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
Professor
Department Chair
Evolution
Bioinformatics
Entomology
Science Pedagogy
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.
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.
Jess Cusick
Associate Chair
Message Jess CusickResponsibilities:
Website
DepartmentCommunications
Research Questions
Eric Domyan
Associate Chair
Message Eric DomyanResponsibilities:
Faculty Course Scheduling
Olga Kopp
Associate Chair
Message Olga KoppResponsibilities:
Coursework Articulation
Transfer Credit
Jess Cusick
Assistant Professor
Message Jess CusickSpecialties:
Ecology and Evolution
Animal Behavior
Microbiology
Biology Education
Paul Dunn
Associate Professor
Message Paul DunnSpecialties:
Ecology and Evolution
Marine Biology
Zoology
Ashley Egan
Associate Professor
Message Ashley EganSpecialties:
Botany
Ecology and Evolution
Bioinformatics
Kandace Flanary
Lecturer
Message Kandace FlanarySpecialties:
Animal Behavior
Biology Education
Ecology and Evolution
Sara Flood
Associate Professor
Message Sara FloodSpecialties:
Anatomy
Physiology
Forensics
Dentistry
Chantal Hart
Lecturer
Message Chantal HartSpecialties:
Anatomy
Physiology
Microbiology Teaching
Carl Hjelmen
Assistant Professor
Message Carl HjelmenSpecialties:
Genetics
Genomics
Bioinformatics
Ecology and Evolution
Alma Laney
Assistant Professor
Message Alma LaneySpecialties:
Virology
Arbovirolgy
Plant Pathology
Amanda Lavelle
Lecturer
Message Amanda LavelleSpecialties:
Plant Biology
Genetics
Molecular Biology
Developmental Biology
Yu-Ya Liang
Assistant Professor
Message Yu-Ya LiangSpecialties:
Plant Genetics
Bioinformatics
Heath Ogden
Professor
Message Heath OgdenSpecialties:
Bioinformatics
Entomology
Ecology and Evolution
Biology Education
Savannah Olroyd
Assistant Professor
Message Savannah OlroydSpecialties:
Paleontology
Evolution
Comparative Anatomy
Micah Ross
Assistant Professor
Message Micah RossSpecialties:
Developmental Biology
Developmental Toxicology
Michael Rotter
Assistant Professor
Message Michael RotterSpecialties:
Botany
Ecology and Evolution
Zoology
Elyse Vaccaro
Assistant Professor
Message Elyse VaccaroSpecialties:
Chemical Ecology
Animal Behavior
Geoffrey Zahn
Associate Professor
Message Geoffrey ZahnSpecialties:
Mycology
Bioinformatics
Ecology and Evolution
Microbiology