Biology M.S.
Receive individualized mentoring from faculty
As a Master’s student in the Department of Biology at UNI, you will be surrounded by students and faculty curious about life and passionate about advancing scientific knowledge through research.
Like all of our graduate students, you will receive individualized mentoring from a faculty member who will help you pursue your research interests. Over 20 Biology faculty supervise thesis research projects in the fields of Anatomy and Physiology, Cell and Molecular Biology, and Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology (see Scholarworks for recent Biology M.S. thesis topics).
Facilities and resources in support of cell, molecular, and biomedical research include a tissue culture facility, CT scanner, flow cytometer, and specialized (fluorescence, confocal and scanning electron) microscopes.
Students with research interests in ecology and conservation benefit from strong partnerships with the Tallgrass Prairie Center and UNI Botanical Center and access to the UNI Biological Preserves System.
Graduates of our program are well-prepared for PhD programs in the life sciences and/or successful careers in healthcare, scientific research, education, and natural resource management.



Supportive
Faculty
Over 20 Biology faculty supervise thesis research projects in Anatomy and Physiology, Cell and Molecular Biology, and Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology.

Top-Notch
Facilities
Our department hosts facilities and resources in support of cell, molecular, and biomedical research.

Partnering
Institutions
Students with research interests in ecology and conservation benefit from strong partnerships with the Tallgrass Prairie Center and UNI Botanical Center
Faculty Research and Teaching Specialties
- Dr. Tilahun Abebe Genetics, Functional Genomics, Stress Physiology
- Dr. Pete Berendzen, Genetics & Evolution of Fish
- Dr. Nathan Bird, Vertebrate Anatomy
- Dr. Maureen Clayton, Aquatic Ecosystems
- Dr. Jim Demastes, Host & Parasite Evolution
- Dr. Kenneth Elgersma, Biostatistics, Ecology
- Dr. Laura Jackson, Conservation Biology, Prairie Restoration
- Dr. Jerreme Jackson, Microbiology & Bacterial Pathogens
- Dr. Julie Kang, Plant Anatomy
- Dr. David McClenahan, Immunology
- Dr. Mark Myers, Conservation Biology
- Dr. Nilda Rodriguez, Cell Biology, Microbiology, Infectious Disease
- Dr. David Saunders, Environmental Physiology
- Dr. Marek Sliwinski, Microbes & Plants
- Dr. Theresa Spradling, Host & Parasite Genetics
- Dr. Jeff Tamplin, Turtle Ecology & Conservation
- Dr. Carl Thurman, Animal Physiology
- Dr. Michael Walter, Microbiology, Virology
- Dr. Ai Wen, Pollinator and Prairie Ecology
- Dr. Jesse Wilcox , Science Education


Interested in being a Graduate Assistant?
Graduate Assistants will be responsible for: teaching one to two lab sections of a Liberal Arts Core Course, attending group lab prep meetings, meeting with students during office hours or as arranged, grading assignments and examinations, and corresponding with students via email or other means to answer any questions they may have about course content.
Find out More about Biology M.S.
Fill out your information here and we'll be in touch!
Contact us directly at:
Department of Biology
University of Northern Iowa
144 McCollum Science Hall
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0421
Phone: (319) 273-2456
Email: mark.myers@uni.edu
