Dr. Arijana Barun
My research explores the instructional culture of STEM embracing the expectation that all students are capable of succeeding.
Have Questions? We have answers.
Contact UsUndergraduate Research
The Undergraduate Research & Creative Scholarship Program promotes, supports, and celebrates ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï faculty and student engagement in undergraduate research activities. These undergraduate research experiences enhance students’ preparedness and competitiveness for future employment and the pursuit of advanced degrees.Ìý
Undergraduate Research FAQs
Many full-time ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï Biology faculty members have active research programs and mentor undergraduate students on individual or group projects in their respective fields of expertise. To learn more about what research opportunities may be available in the Biology department, students are encouraged to reach out to and to initiate a conversation with ourÌýfull-time faculty membersÌýto determine what opportunities (if any) for research may be available in their lab.
If a Biology faculty member invites you to join their lab, students may earn upper division Biology credits by registering for BIO 4950 – Undergraduate Research in Biology.
Once students have identified a research mentor, students should discuss with them whether or not they should register for BIO 4950.Ìý Their research mentor will inform the Biology program coordinator, who will then provide an override so the student can register for BIO 4950.
Students with a catalog year prior to 2026-27 can register for up to 2 credits of undergraduate research in a single semester, with a maximum of 4 credits total of independent study/internship/TA/undergraduate research (or any combination of these) applied toward a major or minor in Biology.
Beginning with the 2026-27 catalog year, students can take up to 4 credits of undergraduate research in a single semester with a maximum of 6 credits total of independent study/internship/TA/undergraduate research (or any combination of these) applied toward a major or minor in Biology.
Students should be aware that the number of credits is typically based on the time commitment associated with the teaching assistantship. For example, 1 credit will require a minimum of 45 hours over the course of the semester. For 2 credits, students will need to complete a minimum of 90 hours over the course of the semester, etc.
For other information about undergraduate research at ÍøÆسԹÏ, students are encouraged to visit ÍøÆسԹÏ’sÌýUndergraduate Research ProgramÌýpage.
Faculty Research Focus
Dr. Erin Bissell
My research interests are in community and restoration ecology, with a focus on disturbance response.
Dr. Christy Carello
My research focuses on bird communities, including the winter-feeding behavior of Northern Shovelers in the Denver metro.
Dr. Cindy Church
My research interests are in Giardia, the most frequently identified intestinal protozoan parasite in humans.
Dr. Jonathan Dyhr
My research is focused on understanding the neural basis of behavior.
Dr. Rebecca Ferrell
My research interests include microbial nitrogen cycling and assessment of water quality using indicator organisms.
Dr. Jennifer Gagliardi-Seeley
I am a behavioral ecologist that primarily studies pair bond formation and sexual selection in the convict cichlid fish.
Dr. Robert Hancock
My general area of research is insect behavior. More specifically, I study mosquitos and other blood sucking insects.
Dr. Jason Kolts
I study food web dynamics involving crayfish and invasive Japanese beetles.
Dr. Vida Melvin
My lab applies genetics and cell biology to study developmental processes.
Dr. Douglas Petcoff
I am interested in thermal stress in Colorado's native salmonid fish, the cutthroat trout and mountain whitefish.
Dr. Helene Ver Eecke
I am drawn towards applied and environmental projects that can benefit society.