bio.fsu.edu

The FSU Department of Biological Science site highlights research through faculty and research-interest directories, a research showcase, and research facilities; it lists a postdoctoral program and open faculty positions; and it features the Biology in London Program, Biology in Action!, and the KING Life Sciences Building. These are the main entry points if you want to understand what the department studies, where that work happens, and what special programs it runs.

Research: How the Department Describes Its Work

The department frames biology as a unified field best understood by examining how levels of organization—from the molecular to the ecosystem level—function, interact, and evolve. Its stated aim is for faculty to excel in their own research while reaching across sub-disciplines for a broad perspective.

The site gives two examples of that integration:

• Molecular biology, development, epigenetics, and evolution combined to better understand the relationship between genotype and phenotype.
• Neuroscience and ecology combined to understand behavior.

Where to Look on the Site

If you are comparing potential advisors or labs, start with Faculty and Research Interests, then use the Faculty Directory to confirm who is currently listed. The Research Facilities page is the place to check what equipment or shared resources the department describes.

Facilities and the KING Life Sciences Building

The KING Life Sciences Building is highlighted as a named facility on the site, alongside a King Building Art page. The building appears as a distinct navigation item rather than a detailed facilities specification, so treat it as the physical home base to look for when visiting or planning a campus trip. For practical logistics, the site also links an FSU Campus Map and an FSU Phone/Email Directory.

Special Programs and Opportunities

Biology in London Program

A study-away program listed among the department's related and outreach programs. If you are an undergraduate considering study abroad within biology, this is the program page to review for eligibility and timing details.

Biology in Action!

Listed as a highlighted program on the main page. Check the linked page for its current format and audience.

Postdoctoral Program and Open Faculty Positions

The site maintains a Postdoctoral Program page and a Postdoctoral Associates Directory, plus an Open Faculty Positions page. Prospective postdocs can use the program page for structure and the directory to see current associates; job seekers should go straight to Open Faculty Positions.

Outreach and Community

Related and outreach programs are grouped together, and the site links community channels (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn) plus a department newsletter-style presence.

Who Each Section Is For

• Prospective graduate students: Graduate Program, Graduate Studies Home, Graduate Handbook, and Graduate Contacts; the CMB Graduate Student Association and EERDG are also listed.
• Prospective undergraduates: Majors pages for Biological Science, Biology FSU-Teach, Computational Biology, and Cell and Molecular Neuroscience, each with general information, a description of major tracks, and an academic map; plus the Bulletin for course descriptions, Academic Advising, the Undergraduate Handbook, Scholarships, Undergraduate Research, and Undergraduate Teaching Opportunities.
• Postdocs and job candidates: Postdoctoral Program and Open Faculty Positions.
• Visitors and collaborators: KING Life Sciences Building, campus map, and departmental directories.

Practical Notes

• The site's directories are split by role—faculty, faculty emeritus, courtesy faculty, staff and associates, undergraduate advising, postdoctoral associates, and graduate students—so pick the directory that matches the person you need.
• A "Request Information" link and an "Inquire About The Department" section are available for direct questions.
• The page does not publish pricing, tuition, or login requirements for these programs; confirm costs and access conditions on the individual program pages rather than assuming they are free or open.

For a quick orientation, read the Statement from the Chair first, then move to Faculty and Research Interests for the science, Research Facilities and the KING Life Sciences Building for the physical setting, and Biology in London and Biology in Action! for the special programs.

The FSU Department of Biological Science offers three undergraduate majors—Biological Science, Computational Biology, and Cell and Molecular Neuroscience—plus a Biology FSU-Teach option for future teachers. The Biological Science major is the broadest and contains several named tracks, so your first decision is whether you want a general biology degree with a specialization or one of the two more focused majors. The department's site links each major to its own description, academic map, and advising resources, which is where you should confirm current requirements.

The Majors at a Glance

The department describes biology as a unified field best understood by examining how molecular through ecosystem levels function, interact, and evolve. That framing is a useful guide: the general major gives you the widest exposure across those levels, while Computational Biology and Cell and Molecular Neuroscience push you earlier into a specific set of skills.

