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Department of Biology

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Students in Eastern's biology program become biologists through extensive practice, spending more time in the laboratory and field than in lecture. They learn about life processes while developing analytical skills and technical expertise.

  • State-of-art scientific equipment
  • Small classes
  • Full-time faculty
  • Tropical Biology field course—50 years in the Caribbean and counting
  • Summer internship opportunities
  • Independent research mentored by individual faculty members
  • Present your work at regional, national and international scientific conferences
  • Prepare for graduate/professional school
  • Careers range from genetics to dentistry; from medicine to optometry and veterinary science; from ecology to plant biology, marine biology, biotechnology and teaching
Employability for Biology Majors Our Faculty
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Eastern Success Scholars Program

Success Scholars seeks to support students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, through scholarships and purposeful faculty and peer relationships formed to foster academic learning and trust, ultimately leading to improved achievement, retention and graduation rates. You must be a US citizen or permanent resident to be eligible.  The comprehensive plan includes a summer orientation program, a STEM-focused first-year seminar, faculty and peer mentoring in biology and mathematical sciences courses, learning communities that continue through a scholar’s tenure, research experiences, and research and career seminars.

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Department Chair
Joshua Idjadi
Science Building Rm. 358
(860) 465-0034
(860) 465-5213
idjadij@easternct.edu		 Assistant Chair
W. Brett Mattingly
Science Building Rm. 364
(860) 465-4499
(860) 465-5213
mattinglyw@easternct.edu
Secretary II
Julie McGowan
Science Building Rm. 368
(860) 465-4369
(860) 465-5213
mcgowanju@easternct.edu
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Biology Department (@ecsubiology) • Instagram photos and videos

In the News

jessica varrato thumb

Biology alum shares animal rescue journey at Mystic Aquarium

 October 31, 2024

“Every day is different,” said Eastern Connecticut State University alumna Jessica Verrato at a seminar on Oct. 25, as part of Eastern’s Biology Seminar Series.

Student Anne Le

2 biology students present at national conference for 'minoritized scientists'

 October 21, 2024

Two senior biology students from Eastern Connecticut State University have been selected to present their research at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS) this Nov. 13 – 16 in Pittsburgh, PA. Nancy Avalos and Anne Le’s research will cover critical global health and environmental challenges.

Hulvey

Biology professors lead fungi and flora forays around campus

October 15, 2024

As part of this year’s Big Read program based on the environmental novel "The Bear," Eastern hosted two nature-themed strolls around campus in early October. Biology Professors Jon Hulvey and Bryan Connolly led a “fungus walk” on Oct. 1 and an “edible plant walk” on Oct. 10, respectively. Students from each professor’s classes and local community members joined in on the walks.

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Connect With Us on Social Media Biology Department @ECSUBiology ecsubiology
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Programs of Study

  • Biology students at Eastern gain extensive practical experience and spend more time in the laboratory and on field projects than in lecture. Students receive the full attention of their professors, all of whom have Ph.D. degrees from top universities — professors teach both lectures and laboratories. Working in small classes with state-of-art scientific equipment ranging from a qPCR machine to a confocal microscope, students acquire hands-on experiences in the laboratory and in terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments. Just one example of the major's flexibility is its pre-med focus. In addition to the Biology major, a Biology minor is offered to other majors.

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  • The Genetic Counseling minor exposes students to this growing field, and provides coursework required for admission to a genetic counseling graduate program. As we enter the age of personalized medicine, there will be an increased demand for genetic counselors who know how to analyze and interpret sequencing results for patients and consumers.

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  • Students in the Bioinformatics minor use computers to analyze genomic information, which is revolutionizing our understanding of health and disease. Students will learn core concepts in computer programming, genomics and data analysis, and will apply bioinformatics programming and analytic skills to solve biological problems.

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  • The Cannabis Cultivation and Chemistry minor uses hands-on and theoretical approaches to train students to cultivate and chemically analyze cannabis or hemp. In addition to instruction in cannabis cultivation and chemical analysis, students can also learn about the related fields of sustainability, public health and policy, plant taxonomy, mycology, genetics, integrated pest management, biotechnology, and data analysis.

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