Biology
Stephen W. Arch
Regulatory biology, neurochemistry.
Steven D. Black
Developmental biology.
David A. Dalton
Plant physiology and ecophysiology, biological nitrogen fixation. On sabbatical and leave 2008-09.
Robert H. Kaplan
Ecology, animal evolution, population biology.
Keith Karoly
Plant evolution, evolution of plant mating systems.
Maryanne C. McClellan
Cellular biology, reproductive biology, hormone action. On sabbatical spring 2009.
Jay Mellies
Bacterial pathogenesis, gene regulation.
Suzy C.P. Renn
Comparative functional genomics of behavior.
Peter J. Russell
Molecular genetics, RNA virus gene expression in yeast.
Janis Shampay
Molecular biology, chromosome structure and function.
The biology major emphasizes the development of the student’s capacity to use and contribute scientific knowledge. The curriculum offers both conceptual and experimental approaches to studying the molecular, cellular, organismic, and population levels of biological structure. The department also encourages students to challenge their own abilities by providing them with multiple opportunities to create an intellectual framework and learn the techniques necessary for answering the questions that interest them. The faculty members, through active professional research programs of their own, offer opportunities for student involvement in biological research. An active guest scientist program adds to the unique research-oriented experience of the Reed biology undergraduate. Reed students may broaden their research experience by arrangement with the faculties of the Oregon Health & Science University, the Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and Engineering, and the Oregon Regional Primate Research Center. This atmosphere provides students with an unusual opportunity to develop an understanding of themselves as well as a firm background in the field, regardless of what their goals might be. Information on the subsequent history of biology graduates shows that about 60 percent enter teaching, research, or practice in biology and the medical sciences. This is a remarkable record, largely due to a synergism between the interests and motivation of Reed students and the nature of the program offered. The Lewis Kleinholz Biological Laboratories are equipped with modern instruments and materials, permitting a variety of teaching and research approaches. The faculty is intensively engaged in research and in teaching research methodology to students. Upper-division courses typically include independent research components to foster the development of hypothesis generation, experimental design, and results analysis and interpretation skills. Some support is available for student independent research during the summer. Some courses have field components, and the department supports independent fieldwork. In addition, Reed has formal relationships with the Malheur Field Station in Oregon’s Great Basin, the Organization for Tropical Studies, the University of Costa Rica, and the Sea Education Association. Students may take courses for credit through these programs or at other field or marine stations. Through the alternate biology program (described below) the biology department provides students with the flexibility of combining biology with other areas of inquiry, such as economics, political science, and anthropology. Faculty advisers can help fashion programs suited to the individual student’s motivations and interests. Alternate and ad hoc joint degree programs can be arranged between the biology department and most other Reed departments. Requirements for the Major Physics is recommended. Requirements for the Alternate Biology Major Physics and organic chemistry are recommended.
The Alternate Program in Biology
The alternate program in biology is offered to the student whose future interests lie in integrating biology with diverse areas other than natural sciences. For example, problems of health care, pollution, education, and poverty have intrinsic biological content. Developing solutions to these problems requires that professionals—lawyers, economists, political scientists, teachers—as well as socially committed citizens have more than a superficial awareness of the fundamental biological processes at work in these broader areas. The alternate program allows students to integrate a comprehensive grounding in biological science with an understanding of one or more alternate disciplines.
Working with their advisers, students can tailor their educational program to prepare them for careers or for graduate and professional programs in environmental studies and conservation, public health, urban planning, environmental law, government, social work, precollege teaching, medical illustration, science journalism, and other fields. The primary academic adviser will be a member of the biology staff, and the student will choose a consulting adviser from the appropriate alternate field. Departmental approval is required for alternate majors. After consultation with both advisers, the student must declare a program and submit a rationale for the integrated course of study. Except in unusual cases, this petition should be made no later than the end of the sophomore year.
