Graduate Programs

The Biomedical Science program provides curriculum for pre-professional health pathways, including pre-medical, pre-pharmacy, pre-dental and pre-veterinary studies. Research areas include cancer biology, immunology, infectious disease and molecular and cellular biology.

A regional cancer research consortium involving NIU Biological Sciences, the NIU Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the UIC Rockford Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy supports collaborative research opportunities.

Students are well prepared for professional entrance exams such as the MCAT, as well as careers in healthcare, biotechnology or graduate study in biomedical research.

This area focuses on improving undergraduate biology education and is ideal for students pursuing careers in higher education or academia. Both M.S. and Ph.D. options are available.

Research explores how teaching practices such as modeling and communication influence student learning, as well as strategies to support diverse student populations, including first-generation students.

Graduates are well prepared for academic positions with a focus on teaching in the biological sciences.

PULSE community and National Academies of Sciences resources inform this work.

This area examines how organisms interact with their environment, how evolution shapes biodiversity and how human activity impacts ecosystems.

Students develop skills for careers in wildlife and natural resource management, conservation, restoration and graduate study.

Faculty are also affiliated with the Institute for the Study of the Environment, Sustainability and Energy.

Faculty Research Interests

• Holly P. Jones, restoration ecology and conservation biology
• Bethia H. King, behavioral ecology, entomology
• Jennifer Koop, invasive species ecology and evolution
• Virginia L. Naples, comparative morphology and vertebrate paleontology
• Karen E. Samonds, paleontology and paleobiogeography
• Wesley D. Swingley, microbial ecology

This research area includes virology, fungal genetics and bacteriology. Microbiology also contributes significantly to the biomedical sciences program.

Graduates are well prepared for careers in healthcare, biotechnology and research, as well as advanced graduate study.

This program includes diverse research in plant biology, including plant interactions, evolution, bioinformatics, genome sequencing and biofuel development.

Students gain training for careers in laboratory research, fieldwork, bioinformatics and teaching, or for further graduate study.

Students in plant molecular biology and bioinformatics may compete for the Sidney Mittler Scholarship.