About the Department of Biology

Mission: The Department of Biology

The guiding principle of the University of North Florida, Department of Biology, is the search for understanding and knowledge through the scientific study of life and the dissemination of this information to students, the scientific community, and the general public. The Department of Biology faculty teach and conduct research in diverse fields of biology. The strength of the department lies in its broad based academic program, collaborative efforts of faculty, and its integration of undergraduates in all aspects of research. The Department of Biology educates the general student body of UNF in biological principles and seeks to develop an understanding of science, applied writing, mathematics, analytical reasoning and critical thinking skills in the context of biology. We seek to provide individualized attention at both the undergraduate and graduate levels to students interested in careers related to biological science. The department believes that the active involvement in scholarly pursuits of graduate and undergraduate students is the ultimate expression of teaching and learning.

A New Home for the Department of Biology

The new Biological Sciences Building is scheduled for completion in spring 2012.  For more information and to see architect renderings of the building, check out the New Biology Building page.

The UNF Campus is a Living Laboratory

The physical campus is one of UNF’s best resources. With roughly 1,300 acres of scenic land, including the Sawmill Slough Nature Preserve and 18-acre freshwater Lake Oneida, and close proximity to three major bodies of water (the Atlantic Ocean, the St. Johns River and the Intracoastal Waterway), UNF and its nearby coastal habitats are home to great and varied flora and fauna – notably several species of carnivorous plants and endangered gopher tortoises. Faculty members Tony Rossi, Dan Moon and Joe Butler are studying these native plants and animals to learn more about their ecology, habitat management and community dynamics.