Areas of Interest Overview

NMU's Department of Biology offers its students the opportunity to explore a variety of biology topics as students in its academic programs. Explore the topics below to find a major that fits your interests. You can also view our programs by degree type on this page. 

Aquatic Biology

 

Located on the shore of Lake Superior, Northern Michigan University is in an excellent place to learn about both applied and basic aquatic biology. We have a variety of courses dealing with aquatic environments, aquatic biology  including Great Lakes ecology, limnology, aquatic insects, fisheries management, fish ecology, and ichthyology. We offer a course in marine biology every other year, and sometimes offer 1-week trip to Virgin Islands National Park to study marine biology in the field. Research interests are diverse and include fish migration, aquatic insect ecology, loon population genetics, and freshwater crab systematics.

Students interested in this area might consider any of the Biology Department majors, especially:

Faculty involved:
Cumberlidge, Gerig, Leonard, Lindsay, Strand

Biotechnology

 

Biotechnology, the application of technological advances to biological questions, is an area of rapid growth in the sciences. We often think of biotechnology in terms of human medicine, but biotechnology is critical to developments in other fields as well, including agriculture. Areas of interest include development of disease therapies, discovery of drugs, biotechnology genetic therapy, crop enhancement and protection, and many others.

Students interested in this area might consider any of the Biology Department majors, especially:

The biochemistry degree offered by the chemistry department may also be of interest.

We also have a special program in diagnostic genetics (administered jointly, listed in the Bulletin under Clinical Sciences) that may be of interest.

Faculty involved:
Rebers, Winn, Lindsay, Becker, Belton, Ottem, Sharp

Related links:
Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center, Mayo Clinic

Botany

 

Botany provides an opportunity for a diversified background in the study of structure, growth, reproduction, metabolism, development, diseases of plants.  Applications in forestry, horticulture, ethnobotany, and agronomy afford a wide range of introductory positions in business and industry, universities, and government at the local, state, and federal levels. It also provides preparation for graduate work in botany or related sciences.

Students interested in this area can major in Biology with a concentration in Botany.

Faculty involved: 
Becker, Chu, Rebertus

Cell and Molecular Biology

 

Cellular and molecular biology is central to all aspects of biology. While studies involving DNA molecules and cell operation were once thought of as strictly lab-oriented, now they involve a variety of other disciplines, including applied medicine, ecology and evolutionary biology. Our students have a wide variety of options for entering the world of cellular and molecular biology including research on insect, cell and molecular biology 
development, human brain cancer, loon systematics and evolution, and microbial action.

Students interested in this area might consider any of the Biology Department majors, especially:

We also have a special program in diagnostic Genetics (administered jointly, listed in the Bulletin under Clinical Sciences) that may be of interest.

Faculty involved:
Lindsay, Rebers, Teeter, Winn, Ottem, Sharp

Conservation Biology

 

Conservation biology includes elements of ecology, resource management and conservation. Many students are interested in conserving species and populations of concern, including endangered and threatened species. Many of our faculty are involved with work that has links to conservation biology including evaluation of Kirtland's warblers in the U.P., ecology of moose, assessments of threats to pristine watersheds like the Salmon-Trout River, restoration of coaster brook trout to Lake Superior, and protection of African biodiversity hotspots.

Students interested in this area might consider any of the Biology Department majors, especially:

Faculty involved:
Bruggink, Gerig, Graves, Lafferty, Leonard, Lindsay, Rebertus, Strand, Teeter

Related links:
Environmental science major

Ecology

 

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan, full of forests, pristine streams and lakes, and dominated by Lake Superior, is a natural place to find both students and faculty interested in ecology. Students interested in ecology have a wide range of options at NMU including in stream and aquatic ecology, as well as terrestrial and avian ecology. Other avenues of interest are population, community and behavioral ecology, as well as physiological ecology. Research interests of faculty include Lake Superior insect communities, songbird and game bird population biology, the effects of large mammals on plant communities, and migratory fish ecology.

Students interested in this area might consider any of the Biology Department majors, especially:

Faculty involved:
Becker, Brown, Bruggink, Graves, Leonard, Lindsay, Rebertus, Strand, Teeter

Related links:
Ecological Society of America, environmental science major, water science major.

Evolution

 

The word has revolutionized the sciences, especially biology. While some people outside of the sciences see controversy, when biologists hear the word evolution, they see a world of adaptations to the environment leading to incredible variety in life. As a discipline, evolutionary biology incorporates ecology, systematics, genetics, cellular and molecular biology, and many others. A course in evolution is part of the core curriculum of all Biology majors, and evolution is also incorporated in many other courses. Evolution is central to biology in general, and there are many projects ongoing in the department that directly address evolutionary questions including the phylogenetic relationships between species of freshwater crabs, evolution of resistance to heavy metal poisoning in loons, genetic relationships among mouse populations, and evolution of life history traits in fish.

Students interested in this area might consider any of the Biology Department majors.

Faculty involved:
Cumberlidge, Galbreath, Graves, Leonard, Lindsay, Strand, Teeter

Fish and Wildlife

 

Students interested in management of fish and wildlife species are well-served at Northern Michigan University.  We offer programs on major taxa including fish (ichthyology), mammals (mammalogy), and birds (ornithology). We also offer courses on management (fisheries management, wildlife management). Many students also undertake individualized projects and internships with local resource agencies including the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service. In addition to our courses, we are happy to advise students interested in becoming certified professionals through either the Wildlife Society or the American Fisheries Society.

