IU biologist receives MIRA to explore the myriad roles of Mediator
Assistant Professor Gabe Zentner received a MIRA to fund his research to understand the complex involvement of Mediator in transcriptional regulation.
2018 News
IU Biology faculty members named AAAS fellows
Faculty members Dan Kearns, David Kehoe, Jay Lennon, and John Patton as well as adjunct faculty members Andrea Hohmann and Claire Walczak have been named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
IU Herbarium Digitization Project achieves two major milestones
Label information has been transcribed for all 157,949 specimens, and geographic coordinates of the collecting sites for all Indiana specimens have been compiled.
Biofilms study seeks novel strategies to combat infections and stem spread of antibiotic resistance
Ankur Dalia received a Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA) to fund his studies to better understand the basic biology and mechanisms of biofilms.
Beetle's genital worms found to benefit the beetle and its young
Assistant Research Scientist Cris Ledón-Rettig's discovery of nematodes benefitting dung beetles highlighted in The Atlantic.
Alum C. David Allis wins 2018 Lasker Award
C. David Allis (Ph.D. '78) is recipient of the 2018 Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award (one of the highest honors in science) in recognition of his pioneering research in epigenetics.
Researcher's work in evolution highlighted
Professor Armin Moczek's sabbatical work in Australia has been highlighted by the Australian American Fulbright Commission.
GRE no longer required
IU Biology has announced that it will no longer require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) as part of the application process to its M.S. and Ph.D. programs.
Two biology undergrads selected as 2018 Wells Scholars
Biology undergraduate students Emma Hand and Joye Tracey were selected as 2018 Herman B Wells Scholars.
IU Bloomington Department of Biology hosts graduate students from Africa
IU Biology hosted students from Nigeria under its new summer research program designed to provide students from Africa the chance to conduct research at IU and improve the competitiveness of their applications to graduate school.
IU study: Key factor may be missing from models that predict disease outbreaks from climate change
The analysis by Professor Spencer Hall's lab and colleagues draws in part upon research in Daphnia conducted at three freshwater lakes in southern Indiana where the lab has collected samples since 2009.
IU research on mutation 'hotspots' in DNA could lead to new insights on cancer risks
New research from Pat Foster's lab and colleagues has identified "hotspots" in DNA where the risk for genetic mutations is significantly elevated.
IU Ph.D. student shines a light into the secrets of bacteria
Ph.D. student Courtney Ellison, who likes "to try and help people, especially kids, understand that bacteria are actually really cool," has made worldwide headlines with her research.
IU alum awarded biggest prize for early career evolutionary biologists
IU Biology alum Amanda Kyle Gibson (Ph.D. '16, EEB) receives 2018 Theodosis Dobzhansky Prize from the Society for the Study of Evolution.
Pigments from microbes provide clue to evolution in ancient oceans–but weren't pink a billion years ago
Professor Emerita Patricia Foster explains how biomarkers tell us about life in the ocean a billion years ago. Spoiler: Pink biomarkers came from green cyanobacteria.
Elementary students learn complex science concepts using IU wearable technology
Education, biology experts created patent-pending BioSim 3D indoor positioning system to impact science curricula.
IU scientists watch bacteria "harpoon" DNA to speed their evolution
The first direct observation of the "DNA uptake" process could help advance efforts against drug-resistant bacteria.
IU bug-borne disease monitoring project finds deer ticks on the rise in Indiana
A new environmental monitoring project at Indiana University has found increased numbers of the ticks that carry Lyme disease in southern Indiana.
IU Bloomington's world-class fruit fly genetic center awarded $2.7M grant renewal
The National Institutes of Health has awarded IU Bloomington's Drosophila Genomics Resource Center a five-year, $2.7 million grant.
New research suggests sweet potatoes did not originate in the Americas
IUB Professor Emeritus David Dilcher and colleagues in India identified 57-million-year-old leaf fossils from eastern India as being from the morning glory family, which includes sweet potatoes.
IU Ph.D. student on personal mission to help African students in STEM
Graduate student Gabriel Muhire Gihana (Lacefield lab) is developing a website to help African students in STEM.
IU botanist collects Indiana’s newest plant species
A new entry has been added to the list of plant species known to occur in Indiana: Caulophyllum giganteum, commonly known as giant blue cohosh.
Microbiology pioneer and leader Norm Pace to present special seminar
Norm Pace will present "Into the natural microbial world: the beginnings of metagenomics" on Monday, May 7, 2018, from 4 to 5:00 p.m. in Myers Hall 130.
Kumar lab on the cover of Development
The paper “Polycomb group (PcG) proteins and Pax6 cooperate to inhibit in vivo reprogramming of the developing Drosophila eye” was selected for the cover of Development.
March Madness news from Villanova: Demas receives alumni award
Professor and Chair Greg Demas was awarded the Daniel J. Ziegler Award from Villanova University Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences.
Study discovers how fish evolved to discharge electricity so rapidly
Lecturer Adam Smith, Associate Professor Troy Smith, and colleagues have found the mechanism behind the ghost knifefish's unusual trait.
Reynolds awarded SARE Sustainable Agriculture Grant
Associate Professor Heather Reynolds has been awarded a SARE Sustainable Agriculture Grant for her project, "Making the most of mulch: strategic systems for small organic tomato growers."
New B.S. degree in Molecular Life Sciences
Starting this fall, the Department of Biology will offer an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Life Sciences jointly with the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry.
Kearns elected fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology
Professor Daniel Kearns has been elected a 2018 fellow of the honorific leadership group of the American Society for Microbiology.
Beyond the numbers: Saving lives and delivering data around the world
IU Biology alum Jennifer Burnett-Zieman is always thinking about the numbers and the whys behind them—from analyzing data in an office to removing worms from children in the field in Africa.
'How to tackle the childcare-conference conundrum'
Assistant Professor Kim Rosvall was one of "A Working Group of Mothers in Science" who co-authored a PNAS article that outlines childcare guidelines for conferences.
IU biologist awarded $1.15 million to 'recruit' bacteria in the fight against disease, pollution
Assistant Professor Jake McKinlay will use National Science Foundation award to advance research and teaching on bacterial nutrient exchange.
Ketterson to receive prestigious animal behaviorist award
The international Animal Behavior Society has named Ellen Ketterson its 2018 recipient of the Distinguished Animal Behaviorist Award.
Global mapping of planktonic “chameleons”
International colleagues and Professor David Kehoe have found that bacteria that can change color are the most common type of their genus in the world’s oceans.
McKinlay receives $1.15M NSF CAREER award
Assistant Professor Jake McKinlay has received a $1.15 million NSF CAREER award to examine how bacteria optimize their location within communities where nutrients are cooperatively traded between cells.
The College of Arts