Research
The Department of Biological Sciences is one of the largest and most diverse on campus in terms of the research interests of its academic staff. This diversity has resulted in numerous collaborations among Principal Investigators as they discover common themes and approaches within their research programs. The Department currently has 59 professors, 29 adjunct professors and 31 active professors emeritus, along with a graduate student population of 224 and 40 departmental support staff.
Research in our department spans a wide range of themes in biology, including:- Ecology and Evolution
- Entomology
- Genomics
- Immunology and Infection
- Marine Biology
- Microbiology
- Model Organisms
- Molecular and Cellular Genetics
- Paleontology
- Physiology and Development
- Plant Biology
This size and breadth of research interests has allowed the Department to build world-class facilities that would be difficult to maintain by a smaller unit. The Department has facilities for terrestrial, freshwater and marine field research at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre on the west coast of Vancouver Island. It has extensive collections in plants (Vascular Plant Herbarium), plant fossils (Paleobotanical Collection), bryophytes (Cryptogamic Herbarium), vertebrates in the Museum of Zoology, both current, Amphibian and Reptile Collection, Ichthyology Collection, Mammalogy Collection, Ornithology Collection, and extinct (Laboratory for Vertebrate Paleontology), invertebrates (Freshwater Invertebrate Collection) and the Marine Invertebrate and Malacology Collection, insects (Strickland Museum), parasites (Parasite Collection), and provides excellent facilities, in the Fabrication Lab, Biogeochemical Analytical Lab (BASL), Drosophila Unit, Limnology, Molecular Biology Service Unit, Biological Sciences Microscopy Facility, Low-Level Mercury Analytical Laboratory, and the Digital Teaching Resources, as well as a comprehensive facility (the Biotron) that supplies and maintains growth chambers for plants, animals, and microbes.
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Areas of Expertise
Canada Research Chairs
Dr. Stephanie Green, Canada Research Chair in Aquatic Global Change Ecology and Conservation, Tier 2
Dr. Kimberley Mathot, Canada Research Chair in Integrative Ecology, Tier 2
Dr. Toby Spribille, Canada Research Chair in Symbiosis, Tier 2
Partner/Donor Supported Chairs and ProfessorshipsIndustrial Research Chairs
Dr. Mark Boyce, Alberta Conservation Association Chair in Fisheries and Wildlife