Choosing Within the Biological Science Major

The Biological Science major is the one that requires a second decision, because it lists specific tracks. The site presents the major description and the track list as separate pages, followed by an academic map. Use them in that order:

1. Read the major description to confirm the degree fits your goals.
2. Read "Tracks in the Major" and note which track matches your interests.
3. Open the academic map for a term-by-term sample schedule.
4. Check the Bulletin for official course descriptions before registering.

The academic map is a planning sample, not a contract; the Bulletin is the authoritative source for course content and requirements. If the track descriptions leave you unsure, the Undergraduate Advising Directory and the department's FAQ page are the next stops.

How to Verify Requirements Before You Commit

Requirements and course lists change, and the department routes official details through specific pages rather than a single summary. Before making a decision:

• Course descriptions: use the Bulletin for Course Descriptions linked from the undergraduate menu.
• Program rules: consult the Undergraduate Handbook.
• Advising: contact the advisors listed in the Undergraduate Advising Directory; the site also provides a Request Information form.
• Prospective students: the FSU Admissions Portal handles application questions, which the department site does not.

Beyond the Classroom

The undergraduate pages also point to scholarships (including the Sheila B. Lutz Memorial Scholarship), undergraduate research, undergraduate teaching opportunities, student organizations, and research and job opportunities. These are worth reviewing alongside the major pages, since research experience and scholarships can shape which track or major suits you. The department also highlights a Biology in London Program and a Biology in Action! feature, both listed in the site navigation.

A Practical Next Step

If you are undecided, start with Biological Science and its track list, because it keeps the most options open while you sample coursework. If you already know you want quantitative or computational work, or a neuroscience focus, go directly to those major pages and their academic maps. In every case, confirm the final requirements with an undergraduate advisor and the Bulletin rather than relying on the website's summaries alone.

bio.fsu.edu is the official website of Florida State University's Department of Biological Science. It serves prospective and current students, faculty, researchers, and visitors who need information on degree programs, faculty research, departmental directories, or contact details. The site describes the department's approach as treating biology as a unified field, examined across levels of organization from molecular to ecosystem.

What the site covers

The main navigation reflects the department's core functions:

• Undergraduate Studies – majors and tracks, academic maps, advising, handbook, scholarships, undergraduate research, and teaching opportunities
• Graduate Program – general information, contacts, handbook, and graduate student directory
• Faculty and Research – faculty and emeritus directories, research interests, a research showcase, and research facilities
• Postdoctoral Program – postdoctoral associates directory and related resources
• Directories and Information – faculty, staff, courtesy faculty, advising, postdoc, graduate student, and social media directories, plus email aliases, phone/email directory, campus map, and a resource guide
• Seminars and Events and Related and Outreach Programs

Undergraduate majors listed

The undergraduate section names four majors, each with general information, a description of the major, and an academic map:

Course descriptions are available through the university bulletin, and the site also links to an FAQ and online resources.

Featured programs and pages

• Biology in London Program – a study-away opportunity highlighted on the main page
• KING Life Sciences Building – information about the department's home building, including a King Building Art page
• Biology in Action! and National Postdoctoral Appreciation Week – featured news and events
• Open Faculty Positions – current openings for prospective faculty

Who it is for

• Prospective students can review majors, tracks, and academic maps before applying through the FSU Admissions Portal.
• Current students can find advising contacts, the undergraduate and graduate handbooks, scholarship information, and research or job opportunities.
• Researchers and job seekers can browse faculty research interests, facilities, the postdoctoral program, and open positions.
• Visitors and media can use the departmental directories, contact information, and campus map, or reach the department through the "Inquire About The Department" and "Request Information" links.

The site also accepts donations to the department and lists the Sheila B. Lutz Memorial Scholarship and the Dr. Ralph W. Yerger Lectureship as named funds.

