Our department is large enough to have expertise in most areas of specialization, but small enough to be both welcoming and friendly. Our primary mission is teaching, yet all faculty are deeply involved in research and share their expertise with students. Students can pursue either BA or BS degrees in Biology or Urban Ecology, and graduate students can earn M.A. or M.S. degrees in Biology and in Urban Ecology. Undergraduate students can specialize in an area of study (pre-med, cell/molecular, ecology/conservation, etc.) or obtain a more general education in Biology.

Students can participate in a variety of lecture and laboratory courses in cell biology, genetics, molecular biology, physiology, developmental biology, comparative anatomy, parasitology, microbiology, ecology, evolution, conservation biology, field biology, invertebrate biology, tropical marine biology, marine mammals, and ornithology to name a few.

One specialty of our department is the one-on-one research opportunities with faculty, which are available to qualified undergraduate students. Through independent study courses and summer internships, undergraduate students have the opportunity of joining a research lab and conducting research under the mentorship of a faculty member. For more details, see the section on undergraduate research.

Marine and freshwater biology, ecology, conservation biology, and urban ecology studies are carried out on campus, using in-house facility and also at local research sites around Long Island. In addition we study nearby terrestrial, urban, and rural ecosystems. Students have the opportunity to take courses and conduct research at all these locations.

Premedical and other health science studies are important in the Department of Biology. Students may specialize in Pre-medical studies and join APHOS, an intra-departmental organization run by and for students interested in health related professions. The pre-med advisor in the Biology Department will assist you with course selections, volunteer work and application preparation.

Hofstra Bio/Geo in the Galápagos in Jan 2014
Jan 03 - Jan. 22, 2014

This 20 day adventure includes a 12-day tour of the volcanic islands and unique wildlife that inspired the young Charles Darwin, a day trip to a stratovolcano in the high Andes, and four days exploring the diverse ecosystems in the Amazon rainforest.

The courses supporting the trip meet during Fall 2013 – undergraduate students register for BIO110A or GEOL 143, graduate students for BIO 203 or GEOL 280N. Courses will meet 4 times during the evening. Undergraduate courses may be taken for variable credit.

Deposit must be received before May 8, 2013. Space is limited; the first 21 deposits received will guarantee a place on the trip.

Instructors:
Dr. Russell Burke (Dept. of Biology)
Dr. Maureen Krause (Dept. of Biology)
Dr. Bret Bennington (Dept. of Geology)

For more information: View Flyer [PDF] | View Registration Form [PDF]

Congratulations! Sarah Rosenheck, a junior Biology major, has been awarded a Research Grant from the Beta Beta Beta Research Foundation to support her research on "Exploring the function of the transcription factor bigmax in the brain of Drosophila melanogaster" in Dr. DiAngelo's lab in the Biology Department at Hofstra University.

Run for the Turtles

On Sunday, 9 October, members of the Department of Biology ran in the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Run for the Turtles, a 5K charity event to raise money for turtle conservation. The team included (left to right) Megan Vulpi, Stephanie Gayer, Nailah Khalfan, Mike Chalavoutis, Beverly Clendening, Amy Cobb, Justin Diangelo, Tia Turner, Roger Greenwall, Nathan Bailey, Jeff Castaldo, and Russell Burke. Together they raised over $1000... | photo |