Welcome to The Biology Department

Recent Events:

Winter Study 2023

During Winter Study, Holland lab members set up an experiment with 5th grade students at Lanesborough Elementary to test the effects of grape flavoring as a bird deterrent. Pictured left to right: Prof. Cynthia Holland, Aracely Watson ‘25, Michael Fallon ‘24, Hisham Tadfie ‘23, Miriam Li ‘23, and Cameron Darnell ‘25. Photo credit: Sean MacDonald


Conservation Biology samples tree diversity

Photo: Joan Edwards

Students in Conservation Biology sampled tree diversity as part of their lab work, locating a magnificent sugar maple. Pictured from left to right are SJ Brusini ’23, Robin Henrikson ’24, and Sophia Trone ’24.


Biology Quilt unveiled in the Hopper Science Center

Biology Quilt (Photo credit: Lois Banta)

Biology staff member Debra Rogers-Gillig, who has served as a technical assistant in the department for 31 years, created a stunning 10′ x 10′ quilt for the Hopper Science Center focal wall. The quilt panels represent the lab courses in our curriculum.


Ecology students venture to The Dome!

The Dome
At the top of The Dome (Photo credit: Allison Gill)

Wearing new safety vests as they traveled through the woods, our Ecology students made their way to the top of The Dome in nearby Vermont. Ecology climbs to the top of The Dome to characterize how forest structure changes across elevational gradients and observe the transition between temperate hardwood and boreal forest.


Summer 2022 Poster Session

Each summer, approximately 35-40 Williams students pursue research in Biology, working intensively with a faculty mentor on the faculty member’s research for 9-10 weeks.  These students are part of a vibrant summer program in which a total of about 190 students pursue research projects under the direction of Williams science and math faculty members. The summer research program culminates in a science division-wide poster session. Pictured are Luke Young-Xu ’25, Max Song ’23 and Maki Yoshimura ’23.


Thesis students present at the Ecological Society of America meeting

Ecological Society of America meeting
August 2022, Montreal (Photo credit: Allison Gill)

Over the summer, students in Professor Allison Gill’s lab attended the Ecological Society of America meeting in Montreal, Canada. Students presented ongoing work on carbon and nitrogen cycling at Hopkins Forest, a local reserve located in Williamstown. Pictured at the meeting are recently-graduated Biology thesis students Patrick Hodgson ’22 and Aaron Stanton ’22, and incoming thesis students Angela Hsuan Chen ’23 and Maddie Annis ’23.

 

News & Announcements

FALL 2023 TA Applications are now being accepted!

Please use the following link to access the Fall 2023 application: https://biology.williams.edu/ta-app/

Fall 2023 Information Session recording and Advising Schedule

 

Pre-Registration Information Session to be held Monday, 4/24

The Biology Pre-Registration Info Session for majors, prospective majors, and students interested in taking Biology courses will take place Monday, April 24th at 12 noon in TBL 112.  Join us as we cover major requirements, course offerings (Fall23-Spring24), and the advising process. All are welcome...

Dr. Emily Hatch ’03 will be the Biology Class of 60s Seminar speaker

The Biology Department welcomes Dr. Emily Hatch ’03 back to Williams as this week’s Class of 1960’s Scholars seminar speaker. As a member of the Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle, Emily studies the nuclear envelope — the membrane that...
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