Department of Biology

Welcome to the Department of Biology

Our renowned faculty has diverse research interests, including molecular, developmental, cell, ecological and evolutionary biology. Interdisciplinary by nature, we are housed amongst members of the Chemistry and Physics department in Regents Hall, a beautiful, state of the art science facility that opened in 2012.

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What's New

What's the Buzz? Biology Professors work to make Georgetown a "Bee Campus"
October 24, 2019
This year, Georgetown is working to earn designation as a Bee Campus, a status indicating that the University is committed to increasing the number of pollinators, native and non-native, on campus. Furthermore, Bee Campuses establish plans for habitats, awareness events, and student projects to support bees and other pollinators. Student group Hoya Hive and Professors Martha Weiss and Edward Barrows are leading the project, which is currently focusing on planting native plants to attract pollinators.
Congrats to Mariana Abarca from Ries Lab!
October 14, 2019
On Monday, our very own Mariana Abarca of the Ries Lab had her work featured as the editor's pick on the PLOS Responding to Climate Change page! In her article, she analyzes the responses of a butterfly to a variety of environmental cues.
Professor Janet Mann's research on dolphins in the Potomac featured in the Washington Post!
October 1, 2019
This week, researchers with the Potomac-Chesapeake Dolphin Project observed the extremely rare birth of a wild dolphin in the Potomac River, a river that has been historically too polluted for both humans and dolphins to swim in safely. Ever since 2012, when Georgetown Biology Professor Dr. Janet Mann first observed a dolphin in the river, the project has focused on understanding the interactions between residential populations of the river's dolphins as they escape a deadly Mid-Atlantic virus during the summer. Her research was featured in the Washington Post this week alongside the news of the observed dolphin birth, including her goals for the project and her Washington DC dolphin naming scheme!
Biology Professors Ride to Support MS Research
September 8, 2019
On Sunday, September 8th, three professors from the Biology Department biked as a part of Team Georgetown at the Bike MS ride, an event that raises money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Professors Peter Armbruster and Steven Singer joined Professor Mark Rose, Chair of the Department, and the rest of Team Georgetown as they biked over 400 combined miles and raised more than $7,000 for the MS Society. As Rookie Team of the Year, these professors made an impact on the event and on the research of treatments for the disease.