Biology

Return to: Colleges and Departments

GRADUATE DEGREES OFFERED

Master of Science
Doctor of Philosophy with Specialization in:
    Ecology
    Microbiology
    Physiology

Department of Biology
Science Building, room 283
Phone: 812-237-2405
Fax: 812-237-2526

Chairperson:  Dr. Christopher G. Murphy

GRADUATE FACULTY

Professors

Bakken, George S., Ph.D., Rice University
Professor of Biology
Specializations: Physiological Ecology: Energetics, Biometeorology, Thermoregulation, and Evolution

Duong, Taihung, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Associate Dean and Director, Indiana University School of Medicine, Terre Haute, and Professor of Biology
Specializations: Neurogenerative Diseases*

Geib, Roy W., Ph.D., Texas Health Science Center at Dallas
Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Terre Haute, and Professor of Biology
Specializations: Virology and Immunology: Molecular Biology of Host-Controlled Resistance to Oncogenic Viruses*

Hews, Diana K., Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin
Professor of Biology
Specializations: Behavioral Endocrinology: Reproduction, Animal Communication, Territoriality; Behavioral Ecology.

Hughes, James P., Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
Professor of Biology
Specializations: Endocrinology: Mechanisms of Hormone Action

King, Michael W., Ph.D., University of California, Riverside
Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Terre Haute, and Professor of Biology
Specializations: Tissue Regeneration, Molecular and Developmental Biology: Early Nervous System Development*

Lannoo, Michael, Ph.D., Dalhousie University
Professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine-Terre Haute, and Professor of Biology
Specializations: Conservation Biology, Comparative and Developmental Biology, Ecology, Evolution, Ecosystem Restoration, Wetlands*

Lima, Steven L., Ph.D., University of Rochester
Professor of Biology
Specializations: Behavioral and Evolutionary Ecology of Predator-Prey Interaction, Avian Community Ecology, Conservation Biology

Tuttle, Elaina W., Ph.D., State University of New York at Albany                                                                                                             Professor of Biology                                                                                                                                                                   Specializations: Population and Behavioral Ecology, Molecular Ecology, Evolution, Spatial Ecology, Landscape Genetics 

Associate Professors

Dannelly, H. Kathleen, Ph.D., Arizona State University
Associate Professor of Biology
Specializations: Microbiology: Bacteriology Immune Response to Bacterial Infection; Microbial Ecology

Gonser, Rusty, Ph.D., University of New York at Albany
Associate Professor of Biology
Specializations: Conservation Ecology, Genetics, Behavioral Ecology, Evolution, Spatial Ecology, Landscape Genetics

Mitchell, William, Ph.D., University of Arizona
Associate Professor of Biology
Specializations: Community and Evolutionary Ecology, Biodiversity

Moga, Margaret, Ph.D., Loyola University of Chicago
Associate Professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Terre Haute, and Associate Professor of Biology
Specialization: Neurobiology: Consciousness and Mind-Body Interactions*

Mulkey, Timothy, Ph.D., The Ohio State University
Associate Professor of Biology
Specializations: Plant Physiology: Hormones and Calcium in the Control of Plant Growth, Development, and Tropic Responses

Waite, Gabi, Ph.D. Zoology and Physiology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
Associate Professor of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine-Terre Haute, and Associate Professor of Biology
Specializations: Immunology, Redox Regulation of Cell Signaling in Inflammatory Disease, Immune Cell Cultures*

Assistant Professors

Bai, Yongsheng, Ph.D., University of Texas at Arlington
Assistant Professor of Biology
Specializations: Next-Generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics: Statistical Model Development, Comparative ‘Omics”, Genetics of Disease, Evolutionary Genomics, Development of Food Antimicrobials

O’Keefe, Joy, Ph.D., Clemson University
Assistant Professor of Biology
Specializations: Vertebrate Ecology, Bat Econology, Multi-Scale Habitat Selection, Forest Wildlife Management, Conservation Biology

Steding, Catherine, Ph.D., Indiana University School of Medicine                                                                                                             Assistant Professor                                                                                                                                                                      Specializations: Medical Genetics, Human Genetics, Molecular Genetics, and Molecular Biology of Cancer

Templeton, Steven, Ph.D., University of Iowa                                                                                                                                        Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine-Terre Haute, and Assistant Professor of Biology Specializations: Immunology: Characterization of Lung Immune Responses to Aspergillus fumigatus, Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses; Transgenic and Knockout Mice Strains*

*Joint appointment with the Indiana University School of Medicine, Terre Haute

INTRODUCTION

The Department of Biology administers programs leading to the master’s and doctoral degrees. These programs enable students to specialize in ecology, microbiology, or physiology. Students graduating from these programs will be qualified to enter scientific careers in academia, industry, government, or private organizations. 

Graduate programs are specialized to fit the needs and professional aspirations of the individual student. Areas of research expertise of the department include behavior, physiology, microbiology, biotechnology, cell and molecular biology, ecology, evolution, systematics, genomics, and conservation. Within these areas, specific research projects are based on the expertise of the graduate faculty.

MAIN OBJECTIVES

The specific objectives of the graduate program are to:

1. Provide the student with experience in conducting research. The completion of a thesis or dissertation containing original research, which is suitable for publication in the peer-reviewed scientific journals, is considered to be the single-most important requirement leading to the master’s or doctoral degree.
2. Provide the student with specialized or in-depth training in their chosen area.
3. Provide the student with experience in college teaching, grant writing, and scientific communication. 

