Department Chair Welcome

Welcome to the department of Biology at UVU! Our goal is to provide you with an engaging, exciting, and rewarding educational experience in a welcoming and supportive community. This is an exciting time to be a biologist! Advances in molecular biology and bioinformatics are leading to new insights in every field from ecology and evolution to genetics, cell biology, and microbiology. These diverse research areas provide information essential to addressing today’s challenges surrounding human, plant, animal and environmental health. Knowledge gained through the study of biology is being used to better understand and combat human, animal, and plant diseases. It is helping improve agricultural practices and develop new varieties of crops. Studies in ecology are providing knowledge about the health of our ecosystems and allowing us to address environmental sustainability, global climate change, and biodiversity conservation. Our degree programs provide the skills and knowledge necessary for you to tackle these challenges after graduation, as you join the workforce or further your study in graduate or professional programs. We look forward to guiding you as you work to accomplish your goals here at UVU!

Heath Ogden

Heath Ogden

Professor
Department Chair

Evolution
Bioinformatics
Entomology
Science Pedagogy

[email protected]

More Information

Ogden Lab

801.863.6909 | SB 243a | MS: 299

 

biology words image

Biology Department Mission

The mission of the Biology Department is to create an engaged learning environment that promotes biological inquiry and the development of evidence based critical thinking skills. The department provides educational and research opportunities that support students in accomplishing their goals for post-graduate education, professional careers, and becoming scientifically informed citizens. The department fosters engagement, collaboration, mentoring, and professional development for faculty, staff, and students.

About the Biology Department

The UVU Biology department has 29 tenured and tenure track faculty along with a variety of instructors working across diverse areas of biology. Our faculty strive to be strong and skilled educators who believe that faculty and students have a shared responsibility to create a safe and welcoming learning environment for everyone. We recognize excellent student education as our first priority and engage students in their learning through classroom, laboratory, field work, research, and service opportunities. Our faculty maintain active research programs across many biological subdisciplines, allowing them to mentor student researchers investigating a diversity of research questions. The department has eight different bachelor’s degree programs: Biology, Biology Education, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology, Botany, Microbiology, Zoology, and Biomedical Science, along with various associate’s degree and minors. Our graduates have gone on to professional careers in health-related fields, are employed in the private and public sector as biologists and research scientists, and work in the school systems as educators. Please explore our website to learn more about our Department and what we have to offer. For more information please contact the Biology Advisors.

Biology Advisors

Department Leadership

Jess Cusick Image

Jess Cusick

Associate Chair

Message Jess Cusick
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-8622

Office: 242X

Website: https://www.jessicacusick.com/


Responsibilities:

Website

DepartmentCommunications

Research Questions

 

Eric Domyan Image

Eric Domyan

Associate Chair

Message Eric Domyan
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-5422

Office: SB 242V

 


Responsibilities:

Faculty Course Scheduling

 

 

 

Olga Kopp Image

Olga Kopp

Associate Chair

Message Olga Kopp
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-6259

Office: SB 243D

 


Responsibilities:

Coursework Articulation

Transfer Credit

 

 

Faculty & Staff

Margie Beucher Image

Margie Beucher

Lecturer

Message Margie Beucher
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-5983

Office: SB 242J

 


Specialties:

 

 

 

 

Lauren Brooks Image

Lauren Brooks

Assistant Professor

Message Lauren Brooks
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-8479

Office: SB 242G

 


Specialties:

Microbiology

Genomics

 

 

Paul Bybee Image

Paul Bybee

Professor

Message Paul Bybee
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-8802

Office: SB 242U

 


Specialties:

Paleontology

 

 

 

Melissa Cavan Image

Melissa Cavan

Teaching Lab Manager

Message Melissa Cavan
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-6910

Office: SB 174A

 


Specialties:

Zoology

 

 

 

Jess Cusick Image

Jess Cusick

Assistant Professor

Message Jess Cusick
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-8622

Office: 242X

Website: https://www.jessicacusick.com/


Specialties:

Ecology and Evolution

Animal Behavior

Microbiology

Biology Education

Eric Domyan Image

Eric Domyan

Associate Professor

Message Eric Domyan
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-5422

Office: SB 242V

 


