TheDepartment of Biology at Appalachian State University is a community of 44 faculty who are active in teaching and research, along with a support staff of 6 technicians and 3 administrators. We strive to maintain a faculty with diverse research interests, ranging from molecules to organisms to landscapes. The department currently has approximately 950 Biology majors and 70 graduate students. We provide instruction in biology through classroom and laboratory interactions, undergraduate and graduate laboratory research experiences, seminars, professional development programs, and career advising through courses and faculty interactions. Faculty typically teach 3 courses per semester (mixture of lectures and labs). Departmental and university service includes, but is not limited to, undergraduate advising, curriculum development, and assessment.
The institution and department have facilities to support cutting-edge cellular and molecular research. The Rankin Science Building is home to theWilliam and Ruth Dewel Microscopy Facility, which provides infrastructure for epifluorescence, confocal, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy, as well as sample preparation. The Department of Biology also houses a shared research space and instrumentation core for flow cytometry, gel imaging, cell culture, and Illumina sequencing, and it manages and provides access to a researchgreenhouse,nature preserve, andfield site. The department and university support new faculty through a comprehensive Faculty Mentoring Program andCenter for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Student Success. The mechanisms include peer writing circles, pedagogical workshops, and faculty mentoring.
