Our Mission

The Department of Biology is dedicated to preparing students for careers in a variety of fields. As mandated by the NU Board of Regents UNK offers a Master of Science degree. However, students in our program will be exposed to a variety of courses including both laboratory and field experiences which provide a well-rounded graduate education. UNK offers a unique location for field studies with its proximity to several different ecosystems. The Department has extensive research collections of plants and mammals. Faculty research expertise includes physiology, biochemistry, ecology, microbiology, molecular biology, botany, and Geographic Information Systems, providing opportunities for both applied and basic research. Inter-disciplinary studies are emphasized with collaborations aimed at solving modern biological problems.

With 14 full-time tenure track, graduate faculty, the Department of Biology is large enough to have a person with expertise in your area of interest. However, the department is small enough that students can know and communicate with individual faculty members. A low student to faculty ratio assures the individual guidance necessary for positive individual experiences and successful completion of the program.

Our program is growing and diversified with an energetic faculty who are willing to explore a wide variety of research interests. For example, faculty efforts have recently generated approximately a half million dollars in external funding which have led to numerous peer- reviewed publications. With a $6.5 million dollar renovation to the Bruner Hall of Science, a newly outfitted computer lab, smart classrooms, and the latest scientific technology , including fluorescence microscopes, a scintillation counter, photosynthesis and digital imaging equipment, and a DNA sequencer, the Department of Biology at UNK is better suited than ever to offer students advanced educational and professional opportunities.