Students interested in this area might consider:

Faculty involved:
Bruggink, Gerig, Lafferty, Leonard, Lindsay, Rebertus

Related links:
Park Service, USFWS, DNR, Wildlife Society, American Fisheries Society

Genetic and Gene Expression

 

Genetics, the study of DNA, genes and gene expression, is a critical area in biology and we approach it from a variety of avenues. Students interested in genetics may want to pursue human genetics (e.g., diagnostic genetics or medical genetics) or may be more interested in applications involving other organisms such as mice, deer, loons, crabs, tobacco horn worms, and ticks. Population genetics and systematics are areas of study that link ecology, evolution, molecular and developmental biology. Examples of genetics and gene expression research ongoing in the department include the molecular controls of cancer, mouse population biology, systematics of freshwater crabs, and molecular control of integument formation in pupating insects.

Students interested in this area might consider any of the Biology Department majors, especially:

We also have a special program in diagnostic genetics (administered jointly, listed in the Bulletin under Clinical Sciences) that may be of interest.

Faculty Involved:
Belton, Cumberlidge, Lindsay, Ottem, Rebers, Sharp, Teeter

Related Links:
Mayo Clinic, Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center

Human Health

 

Health and medicine are an important focus area for the Biology Department. Our courses serve a variety of pre-professional programs including pre-medical, pre-optometry, pre-physcial therapy, pre-dental programs, and pre-veterinary as well the NMU School of Nursing and School of Clinical Sciences. Several of our faculty advise students in these programs as well. Many students move on to professional school following a degree in the department. Other biology students are interested in joining the biotechnology field and its medical applications. In addition, our faculty participate in research related to medicine, including work on molecular controls of cancer and the immunological responses. We also participate in a collaborative relationship with Marquette General Hospital which includes research with faculty and students in the Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center and service on advisory boards. Many students also do internships or undertake research experiences either on campus or at our allied institutions, including the Mayo Clinic.

Students interested in this area might consider any of the Biology Department majors, especially:

The interdisciplinary major in Neuroscience is also pertinent to students interested in health and medicine.

We offer preparatory advising for students interested in the following professional programs: pre-medical, pre-optometry, pre-physical therapy, pre-dental, pre-veterinary.

We also have a special program in diagnostic genetics (administered jointly, listed in the Bulletin under Clinical Sciences) that may be of interest.

Faculty involved: 
Belton, Cumberlidge, Ottem, Sharp, Winn.

Related links:
Mayo Clinic, School of Nursing

Microbiology

 

Microbiology encompasses the study of microbes and their interactions with other organisms. Microbes include viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protists. Microbiology is important to human health and medicine, veterinary medicine, agriculture and many other fields. Ongoing research in the department includes work on tick-borne diseases as well as plant-microbe interactions.

Students interested in this area might consider any of the Biology Department majors, especially microbiology.

Faculty involved:
Becker, Galbreath, Sharp

Neuroscience

 

Students interested in the nervous system and behavior may be interested in the Neuroscience Major.  This major provides a foundation for pursuing graduate studies in neuroscience with a potential goal of conducting neuroscience research in academia or industry. Included in the major is a choice of two concentrations: cellular and molecular neuroscience; or behavioral and cognitive neuroscience. 

Faculty involved:

Biology: Ottem
Psychology: Carlson, Prus, Ziat

Related Links: 

Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center, CABIN Lab

Organismal Biology

 

When many students think of biology, they begin by envisioning a particular organism, a population or community of organisms. This field is an important element to any Biology Department and we offer faculty who focus on a variety of different taxa (see below), as well as degrees aimed at making organismal biology a career choice. Many of our courses incorporate elements of organismal biology into the laboratory experience and research experiences are also an option.

Students interested in this area might consider any of the Biology Department majors, especially:

Faculty involved:
Becker (plants), Bruggink (birds, mammals), Chu (plants), Cumberlidge (crustaceans), Galbreath (mammals, parasites), Gerig (fish), Graves (reptiles, amphibians), Lafferty (mammals), Leonard (fish), Lindsay (birds), Rebertus (plants and mammals), Strand (invertebrates)

Physiology

 

Many of the students interested in physiology, or how organisms function, have interests in health and medicine; physiology is a popular major for pre-professional students. Other students find themselves attracted to careers in research, including biotechnology, developmental biology and environmental physiology.

Students interested in this area might consider any of the Biology Department majors, especially physiology.

We offer preparatory advising for students interested in the following professional programs: pre-medical, pre-optometry, pre-dental, pre-physical therapy, pre-veterinary medicine

We also have a special program in Diagnostic Genetics (administered jointly, listed in the Bulletin under Clinical Sciences) that may be of interest.

Faculty involved:
Cumberlidge, Leonard, Ottem, Winn

Veterinary Medicine

 

The Biology Department offers strong preparation for students interested in attending veterinary school. Pre-vet students receive advising on requirements for admission to vet schools, and they are given guidance on how best to plan their academic trajectory.

NMU and the Marquette area offer numerous research-related, veterinary-related, and service-related experiences for students through interactions with Biology faculty, animal specialists, and veterinarians in private practices, humane societies, zoos, wildlife preserves, and other areas of interest (e.g., the UP 200 dogsled race). 

NMU also has an active pre-vet club that gives students interested in working with animals (domesticated or wild, vertebrate or invertebrate) the opportunity to develop relationships and pursue activities that are centered around their common interest.  Past club-sponsored events have included invited speakers (e.g., local veterinarians, applied animal behaviorists, dog breeders), field trips (e.g., dairy farm, buffalo farm, alpaca farm, horse stable), volunteering at local animal shelters, and fund-raisers. 

Faculty involved:
Dr. Jennifer Jezylo (email)

Related links:
Pre-vet Club, NMU Pre-vet handbook