human Biology (B.S.)  
• Microbiology (B.S.)  

Minors

• Biology Minor  
• Bioprocessing Sciences Minor  
• Microbiology Minor  

Certificates

• Bioprocessing Sciences Certificate  

Pre-Professional Interest Areas

• Pre-Chiropractic  
• Pre-Dental  
• Pre-Genetic Counseling  
• Pre-Medicine  
• Pre-Mortuary  
• Pre-Optometry  
• Pre-Physician Assistant  

Graduate Programs*

• Biological Sciences (M.S.)
• Biological Sciences (M.S.) - Biology Specialization
• Biological Sciences (M.S.) - Microbiology Specialization
• Biological Sciences (Ph.D.)
• Biological Sciences (Ph.D.) - Biology Specialization
• Biological Sciences (Ph.D.) - Microbiology Specialization
• Biological Sciences (Ph.D.) - Molecular Biology Specialization
• Biotechnology Certificate
• Human Biology (M.S.)

* Graduate degrees are offered in collaboration with the Graduate School. For details, see the Graduate Catalog.

Facilities and Services

The Department of Biology and Microbiology and its faculty members are located in five buildings: Edgar S. McFadden Biostress Laboratory (SNP), Alfred Dairy Science Hall - main office (SDS), Berg Agricultural Hall (SAG), Avera Health and Science Center (SAV), and Olson Research Laboratories (SAS) on the SDSU campus. The Functional Genomics Core Facility and the Animal Resource Wing facilities and equipment are available to support research activities in the areas of abiotic and biotic stresses to plants, infectious diseases, microbiology, molecular and cell biology, and bioproducts. 

Student Support and Engagement Opportunities 

The department provides a rich selection of experiences for students, from the undergraduate research in over 20 laboratories, to international travel experiences, and internships in healthcare and industry. Students may also participate in numerous clubs and organizations related to their academic programs.

• Microbiology Club
• National Science Teachers Association
• Pre-Medical Chapter of the American Medical Student Association
• Pre-Professional Science Club
• Student National Education Association

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