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Focused on the life sciences

In the Department of Biological Sciences, you will find game-changing discoveries and life-changing education, from the molecular to ecosystem levels. We are focused on some of the toughest challenges of our time - fighting cancer, combating infectious diseases, unraveling climate change, and dissecting how we see, hear and interact with our surroundings. Our research and scholarship changes people's lives and the planet.

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Studying and working within our welcoming community of life scientists can be the first step to changing your life. You'll find that research and academic pursuits are interwoven as faculty create and share new knowledge.

Research in the Department of Biological Science contributes to developing personalized medicine, unraveling how the human brain functions, combating infectious diseases, understanding genomes at levels never before imagined, and understanding the complex ecosystems that keep our planet healthy. We are responsive to challenges that appear suddenly and need immediate attention – because we prepare persistently for the moments when our knowledge can lead the way.

We are the largest department in the life sciences at Purdue University with degree-granting programs that include:

We believe that STEM education and careers should be inclusive and accessible. We are deeply committed to mentoring our students and helping them apply their knowledge and develop the skills needed to become leaders in the scientific workforce.

As part of the College of Science, we have capacity for cross-disciplinary partnerships that encourage undergraduate research experiences and empower graduate students who work and publish with renowned faculty. The diverse nature of biological sciences lends itself to collaborations in the physical sciences, agriculture, engineering, education and computational sciences. Partnerships abound as researchers from across campus work together to solve today's toughest challenges.

News

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Purdue researchers test previously approved FDA drugs to treat Lowe syndrome
2024-02-28

Purdue University researchers have developed a patented therapeutic strategy for Lowe syndrome, an incurable and rare genetic disorder, by repurposing two drugs previously approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for other conditions.


Advancements in Protein Structure Modeling through Cryogenic Electron Microscopy
2024-02-27

In the realm of structural biology, the ability to model protein structures accurately is paramount for understanding biological processes at the molecular level. Recent advancements in cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) have revolutionized protein structure determination, yet challenges persist in accurately tracing protein main chains from electron density maps.


Peace, Love, and Parasites: The Enduring Legacy of Dennis Minchella
2024-02-22

Dennis Minchella's journey at Purdue University began with a Greyhound bus ride from Rochester, New York, armed with little more than a suitcase and a vision.


Announcing the 2023 Journal of Experimental Biology Outstanding Paper Prize shortlist and winner
2024-02-08

Over the past 12 months, Journal of Experimental Biology has celebrated a century at the forefront of comparative physiology, neuroethology and biomechanics, reflecting on the past, while also looking to the future, and early-career researchers have been at the heart of our festivities.


Bridging Teaching, Mentorship, and Research
2024-01-30

In the fall of 2019, amid the onset of a global pandemic, Andrew Mularo arrived at Purdue University's Biological Sciences Department, propelled by a journey that began at The Ohio State University. His undergraduate tenure in Ecology & Evolution, with a minor in entomology, laid the foundation for a scholarly odyssey defined by a deep-rooted curiosity about natural populations and their adaptive responses to environmental challenges.


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