Message from the Chair

Welcome to the Department of Biological Sciences at Auburn University.

Biology is a wonderfully broad field. In our department, we study life across scales, from molecules and microbes to plants, animals, ecosystems and evolutionary history. Some of that work happens in laboratories. Some happens in streams, forests, caves and oceans. Some happens in classrooms, where we study how students learn biology and how we can teach it more effectively.

That breadth is one of the best things about this department. Our faculty, students and staff ask questions about how living systems function, adapt, interact and evolve. They study genes, cells, organisms, environments, host-microbe relationships, biodiversity, conservation and biology education. It is complex, fascinating work, and it gives our students many ways to find their own path in science.

As chair, one of my goals is to make sure students have the opportunities and support they need to succeed. My own family has experienced Auburn from several angles, with children graduating from the College of Education, the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Sciences and Mathematics. That experience has only strengthened what I already believed: Auburn is a place where students can find their people, pursue their goals and build a strong foundation for whatever comes next.

Students in Biological Sciences learn by doing. They gain experience in classrooms, teaching labs, research labs, field sites, museum collections and other places where biology is happening in real time. Along the way, they build the skills needed for careers in health care, research, conservation, biotechnology, education, public health, veterinary medicine and many other fields.

Whether you are considering Auburn, already part of our department or simply curious about what we do, I invite you to explore Biological Sciences. And if you have questions, need advice or just want to talk about how incredible biology can be, please do not hesitate to reach out. Biology has a way of pulling people in. We are glad to help you find the part of it that pulls you in, too.

War Eagle,

Paul Cobine
Chair, Department of Biological Sciences
Auburn University