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The Biology Department
Great things are happening in Biology at Western!
Your support is crucial to the education of future Biologists. We have limited funds to advance our initiatives to support Biology student hands-on research, student mentoring, and community engagement. Whether they are starting their studies at Western or will soon embark on their careers, supporting our students now is a key component for their success.
On this Give Day, April 24, make your financial gift and provide an immediate and lasting impact. Help us help our students engage in learning and activities that will propel them into professions that are essential to scientific advancement and the wellbeing of our communities.
Thank you for your support!
Stay in touch! Sign up to receive our quarterly newsletter, BIOLOG.
Incoming Students
Are you an incoming WWU student? Check out the Incoming Biology Students page to learn how to declare a Biology Major, the application process, and other helpful advising tips.
Insect Collection Open House
This spring, the Biology Department’s WWU Insect Collection is hosting another public open house for folks of all ages! Last year, the three open houses brought in nearly 1,000 visitors to see huge, showy insects from the tropics, as well as the amazing insect diversity that lives here in the Pacific Northwest.
Our next open house will be Saturday, May 31, from 1-4pm in rooms 139 and 151 in the Biology Building. We hope to see you there! This event is free, open to the public, and family friendly.
For more information, please head to our event page: Insect Collection Open House | Biology Department | Western Washington University (wwu.edu)
Helpful Links
The Biology Department encompasses areas ranging from molecular biology to ecosystem ecology. This breadth is reflected in our curriculum and in faculty and student research. Our joint mission of teaching and research strongly complement each other and provide students with an educational experience of very high quality.
In support of the mission of Western Washington University and the College of Sciences and Engineering, the mission of the Biology Department is to provide an outstanding learning environment that integrates education, scholarship, and service in order to actively engage students in the biological sciences and foster their development as lifelong learners.
The faculty in the College of Science and Engineering has established a fund to provide support for Black students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The purpose of this scholarship is to reduce or eliminate anti-Black racism in STEM through productive relationships with and among Black and African American communities in the United States. The scholarship aims to support the success of students working toward this goal. The scholarship is named after Alma Clark Glass, who studied biology at Western in 1906. Alma was the first Black person to enroll at Western.
To donate, go to the WWU Foundation page.
The Biology Department spring quarter 2025 Main Office (BI315) Hours:
- Monday-Friday 9:00 - Noon and 1:00 - 4:00
We are available to answer your questions via phone and email:
- Monday - Friday 8:00 - 5:00
Biology Main Line - 360.650.3627 or email biology@wwu.edu
Biology Staff Advisors - 360.650.6165 or email biologyadvising@wwu.edu
Biology News Spotlight
WWU scientists awarded $638K grant to study forage fish survival in Salish Sea
A multidisciplinary team of WWU Marine and Coastal Science (MACS) faculty were recently awarded a three-year, $638,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. Read more about Biology department Associate Professor Brady Olson and Associate Professor Jim Cooper’s research in an article by WWU Communications, John Thompson.
Two WWU alums spend their summer researching whales at remote Alaskan lighthouse
A pair of recent WWU grads, Rachel Meade (MACS) and Jack Mezzone (Biology), spent a month of their summer working to research humpback whale vocalizations at remote Five Finger Islands Lighthouse in Southeast Alaska. Read more in WWU news!
Alumni Update: Emmanuel Sanchez
Emmanuel Sanchez graduated from Western in 2022 with a B.S. in Biology, Molecular and Cell emphasis. After graduating, Sanchez was hired as a Research Associate in the Institute for Cell Science at the Allen Institute in Seattle, where he continues to work today. We recently caught up with Sanchez to find out how he made his way through the Biology major and how he is involved in the scientific community today.