The Department of Biology
The Biology Department is housed in the Cox Science Center on the beautiful Coral Gables campus of the University of Miami in southern Florida, the gateway to the tropics. Our diverse internationally community, with its strong research focii ranging from Tropical Biology to Neuroscience, interacts with both medical and marine campuses, and exploits resources such as the Everglades, the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, the Organization for Tropical Studies and our own on-campus Gifford Arboretum. Our undergraduate curriculum serves the largest Arts and Science major, Biology, as well as Marine Science and Neuroscience majors, and emphasizes experiential learning and research opportunities.

News
New laboratories Renovations are complete for the laboratories of Alexandra Wilson and Kathryn Tosney and for three new core facilities: a tissue culture facility on the second floor and histology and imaging facilities in the basement which house a JOEL transmission electron microscope and a new Leica SP5 confocal microscope. Renovations for four additional laboratories and a new zebrafish facility will begin this fall.

People news: Recent searches have successfully attracted eight new researchers: two senior faculty, Akira Chiba and Athula Wikramanayake, two junior faculty, Julia Dallman and Isaac Skromne, two core facility manager/researchers Carla Hurt and James Baker, visiting assistant professor Patricia Buendia, and most recently Bill Browne, who will join us as an assistant professor in Fall 2009. In 2009, we will search for an additional Developmental Biologist who uses a non-mammalian genetic model system to elucidate basic questions in Biology. Tom Herbert will continue his sabbatical in Fall 2008.

Search for two endowed chairs in tropical ecology The Biology department seeks to add distinguished scientists in both animal and plant biology, focusing on the tropics. The generous gift of the Aresty Chair in Tropical Ecology is a crucial foundation for attaining eminence in Tropical Ecology; moreover it assures that undergraduates can study with a renowned scientist in the tropics, a potentially life-changing experience. The person chosen to hold the Smathers Chair in Tropical Plant Biology will also lead development and use of our on-campus arboretum, as the Director of the Gifford Arboretum. Searches open October 1 and close December 3, 2008. Applications and nominations can be sent to ArestyChair@bio.miami.edu or to SmathersChair@bio.miami.edu As a major university in Miami, the gateway to the tropics, we have a strong commitment to excellence in tropical Biology. Applications are particularly encouraged from women and minorities.

The Department of Biology featured in the news media:
Grad Student Nathan Muchala's discovery
New department chair builds bridges
Preview of Biologue 2008 Integrating Research cultures: a banner year for Biology.
Leo Sternberg's research of ancient tree rings has been highlighted in the prestigious journal Nature.  The UM Biology professor, along with colleague Hope Jahren of Johns Hopkins University, has studied the carbon, oxygen and hydrogen isotopes within the tree rings of a “fossil forest” located in the far northwest Canadian Arctic.  Study of the isotopes revealed changes in seasonal humidity that affected forest growth during the Eocene period, about 45 million years ago. For a pdf, click "Tree Ring Tales.
Dr. Barbara Whitlock was named a 2008 Digital Library Fellow; she will lead a project to create The Swingle Plant Anatomy Reference CollectionThis project will digitalize a historic collection of plant anatomical microscope slices made in the early 20th century by W.T. Swinge, a close connection of UM who was a foremost authority on citrus plants. One element of this project will create 3-dimensional representations of the physical specimens.

Events
Tropical botany Check the Gifford Arboretum Calendar for talks, the yearly picnic (Dec 1) and plant sales.

Seminars Please come to faculty seminars on Mondays and informal seminars on Fridays; All seminars are at 12:20 in Cox 166. Download a fall schedule. To talk with a speaker, contact the person who is acting as host. Click here for a schedule of Friday informal seminars.

The seminar for Monday, December 1st will be presented by Catherine Peichel, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute, whose talk is entitled "Sex, spines and videotape: genetics of reproductive isolation in sticklebacks" Julia Dallman is the host.

The informal seminar for Friday, December 5th will be presented by by Daichi Kamiyama

Resources
Undergraduate advising
Graduate program information and applications; Due Jan 1, 2008!
Lisa Anness Graduate Fellowship in Tropical Botany application
College magazine article about Lisa Anness
Database on invasive species

South Florida Ecosystem
View South Florida ecosystems, from entire environments to component plants and animals, in extraordinary photographs on the website of Vladimir Dinets, graduate student in Biology whose research focuses on crocodiles and aligators.