The Biology faculty are strongly committed to quality teaching and
advisement of students, and to excellence in research. Information on recent
accomplishments, awards and grants to both faculty and students are
available on the Biology Department website noted above.
As the largest department in the natural sciences at Missouri State, Biology
strives to maintain breadth and balance among the many biological
disciplines. Faculty research specialties are diverse, and include the areas
of cell biology, microbiology, molecular and population genetics,
physiology, systematics, ecology, and evolution. This breadth of expertise
contributes strongly to quality teaching.
Biology faculty members maintain active research programs that are
frequently supported by external grants. These research programs provide
opportunities for undergraduate involvement, which has often led to
publication and presentations by students at professional meetings.
Grant-funded research projects often also provide employment opportunities
for students. Listings of sponsored research projects and student projects
are available on the department website noted above.
The Biology faculty offices, research laboratories and classrooms are housed
in Temple Hall and the Kings's Street Building on the Springfield Campus of
Missouri State. Temple Hall is a modern, four-story building that also
houses the departments of chemistry, geosciences, and physics and astronomy.
Equipment available in the department includes a DNA sequencer, gamma
counter, UV/VIS and AA spectrophotometers, gas analyzers, affinity
chromatography with monitor and fraction collectors, microplate readers,
ultracentrifuges, and microscopy equipment (electron, fluorescence, phase
contrast, and Nomarsky). A computer lab for student use is available in
Temple Hall, and several other similar labs are available elsewhere on
campus. Student access to the Internet is fully supported. A greenhouse
facility is attached to Temple Hall. The department maintains the Ozark
Regional Herbarium, housing over 100,000 plant specimens for teaching and
research.
~ Dr. Alicia Mathis, Department Head
Missouri State University Department of Biology • 901 South National, Springfield, MO 65897 Phone: 417-836-5126 Fax: 417-836-4204 Email: biology@missouristate.edu
