Department of Biology
Academic Unit Head: Kyle Seifert
Email: seiferkx@jmu.edu
Phone: (540) 568-6733
Location: Bioscience Building, Room 2001C
Department of Biology Website
Associate Academic Unit Head: Heather Griscom
Email: griscohp@jmu.edu
Location: Bioscience Building, Room 1028H
Assistant Academic Unit Head and Graduate Program Director: Janet Daniel
Email: danie2jc@jmu.edu
Location: Bioscience Building, Room 2028C
Mission Statement
The Department of Biology holds as its primary core value a commitment to providing superlative teaching for students. To accomplish this mission, we will create an environment for learning that will include opportunities for undergraduate research, a broadly-based academic program, a supportive, diverse and collaborative faculty, an understanding of the process of science and a recognition of the importance of community outreach and involvement.
Career Opportunities and Advanced Fields of Study
- Anthropology
- Aquatic Science
- Biodiversity
- Bioinformatics
- Biotechnology
- Botany
- Clinical Laboratory Sciences
- Dentistry
- Ecology and Environmental Science
- Epidemiology
- Forensic Science
- Forestry
- Genetic Counseling
- Graduate School in the Biological Sciences
- Immunology
- Landscape Architecture
- Medicine
- Microbiology
- Microscopy
- Neurobiology
- Nursing
- Occupational Therapy
- Optometry
- Pharmacology
- Physical Therapy
- Physician Assistant
- Physiology
- Research Assistant
- Scientific Writing
- Secondary Education
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Veterinary Medicine
- Virology
- Zoology
Students interested in pursuing any of these career opportunities should contact the biology office. An appropriate advisor will be assigned for mentoring and course selection.
Co-curricular Activities and Organizations
Biology majors participate in activities such as:
- Weekly departmental seminars
- Tri-Beta, a national biology society
- Pre-professional health clubs and honor society
- Summer and academic-year research opportunities
- Summer courses at biological field stations
- Internships with various organizations
- Aiding in teaching as student assistants
- Presenting papers at meetings
- Volunteering at Sentara RMH and with the rescue squad
Departmental Research
Currently, the biology department has research strengths in the following areas:
- Anatomy
- Cell Biology and Genetics
- Comparative and Functional Morphology
- Developmental Biology
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
- Genomics
- Microbiology
- Neurobiology
- Physiology
- Plant Biology
More information regarding faculty research can be found on the Department of Biology website.