Specialties:

Genetics

Evolution

 

 

Paul Dunn Image

Paul Dunn

Associate Professor

Message Paul Dunn
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-5915

Office: SB 243E

 


Specialties:

Ecology and Evolution

Marine Biology

Zoology

 

Ashley Egan Image

Ashley Egan

Associate Professor

Message Ashley Egan
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-5466

Office: SB 242S

 


Specialties:

Botany

Ecology and Evolution

Bioinformatics

 

Daniel Fairbanks Image

Daniel Fairbanks

Professor

Message Daniel Fairbanks
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-6440

Office: BA 110C

 


Specialties:

Ecology

Evolution

 

 

Kandace Flanary Image

Kandace Flanary

Lecturer

Message Kandace Flanary
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-5984

Office: 243M

 


Specialties:

Animal Behavior

Biology Education

Ecology and Evolution

 

Sara Flood Image

Sara Flood

Associate Professor

Message Sara Flood
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-5674

Office: SB 242W

 


Specialties:

Anatomy

Physiology

Forensics

Dentistry

Chantal Hart Image

Chantal Hart

Lecturer

Message Chantal Hart
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-8558

Office: SB 242T

 


Specialties:

Anatomy

Physiology

Microbiology Teaching

 

Austin Harvey Image

Austin Harvey

Lab Manager

Message Austin Harvey
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-8785

Office: SB 158

 


Specialties:

 

 

 

 

Carl Hjelmen Image

Carl Hjelmen

Assistant Professor

Message Carl Hjelmen
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-8084

Office: SB 242B

Website: https://cehjelmen.github.io/


Specialties:

Genetics

Genomics

Bioinformatics

Ecology and Evolution

Don Homan Image

Don Homan

Teaching Lab Manager

Message Don Homan
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-6983

Office: SB 249

 


Specialties:

Anatomy

 

 

 

Collene Hough Image

Colleen Hough

Associate Professor

Message Collene Hough
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-5278

Office: SB 069A

 


Specialties:

Biotechnology

 

 

 

Olga Kopp Image

Olga Kopp

Professor

Message Olga Kopp
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-6259

Office: SB 243D

 


Specialties:

Plant Biology

Microbiology

 

 

Alana Korstanje Image

Alana Korstanje

Admin Support III

Message Alana Korstanje
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-8511

Office: SB 243

 


Specialties:

 

 

 

 

Ruhul Kuddus Image

Ruhul Kuddus

Professor

Message Ruhul Kuddus
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-6260

Office: SB 243J

 


Specialties:

Molecular Biology

 

 

 

Alma Laney Image

Alma Laney

Assistant Professor

Message Alma Laney
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-8520

Office: SB 242P

 


Specialties:

Virology

Arbovirolgy

Plant Pathology

 

Amanda Lavelle Image

Amanda Lavelle

Lecturer

Message Amanda Lavelle
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-4895

Office: SB 243B

 


Specialties:

Plant Biology

Genetics

Molecular Biology

Developmental Biology

Yu-Ya Liang Image

Yu-Ya Liang

Assistant Professor

Message Yu-Ya Liang
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-6908

Office: SB 243R

 


Specialties:

Plant Genetics

Bioinformatics

 

 

Mandy Marvel Image

Mandy Marvel

Teaching Lab Manaager

Message Mandy Marvel
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-7552

Office: SB 057B

 


Specialties:

Biotechnology

 

 

 

Heath Ogden Image

Heath Ogden

Professor

Message Heath Ogden
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-6909

Office: SB 243A

Website: Ogden Lab


Specialties:

Bioinformatics

Entomology

Ecology and Evolution

Biology Education

Savannah Olroyd Image

Savannah Olroyd

Assistant Professor

Message Savannah Olroyd
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-8607

Office: SB 243K

Website: Savannah Olroyd Website


Specialties:

Paleontology

Evolution

Comparative Anatomy

 

Josh Premo Image

Josh Premo

Assistant Professor

Message Josh Premo
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-5197

Office: SB 243F

 


Specialties:

Biology Education

 

 

 

Jim Price Image

Jim Price

Professor

Message Jim Price
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-7447

Office: SB 242R

 


