Zoology and Physiology

College of Agriculture, Life Sciences, and Natural Resources

Mission Statement of the Department of Zoology and Physiology

The Department of Zoology and Physiology is composed of a diverse and collaborative group of Faculty and Researchers, working together to provide each of their students with the very best learning and research environment. We serve students interested in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and Management, Zoology, Physiology, Biology, Ecology, Neuroscience and Pre-professional Health Care.

We value communication and analytical skills, and field work, and, in keeping with the larger Mission of the University of Wyoming, we place a premium on contextual learning and understanding, particularly relevant to the demands of the 21st Century.

The Department of Zoology and Physiology is the largest academic department at the University of Wyoming, with 30 faculty, 350 undergraduate majors, 60 graduate students, and $3,000,000 in extramural research funding yearly.  Four undergraduate degrees are offered: Biology (jointly with Botany); Zoology;  Physiology; and Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and Management.  M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Zoology and Physiology also are offered.  Several departmental faculty also supervise graduate students in several interdisciplinary Ph.D. programs, including Neuroscience, and Ecology.

The teaching mission ranges from General Biology (inquiries related to Life Science program should be directed to the Director, Tel: 307-766-2818 e-mail: mahler@uwyo.edu ), which is taught to more than 1200 students yearly, to advanced courses for graduate students.  The department prides itself on outstanding teaching and service to students at all levels.  The disciplines of faculty and student research range from basic studies of ecosystem function, biogeochemistry, population biology, evolution, organismal biology and cell physiology to applied studies related to human disease, wildlife conservation and environmental toxicology.

The research tools available to the department include: electron, light, and laser confocal microscopy; geographic information systems; analytical chemistry; DNA genotyping and sequencing; and state-of-the-art physiological instrumentation.  The department cooperates with various natural resource agencies in studies related to conservation or management.  It hosts the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, and National Park service.

The diverse interests and skills of Faculty in our Department provide unique and dynamic opportunities that are becoming increasingly difficult to find in many larger university settings. In addition to their course-work, undergraduate students who show interest in research may gain work experience in prominent research laboratories, providing a unique introduction to, and an early fostering of, scientific skills that will serve them well as they prepare for Graduate School and/or the demands of a professional career.