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Chico State

Biological Sciences

A brass plaque is affixed to a brick pillar with a building and trees in the background.

University Faculty Awarded Prestigious Lantis Endowments

Chico State faculty shine as three professors are celebrated for their achievements in research and contributions to their fields.

Nicholas Esparza looks through the high vacuum chamber in the ultracold lab.

Student Researchers Share Insight into Summer Projects

CSC² has supported nearly 300 students in undergraduate research projects across the three colleges.

Don Miller examines a tree during the watershed tour.

How To: Be a Backyard Biologist

Biological sciences professor Don Miller shares a few of his favorite tips for novice naturalists.

Jaime Lopez pops up from underwater wearing a snorkel mask and holding a bag of sea specimens

Coral Connections Lead Student-Researcher Toward His Dream

Jaime Lopez has impressed his faculty with an endless passion for sea anemones and corals, with a dream of using research to save them from the effects of climate change.

Wes Dempsey holds a tiny pinecone in his hand.

Fond Farewell: Biological Sciences Professor Emeritus Wes Dempsey

Legendary for his arboretum tours and dedication to the campus trees, Wes Dempsey was a naturalist at heart who inspired thousands to follow in his footsteps.

Troy Cline holds a cloth bag out to a student as she "grabs" small white balls with a claw.

Pandemic-Themed Class Explores How Science and Society Tackle Germs

In "Pandemics, Germs, and Society," students study vaccine science, information literacy, and how public health measures can restrict the spread of pathogens.

A student pulls a sample of wastewater from a large jug.

Poop Sleuths: Student Researchers Track COVID-19 in Residence Halls

Two biological sciences faculty and eight students are conducting complex wastewater monitoring in the residence halls to research the virus that causes COVID-19.

A graphic image shows the Wildcat statue with the phrases, "Wildcats Do and Dare" and "Today Decides Tomorrow."

Wildcats Do and Dare

What might the world look like if, rather than wondering about some distant future, we took daily action toward the tomorrow of our dreams? Meet Wildcats who are doing exactly that.

Kendall Hall is framed in the light of a sunset.

CSU, Chico Recognizes 2020–21 Outstanding Faculty

These awards—among the highest at CSU, Chico—celebrate the excellence of eight phenomenal faculty.

Stars shine above Trinity Hall.

Fond Farewell: Biological Sciences Professor Emeritus Bill Derr

Bill Derr's lifelong enthusiasm for biology and the botanical sciences led to a legacy of instilling a similar inspiration in generations of students.

black and white photo of Richard Demaree in a crowd

Fond Farewell: Biology Professor Emeritus Richard Demaree

Richard Demaree developed the electron microscope lab at Chico State and advanced its study of parasitology among undergraduate and graduate students.

Troy Cline and student do research in a lab

Faculty Expert: Virology Professor Troy Cline

Virologist Troy Cline shares what stands out to him about the novel coronavirus and how he’s been incorporating the crisis into his lessons.

Stars shine above Trinity Hall.

Fond Farewell: Biology Professor Emeritus Doug Alexander

Doug Alexander's greatest passion was vernal pools—one he loved sharing with his colleagues and students well into retirement.

Sterling Mattoon poses with a yellow butterfly, with a magnifying glass in his other hand.

Sterling O. Mattoon to be Honored with Honorary Doctorate

For more than 75 years, the alumnus and naturalist has been devoted to the research of butterflies and their diminishing habitats within Northern California.

The sun lights up entryway of Kendall Hall.

Seven Faculty Earn Professional Achievement Honors

The Professional Achievement Honors recognize exemplary teacher-scholar achievement on our campus.

The University campus glows in the early winter sunset in 2017.

Worth Sharing: Guenter Accomplishes Rare Artistic Feat

A listing of professional achievements by Chico State faculty, staff, and students.

Biology Lab Goes Fishin’

A student research lab on campus uses fish to pursue treatments for blood-related diseases.