Specialties:

Genetics

 

 

 

Erin Riggs Image

Erin Riggs

Herbarium Director

Message Erin Riggs
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-6806

Office: SB 277A

 


Specialties:

Botany

Plant Biology

 

 

Micah Ross Image

Micah Ross

Assistant Professor

Message Micah Ross
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-4868

Office: SB 242M

 


Specialties:

Developmental Biology

Developmental Toxicology

 

 

Michael Rotter Image

Michael Rotter

Assistant Professor

Message Michael Rotter
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-8623

Office: SB 242Q

Website: https://rotterplantecology.weebly.com


Specialties:

Botany

Ecology and Evolution

Zoology

 

Josh Snyder Image

Josh Snyder

Teaching Lab Manager

Message Josh Snyder
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-8695

Office: SB 274A

 


Specialties:

Botany

 

 

 

Michael Stevens Image

Michael Stevens

Professor-CRFS Director

Message Michael Stevens
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-5196

Office: SB 242H

 


Specialties:

Botany

Plant Biology

 

 

Boston Swan Image

Boston Swan

Teaching Lab Managerr

Message Boston Swan
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-4732

Office: SB 270

 


Specialties:

Greenhouse

Biology

 

 

Sebastien Tauzin Image

Sebastien Tauzin

Associate Professor

Message Sebastien Tauzin
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-5675

Office: SB 242N

 


Specialties:

Molecular Biology

 

 

 

Dani Taylor Image

Dani Taylor

Assistant Professor

Message Dani Taylor
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-5747

Office: SB 155

 


Specialties:

Neurobiology

 

 

 

Devin Taylor Image

Devin Taylor

Assistant Professor

Message Devin Taylor
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-5787

Office: SB 159

 


Specialties:

Neurobiology

 

 

 

Zoe Thompson Image

Zoe Thompson

Assistant Professor

Message Zoe Thompson
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-5786

Office: SB 242Z

 


Specialties:

Neurobiology

Physiology

 

 

Lavon Tonga Image

Lavon Tonga

Lecturer

Message Lavon Tonga
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-8739

Office: SB 243G

 


Specialties:

 

 

 

 

Michelle Townsend Image

Michelle Townsend

InnovaBio Director

Message Michaelle Townsend
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-5318

Office: SB 169

 


Specialties:

Biotechnology NPCRO

 

 

 

Elyse Vaccaro Image

Elyse Vaccaro

Assistant Professor

Message Elyse Vaccaro
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-4704

Office: SB 243Q

 


Specialties:

Chemical Ecology

Animal Behavior

 

 

Kiara Whitley Image

Kiara Whitley

Teaching Lab Manager

Message Kiara Whitley
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-8673

Office: SB 050

 


Specialties:

Microbiology

 

 

 

Nick Wilbur Image

Nick Wilbur

Teaching Lab Manager

Message Nick Wilbur
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-5785

Office: SB 158

 


Specialties:

Biology

 

 

 

Heather Wilson-Ashworth Image

Heather Wilson-Ashworth

Professor

Message Heather Wilson-Ashworth
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-7031

Office: SB 242F

 


Specialties:

Biology Education

 

 

 

Alison Woods Image

Alison Woods

Teaching Lab Manager

Message Alison Woods
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-8752

Office: SB 142A

 


Specialties:

Physiology

 

 

 

Britt Wyatt Image

Britt Wyatt

Assistant Professor

Message Britt Wyatt
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-6207

Office: SB 242Y

 


Specialties:

Biology Education

 

 

 

Geoffrey Zahn Image

Geoffrey Zahn

Associate Professor

Message Geoffrey Zahn
Professional Profile

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 801-863-5676

Office: SB 242T

Website: Geoff Zahn Website


Specialties:

Mycology

Bioinformatics

Ecology and Evolution

Microbiology

Emeritus Faculty

 

Mark Bracken

Emeritus Professor

Biology

[email protected]

 

Jim Harris

Emeritus Professor

Field Botany

[email protected]

 

Bruce Parker

Emeritus Professor

Biology

[email protected]

 

Robert Robbins

Emeritus Professor

Plant Physiology

[email protected]