Students, by mutual consent, select a professor from the graduate faculty to serve as a thesis or dissertation advisor. The student and advisor jointly select the student’s committee, subject to approval by the department and the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. The specific curriculum of each student is determined largely by the thesis/dissertation topic, and will be defined by consultation among the student, the advisor, and the thesis/dissertation committee.

Course work for the doctorate is also determined in part by qualifying examinations, which are designed to test a student’s knowledge of their programmatic area.  The scope of these examinations will be set by the student’s advisor and dissertation committee.

Recently renovated and well-equipped research laboratories support research in microbiology, physiology, and ecology. The department is home to the Center for North American Bat Research and Conservation, which conducts scientific research and community outreach on the biology of bats. The department also houses a research museum and maintains two field stations, while the University owns three natural areas that can support field research. Additionally, many state and federal natural areas are available nearby for research and teaching.  

Financial support for both master’s and doctoral students is available on a competitive basis. 

MASTER’S DEGREE ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Students seeking admission to master’s degree study in biology must:

1. Submit a complete Indiana State University application for admission to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies which includes an official transcript from each school at which college work has been completed.
2. Submit a Curriculum Vitae Form, available from the department.
3. Submit scores on the General Tests of the Graduate Record Examination and, for international students, scores on the TOEFL (See Admissions section of this Catalog).
4. Submit names of three persons from whom letters of recommendation have been requested. Letter writers should be clearly qualified to comment on the applicant’s academic performance and scientific knowledge.
5. Be admitted to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.
6. Have an overall undergraduate index of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale.
7. Have a minimum graduate index of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale if entering with advanced standing.
8. Contact one or more potential advisors to identify at least one who will agree to be the applicant’s graduate advisor should the applicant be admitted to the program.
9. All students are strongly encouraged to visit the department and meet in person with their prospective advisor(s) during the application process.

Admission is competitive and based on the general quality of the application. Although notable strength in one area may compensate for below-standard performance in another, the following departmental guidelines define the minimal standards.   

a. Applicants are expected to have completed an undergraduate major in biology, mathematics through calculus or statistics, one year of physics, and chemistry through organic. Applicants may be granted admission conditional on the removal of course work deficiencies by taking the appropriate courses or by directed study. However, applicants with extensive deficiencies may not be eligible for a teaching assistantship until the deficiencies have been removed.

b.The average of the three scores on the Graduate Record Examination should be near or above the fiftieth percentile on each examination. For individual tests, the 50 percent score is roughly 600 for the quantitative section, 500 for the verbal, and 4.0 for the analytical writing section.

c. International students should have a score of 620 or higher on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (a score of 260 or higher on the computer-based examination, or 105 on the iBTversion). If English was the language of instruction for the prior degree, scores of 550 (paper), 213 (computer), or 70 (iBT) or better may be acceptable.

d. International students applying for a teaching assistantship must have a score of at least 23 on the spoken English section of the iBT TOEFL, or provide equivalent evidence of spoken English proficiency. A personal or telephone interview may be required to assess academic and English language preparation.  

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY PROGRAM

The department offers study and research leading to a doctor of philosophy degree with specialization in ecology, microbial and cellular biology, or physiology. The completion of the degree qualifies the individual for university teaching, research, or professional work in their respective discipline. Each candidate’s individual program is based on their knowledge and ability upon entering the program and his/her objective. After completion of course work, all students must pass written and oral qualifying examinations followed by submission of an acceptable dissertation based on original research. 

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. Submit a complete Indiana State University application for admission, which includes an official transcript from each school at which college work has been completed, to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.
2. Submit a Department Curriculum Vitae Form, available at www.indstate.edu/biology/pdfs/vitaeform.pdf
3. Submit scores on the General Tests of the Graduate Record Examination and, for international students, scores on the TOEFL (See Admissions section of this Catalog)
4. Submit names of three persons from whom letters of recommendation have been requested. Letter writers should be clearly qualified to judge the applicant’s ability to carry out a successful research program.
5. Be admitted to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.
6. Have an overall undergraduate index of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale.
7. Have a minimum graduate index of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale if entering with advanced standing.
8. Applicants are required to contact one or more potential advisors to identify one who will agree to be the applicant’s graduate advisor should the applicant be admitted to the program.
9. All students are strongly encouraged to visit the department and meet in person with their prospective advisor(s) during the application process.

Admission is competitive and based on the overall quality of the application. Although notable strength in one area may compensate for below-standard performance in another, the following departmental guidelines define the minimum standards.

a. Applicants are expected to have completed an undergraduate major in biology, mathematics through calculus or statistics, one year of physics, and chemistry through organic. Applicants may be granted admission conditional on the removal of course work deficiencies by taking the appropriate courses or by directed study. However, applicants with extensive deficiencies may not be eligible for a teaching assistantship until the deficiencies have been removed.

b. The average of the three scores on the Graduate Record Examination should be near or above the fiftieth percentile on each examination. For individual tests, the 50 percent score is roughly 600 for the quantitative section, 500 for the verbal, and 4.0 for the analytical writing section.

c. International students should have a score of 620 or higher on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (a score of 260 or higher on the computer-based examination, or 105 on the iBTversion). If English was the language of instruction for the prior degree, scores of 550 (paper), 213 (computer), or 70 (iBT) or better may be acceptable.

d. International students applying for a teaching assistantship must have a score of at least 23 on the spoken English section of the iBT TOEFL, or provide equivalent evidence of spoken English proficiency. A personal or telephone interview may be required to assess academic and English language preparation. 

Return to: Colleges and Departments