OXFORD, Miss. – A University of Mississippi biologist is asking big questions about the development of the human heart, and a new National Institutes of Health grant may help him find the answers. “When I think about life’s big picture, I think one of the great mysteries is how we go from a single cellRead the story …
Study Could Provide Insight Into Origin of Heart Defects
UM biologist receives National Institutes of Health award to study heart formation
March 15, 2023 by
University Awarded Grant to Promote Inclusivity in STEM Education
UM joins 15 institutions tasked with evaluating inclusive teaching
March 1, 2023 by
OXFORD, Miss. – The Howard Hughes Medical Institute has awarded the University of Mississippi a new grant to understand, promote and evaluate inclusivity in STEM education. More than 100 colleges and universities have received six-year grants totaling $60 million as part of HHMI’s Inclusive Excellence 3 Initiative. The IE3 initiative challenges schools across the U.S.Read the story …
Opportunity: Searching the Globe for Better Care
Senior biology major seeks to improve health care for minority patients
February 20, 2023 by
As part of the 60th anniversary of integration at the University of Mississippi, this is the third of a four-part series based on the themes that are inscribed on the Civil Rights Monument on campus: perseverance, courage, knowledge and opportunity. These student stories reflect the characteristics that James Meredith embodied six decades ago when heRead the story …
Can Trees Communicate Underground? Maybe Not
UM biology professor debunks popular theory about soil fungal networks
February 13, 2023 by
OXFORD, Miss. – Imagine this: a tree in a forest is threatened by a predator or an invasive plant species. Underground, it sounds an alarm to neighboring trees through the “Wood-Wide Web,” a network of mycorrhizal fungi that connects them through the soil. It is a fascinating theory, but a University of Mississippi scientist hasRead the story …
Growing High School STEM Outreach Program Led by Graduate Student
Inspiring passion for science-related fields in the next generation of scholars
December 12, 2022 by
OXFORD, Miss. – Savannah Draud, a doctoral student in biology at the University of Mississippi, is spending time at local high schools to help increase science literacy in an effort to inspire students to further their education and foster a love of science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects. The Long Island, New York, native, whoRead the story …
New Biology Chair Aims to Lift Program to New Heights
Sixue Chen brings focus on plant efficiency and desire to increase student opportunities
October 23, 2022 by
OXFORD, Miss. – Sixue Chen, an accomplished biological researcher and new chair of the Department of Biology at the University of Mississippi, plans to use agricultural research and outreach to elevate the program nationally. Chen, who specializes in systems biology of plant stress response, came to UM from the University of Florida, where he conductedRead the story …
Undergraduate Student Publishes Sleep Research Paper
UM senior studies correlation between brain anatomy and sleep duration
September 28, 2022 by
OXFORD, Miss. – A University of Mississippi senior has published a scientific paper on one of the most essential human needs: sleep. Nicole Jones, a biology major in the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, is investigating whether the size of the caudate nucleus, a structural component of the brain, can be linked to how longRead the story …
Biologist, Students Promote Research on Sustainable Ecotourism
Team leads workshop for international scientists, industry experts
September 7, 2022 by
OXFORD, Miss. – Ecotourism is a billion-dollar industry that gives travel enthusiasts an intimate look at the world’s most breathtaking natural environments. While ecotourism is often thought to be synonymous with sustainable travel, its recent growth in popularity could have a negative impact on local wildlife and ecosystems. “Many of us hope to one dayRead the story …
‘Leaders for Tomorrow’ Recipients Aim High at Ole Miss
Incoming freshmen awarded Annexstad Family Foundation scholarships
August 15, 2022 by
OXFORD, Miss. – Three students in the University of Mississippi‘s Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College have been awarded scholarships from the Annexstad Family Foundation. The foundation awards three Leaders for Tomorrow National Scholarships each year to Ole Miss students who have exhibited leadership in their schools or communities, said John Samonds, associate dean of theRead the story …
Exploring Biology Beyond the Classroom
Off-campus courses give students hands-on opportunities in biodiversity locations
August 3, 2022 by
OXFORD, Miss. – Biological science students at the University of Mississippi are broadening their horizons by taking classes in the Caribbean, Hawaii and Arizona, taught by professors Brice Noonan, Erik Hom and Jason Hoeksema. “The Department of Biology is fortunate to have a number of off-campus opportunities that allow students to explore such varied topicsRead the story …