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Research

The faculty in the Department of Biology, in collaboration with graduate and undergraduate students, investigate a wide range of research questions in the biological sciences.

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Students can become involved in research through the First Year Research Experience (FYRE) or they may peruse the descriptions of faculty research areas within the various subdisciplines of the biological sciences and contact faculty directly. Faculty and students conduct research from Molecular Biology to Ecosystem Ecology and the myriad subdisciplines in between.

Areas of Research

Funding and Opportunities

There are many resources available to students in the Department of Biology for research and scholarship.

Other Funding Resources

Our Research Facilities

In addition to each faculty member having his/her own laboratory in which they conduct research with students, all researchers have access to the following state-of-the-art facilities:

Students at a microscope

Center for Advanced Microscopy and Imaging (CAMI)

CAMI serves the microscopy needs of both the biological and materials communities. Available for use without charge to the Miami University community, the center was designed specifically to best meet the environmental needs for advanced microscopy.
Student doing field research

Center for Animal Behavior

Center for Animal Behavior (CAB), in the College of Arts & Science, provides opportunities to study animal behavior at many levels. We bring together core faculty from several Miami University departments to encourage interest in animal behavior, as well as to promote research and education in behavioral ecology and evolution, neuroscience, and animal learning.
CBFG logo on wall

Center for Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics (CBFG)

CBFG is a state-of-the-art research and training facility available for all members of the university but is most heavily utilized by students in the Departments of Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Geology, and Microbiology.
Students using the ecology research center equipment

Ecology Research Center

The ERC is home to ecological field research at Miami University and provides educational opportunities for middle, high school, and university students. This 175-acre field station contains sites and facilities supporting both aquatic and terrestrial research and also houses a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Department of Energy (DOE) meteorological station.

Computing and Bioinformatics

Bioinformatics facilities, such as Miami University has a High Performance Computing (HPC) system and the Research Computing Support (RCS) group, are a valuable research resource as they provide advanced computational tools, high-performance computing systems, and specialized hardware for rapid genomic and metagenomic analysis.
Outside shot of Miami's outdoor gardens

Natural Areas

Open to all Miamians and local communities, our thousands of acres of conserved land serve as a greenbelt around our campus, including the Bachelor Wildlife and Game Reserve, Silvoor Biological Sanctuary, the DeWitt Homestead and popular Peffer Park, and others.

    Mallory-Wilson Center for Healthcare Education

    The Mallory-Wilson Center in the College of Arts and Science provides resources, information, and support that enable students to make informed decisions regarding the issues facing today's healthcare professionals. Programs and services include Premedical and Pre-Health advising, the Premedical and Pre-Health Studies Co-Major, Premedical Living Learning Community, internships, and scholarships.

    More Information
Shot of the main gallery of the Hefner Museum

Hefner Museum of Natural History

The Hefner Museum of Natural History uses exhibits, collections and specimens, and interactive programs to teach visitors of all ages about animal biodiversity, conservation, and ecology. 

As part of the Hefner Center, the Willard Sherman Turrell Herbarium houses a broad collection of dried specimens. Holdings include specimens of vascular plants, mosses, fungi, and algae, as well as a microscope slide collection of wood sections, stem sections, root sections, and pollen. 

Neuroscience research subject connected to research equipment

Center for Neuroscience and Behavior

Miami's Center for Neuroscience and Behavior is an interdisciplinary research center with a mission to promote neuroscience research as well as to train graduate and undergraduate students for a career in developmental, cellular, molecular, and/or behavioral neuroscience.

As a highly interdisciplinary field, neuroscience requires an in-depth study of the nervous system at multiple levels of analysis—including molecular, genetic, cellular, and systems levels. State-of-the-art laboratory facilities are available for faculty and student research.

See Our Research Resources

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Additional Research Support

Office of Research and Innovation

Miami is committed to supporting our community's research efforts. We have robust programs and services in place to help you fulfill the professional, contractual, legal, and ethical obligations intrinsic to your research activities, whether you are a member of our faculty, an undergraduate, or a graduate student.

Office of Research for Undergraduates (ORU)

The Office of Research for Undergraduates provides a central focus for the encouragement and support of undergraduate research at Miami University. It administers a variety of funding and exhibition programs and events.

Questions? Visit our FAQs

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Department of Biology

Students in undergraduate and graduate programs learn biological concepts taught by dedicated faculty and gain hands-on research experiences in the laboratory and field using first-class equipment, centers, and facilities. Our graduates pursue a wide variety of career paths in health, biotechnology, the environment, and plant science.