Focused on the life sciences
In the Department of Biological Sciences, you will find game-changing discoveries and life-changing education, from the molecular to ecosystem levels. We are focused on some of the toughest challenges of our time - fighting cancer, combating infectious diseases, unraveling climate change, and dissecting how we see, hear and interact with our surroundings. Our research and scholarship changes people's lives and the planet.
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Studying and working within our welcoming community of life scientists can be the first step to changing your life. You'll find that research and academic pursuits are interwoven as faculty create and share new knowledge.
Research in the Department of Biological Science contributes to developing personalized medicine, unraveling how the human brain functions, combating infectious diseases, understanding genomes at levels never before imagined, and understanding the complex ecosystems that keep our planet healthy. We are responsive to challenges that appear suddenly and need immediate attention – because we prepare persistently for the moments when our knowledge can lead the way.
We are the largest department in the life sciences at Purdue University with degree-granting programs that include:
- Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Disease
- Neuroscience and Physiology
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
- Cell and Molecular Biology
- Biology Education
- Structural and Computational Biology & Biophysics
We believe that STEM education and careers should be inclusive and accessible. We are deeply committed to mentoring our students and helping them apply their knowledge and develop the skills needed to become leaders in the scientific workforce.
As part of the College of Science, we have capacity for cross-disciplinary partnerships that encourage undergraduate research experiences and empower graduate students who work and publish with renowned faculty. The diverse nature of biological sciences lends itself to collaborations in the physical sciences, agriculture, engineering, education and computational sciences. Partnerships abound as researchers from across campus work together to solve today's toughest challenges.
News
Remembering Dr. Joann Otto
2024-04-16
Dr. Joann Otto began her career as a faculty member in the Department of Biological Sciences in 1979.
Pioneering Science and Collaboration: Dr. Seema Mattoo's Trailblazing Journey
2024-04-10
In the realm of academia, where disciplines often stand as distinct silos, Dr. Seema Mattoo, an Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Purdue University, emerges as a trailblazer. Her journey, marked by resilience, curiosity, and a willingness to step outside her comfort zone, encapsulates the essence of groundbreaking scientific exploration.
Stephanie Gardner Named PULSE Fellow
2024-04-09
The Department of Biological Sciences proudly announces the appointment of Dr. Stephanie Gardner, Associate Professor and Associate Head for Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning, as a new Fellow of the Partnership for Undergraduate Life Science Education (PULSE).
Biochemical Society announces 2025 award recipients
2024-04-04
Dr. Zhao-Qing Luo is awarded the Biochemical Society Award for a Significant Breakthrough or Achievement.
NIH Awards Grant to Purdue Researcher for Innovative Cancer Treatment Research
2024-04-04
Andrea Kasinski, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences and Deputy Director of the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research has been awarded two significant grants from the National Institutes of Health's National Cancer Institute (NIH-NCI) to advance groundbreaking research in cancer treatment.