News
Welcome to the Department of Biology
From the Chair
July 1, 2026, marks the first day of the Department of Biology in the College of Letters and Science at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Bringing together botany and integrative biology (formerly zoology), two departments that have been around since the earliest years of our university, is an enormous feat and it also presents several exciting opportunities.
The Department of Biology brings together botany and integrative biology’s 11 academic programs, three living and preserved natural history collections and adds an exciting new botanical sciences research hub, the Center for Botany.
Department of Biology FAQs
Department News
Answers to frequently asked questions about the new Department of Biology.
Hands-on in Hawaii
learning
Botany students travel to Hawaii with Professor Muir to study plant diversity in the global biodiversity hotspot.
McGee and Walston win 2026 Award for Mentoring Undergraduates
Awards
Professor Seth McGee and graduate student Joseph Walston have each been recognized for their outstanding mentorship of undergraduate students.
Alumni and Friends Newsletter
Are you an alumnus or friend of the former Botany or Integrative Biology Departments? Botany and Integrative Biology have now combined their talents as the Department of Biology.
We’d love to stay in touch!
Sign up for our newsletter and we’ll send you updates on research discoveries, the student experience, and more twice a year.
News
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Studying vesicles could reveal insight on the origins of life
PhD candidate Tymofii Sokolskyi and professor David Baum published a new paper that investigates pre-biotic chemical reactions in vesicles to better understand the origins of life. Read more.
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Biology graduate students receive 2026 Arboretum Research Fellowships
Department of Biology graduate students Hannah Ashe, Jillian Neece and Shaneya Miriyagalla have received Arboretum Research Fellowships. These graduate fellowships support early career scientists doing work that aligns with the Arboretum’s mission…
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Department of Biology FAQs
Answers to frequently asked questions about the new Department of Biology. Read more.
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How did these mushrooms escape?
Botany graduate student Aishwarya Veerabahu, discusses her research and outreach efforts around the golden oyster mushroom that’s pushing out native fungal biodiversity in this article for the Spring 2026 College of Letters…
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Botany Grad Alumni highlighted for prairie restoration work
In Green Lights, an article for the Spring 2026 College of Letters and Science Magazine, a Botany PhD grad is featured for her environmental restoration work in Wisconsin.
In the News
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Agave Death Bloom featured as State Journal Photo of the day
UW-Madison’s Botany Garden and Greenhouse’s Agave victoriae-reginae plant bloomed in early June, catching the attention of the public and the Wisconsin State Journal. The plant, which is about 30 years old, blooms…
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Professor Damschen talks biodiversity on WPR
Professor Ellen Damschen joins WPR’s The Larry Meiller Show to discuss why biodiversity matters in Wisconsin, and what scientists are doing to conserve plant and animal life. Listen to the episode.
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Professor Simon Gilroy on Startalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson
Are plants more aware than we think? Do they have feelings? Neil deGrasse Tyson, Gary O’Reilly, and Harrison Greenbaum explore the intelligence of plants with astrobotanist Simon Gilroy. From venus flytraps to…
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What’s wrong with ‘The Most Studied Lake in the World’?
The algae bloom-covered shorelines of Lake Mendota indicate serious lake health issues. How do we right the ship? It starts with science. View full article here.