University of Wisconsin–Madison
The image is split in half by the waterline of a lake. Above the water line, two students peer over the side of an alumninum canoe, notepads in hand. Below the waterline is dense vegetation.

Research

In the field and in the lab

From molecules and cells, to plants, animals and fungi, to the processes shaping entire ecosystems, faculty and students across the Department of Biology engage in research with real-world implications.

Two tall containers in the foreground contain wet specimen of marine invertebrates suspended in a yellow liquid. Two students in the background are out of focus but peering around at the specimens in front of them.

Get involved

All student in the Department of Biology have opportunities to engage with research through hands-on coursework, independent research projects and more.

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Collections

The Botany Garden and Greenhouse, Wisconsin State Herbarium, and UW Zoological Museum store both living and preserved collections of flora, fungi and fauna that support research on campus and beyond.

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A student looks through a microscope at a dried, preserved pitcher plant specimen while two people sitting further down the table discuss other specimen.
A microscopic image of a collection of connected cells where the outside edges of the cells are a bright green and the inside are bright pink and purple.

Newcomb Imaging Center

The Newcomb Imaging Center (NIC) houses powerful, modern microscopy instrumentation that supports research and education in the Department of Biology and across campus.

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  • Studying vesicles could reveal insight on the origins of life

    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.

  • Biology graduate students receive 2026 Arboretum Research Fellowships

    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…

  • How did these mushrooms escape?

    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…

  • A hub for botanical research: Q&A with the Center for Botany Faculty Director

    A hub for botanical research: Q&A with the Center for Botany Faculty Director

    The new Center for Botany is a research hub for botanical sciences at UW–Madison housed in the Department of Biology. Members of the center will discover, archive and communicate knowledge of basic…

  • Professor Damschen talks biodiversity on WPR

    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.