Prospective graduate students can learn about FSU Department of Biological Science programs through the department website's Graduate Program section, which links to general information, graduate contacts, the graduate handbook, and the graduate student directory. Application-related inquiries are directed to the FSU Admissions Portal and a Request Information link. The site does not publish program-specific admission requirements, deadlines, or funding details in the available content, so those specifics must be confirmed through the contacts or admissions portal.

What the Graduate Program Section Covers

The department's navigation lists a Graduate Program area with these resources:

The site also lists a Postdoctoral Program and a Postdoctoral Associates Directory separately from the graduate program, so postdoc inquiries follow a different path.

Step-by-Step: Finding Program and Admissions Information

1. Start at the department homepage (bio.fsu.edu) and open the navigation menu.
2. Select Graduate Program to reach Graduate Studies Home.
3. Read General Information for the program overview, then open the Graduate Handbook for departmental policies and expectations.
4. Identify a contact from Graduate Contacts if your question is about program structure, research areas, or the application process.
5. Review the Graduate Student Directory to see current students and, where listed, their research areas.
6. Apply or request details through the FSU Admissions Portal, or use Request Information to ask the department directly.

Expected result: You will know which program resources exist, who to contact, and where the formal application begins. You will not find a published list of deadlines or required test scores in the available site content.

Research Fit Before You Apply

The department describes biology as a unified field examined across levels of organization, from molecular to ecosystem, and states that faculty integrate areas such as molecular biology, development, epigenetics, evolution, and neuroscience with ecology. For applicants, this means identifying faculty whose work matches your interests is part of preparing an application. Use the Faculty Directory and Faculty and Research Interests pages alongside the graduate materials.

Common Sticking Points

• Looking for deadlines on the department site: The available content does not list application deadlines or required materials. Check the FSU Admissions Portal or contact the graduate contacts.
• Confusing graduate and postdoc paths: Postdoctoral listings are separate; use the Postdoctoral Program pages for those inquiries.
• Assuming the handbook is an application guide: The Graduate Handbook covers departmental program policies, not admissions instructions.
• Missing the Request Information option: If a question is not answered on the site, the Request Information link is the direct route to the department.

Bottom Line

Use the Graduate Program section for program structure and the handbook, the Graduate Contacts for specific questions, and the FSU Admissions Portal to begin an application. Confirm deadlines, requirements, and funding directly, since the site content available here does not specify them.

The FSU Department of Biological Science website (bio.fsu.edu) consolidates its people-finding tools under the Directories and Information section of the main navigation. From there you can reach separate directories for faculty, emeritus and courtesy faculty, staff and associates, undergraduate advisors, postdoctoral associates, and graduate students, plus biology email aliases and the university-wide phone/email directory. Use the department directories when you need a specific person's contact details; use the FSU Phone/Email Directory when the person may sit outside Biology.

Department directories

The site lists these directories as distinct entries, so pick the one matching the person's role:

A Social Media Directory is also listed if you are trying to reach the department through its social channels rather than by email or phone.

Email aliases and the university directory

Two additional entries help when you don't know an individual's address:

• Biology Email Aliases — departmental alias addresses that route to a group or function rather than one person. Useful for general inquiries when the right contact isn't obvious.
• FSU Phone/Email Directory — the university-level lookup. Use this when someone isn't listed in the Biology directories, for example staff in central administrative offices.

How to use the directories effectively

1. Start from the Directories and Information menu on the Biology main page.
2. Choose the directory by role — a graduate student will not appear in the Faculty Directory, and an emeritus professor may appear only in the Emeritus list.
3. If the name doesn't appear, try the FSU Phone/Email Directory before assuming the person has left.
4. For a general question rather than a named contact, check the Biology Email Aliases first.

The site also provides a Contact Us link and an Inquire About The Department form, which are better fits for prospective students or visitors than a personal directory entry.

Related navigation

The same menu area links to the FSU Campus Map and a Resource Guide, which help once you have a name and need to find a building or office — the department is based in the KING Life Sciences Building. Prospective graduate and undergraduate students looking for program contacts rather than individual people should use the Graduate Program and Undergraduate Studies sections instead.