Biology
KU Biology guides students in the study of life itself, where they learn how about how life works at all levels, ranging from the microscopic to entire ecosystems. Working closely with our sister departments – Molecular Biosciences and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology – Undergraduate Biology teach classes in topics ranging from Virology and Biochemistry to Genetics and Ecology.
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Undergraduate Degrees
There are many paths to becoming a Biology Jayhawk. Discover which is right for you, and explore our majors and minor.
Advising
Connect with an Advisor today for information about degree paths, course schedules, and life as a KU Biology student.
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Graduate Programs
Our graduate programs can help you advance your career or delve deeper into a specific facet of biology. KU has two a globally-recognized graduate programs that offer PhDs, masters degrees and certificates.
Research
Undergraduate Biology offers diverse research opportunities led by faculty within the departments of Molecular Biosciences & Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. These faculty researchers drive the leading edge of scientific research across a broad range of areas.
Admissions
Everything you need to know about our Biology program and how to apply.
Resources
Check out our sorted lists of important resources for faculty and staff and students.
Biology Jayhawk stories
KU professors implement alternative teaching method in biology classrooms
Dr. Dyan Morgan and Dr. Eileen hotze have developed a new teaching method that features TED talks and discussion prompts alongside their standard curricula, which has led to students being more engaged and demonstrating a deeper understanding of the material.
Electrocuting spores, for science
Biological sciences major Kit Savoy knows that if humans are going to thrive in space, they’ll need microbes. And since wind and animals are hard to come by in outer space, Savoy built a parallel plate capacitor to see whether electric fields can disperse fungal spores instead. It’s mycology plus astrobiology, with a dash of physics thrown in for good measure. Rock Chalk, Kit!
Research challenges idea that gene PTPN22 boosts production of interferons
A new paper from the University of Kansas overturns the idea that a “risk gene” carried by millions of people worldwide influences production of Type 1 interferon, a workhorse of the immune system.
Willadsen places in Top 3 at the 2025 ESA Annual Meeting
EEB Graduate Student Peter Willadsen received second place in the SysEB, Evolution and Systematics session of the graduate poster competition at the Entomological Society of America 2025 Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon. Willadsen’s poster was titled, "Untangling the evolutionary history of the water scavenger beetle subfamily Enochrinae (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae)". Willadsen is a PhD Student in Dr. Rob Moyle’s lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB), at KU.
Research shows human gene PARP14 could be novel target for viral diseases or immune-mediated disorders
Researchers at the University of Kansas have discovered a human gene, the protein PARP14, plays a role in regulating interferon, part of the body’s innate immune system. Their study, appearing in journal mBio, could guide development of antiviral therapies for several groups of viral infection.
New study explores ‘legacy effects’ of soil microbes on plants across Kansas
Findings from the University of Kansas could offer important context for farmers who want to use beneficial microbes to improve yields. Today, microbial commercialization in agriculture represents an expanding multibillion dollar sector.
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