Welcome to the Department of Biology
Studying life in all its forms and scales through cutting-edge research and innovative teaching.
Meet the New Center for Botany
Botanical sciences are more important than ever. Learn about the research and outreach our dedicated researchers are investing in.
Giving
Your donations can improve the student experience, advance research, and support efforts across the Department of Biology.
Undergraduate Programs
Explore majors, honors curriculums and certificates.
Graduate Programs
Considering a Master or PhD? Explore these programs.
Research
Researchers in the Department of Biology are in the field and in the lab studying flora, fauna, fungi and more.
Featured News
Plant enthusiasts joined the Wisconsin Herbarium’s 2026 Foray in La Crosse County, Wi
Research
This past July, the Wisconsin Herbarium and Botanical Club of Wisconsin hosted their 8th annual foray. Over the course of three days, a total of 46 volunteers explored habitats throughout La Crosse County, Wisconsin to document their flora. Together, they collected over 1,200 plant specimens.
Each year the foray is held in a different region of Wisconsin, inviting plant enthusiasts, students and professional botanists alike into the field to help with the collection.
Molecular “bypasses” improve grass plants’s synthesis of lignin and starch, laying the early groundwork for evolutionary success
Research
UW–Madison researchers found that ancestors of grasses generated “bypasses” of chemical pathways used to create lignin and starch more efficiently.
Faculty Q&A: Zach Feiner studies fisheries to sustain them for both anglers and the ecosystem
Faculty
As a new faculty member, UW–Madison alumnus and Wisconsin native, Feiner wants his work to benefit the state’s ecosystems and communities alike.
Department of Biology FAQs
Department News
Answers to frequently asked questions about the new Department of Biology.
Department Events
September
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September 17Biology Colloquium: George BrooksBuilding resilience in climate-vulnerable fisheries3:30 PM, B302 Birge Hall
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September 24Biology Colloquium: Anne PringleRethinking Baker’s articulation of an “ideal weed” with fungi: What enables a mushroom to invade?3:30 PM, B302 Birge Hall
October
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October 1Biology Colloquium: Chris MuirSpace, place, and pace: three tales from the mouths of plants3:30 PM, B302 Birge Hall
Biology Colloquium
The Biology Colloquium is a series of lectures hosted by the Department of Biology.
To subscribe to the Biology Colloquium mailing list…
News
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Plant enthusiasts joined the Wisconsin Herbarium’s 2026 Foray in La Crosse County, Wi
By Elise Mahon This past July, the Wisconsin State Herbarium and Botanical Club of Wisconsin hosted their 8th annual foray. Over the course of three days, a total of 46 volunteers explored…
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Faculty Q&A: Zach Feiner studies fisheries to sustain them for both anglers and the ecosystem
Zach Feiner is a fisheries ecologist and new assistant professor in the department of Biology. He not only studies how fish respond to changes in their ecosystem, but also what those changes…
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Ken Cameron and Anne Pringle featured in On Wisconsin “Mighty Mycology”
UW fungi researchers across many disciplines have created a world-class supergroup to improve our lives. Professors Ken Cameron and Anne Pringle are both featured in this On Wisconsin Magazine story. Read more
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UW researchers train future scientists and educate communities about wisconsin’s peatlands
Peatlands are powerhouses when it comes to improving water quality, minimizing flood risks, providing habitat and storing carbon. Yet, most people are unaware of these important ecological places. Researchers and students from…
Media Mentions
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Botany Grad Student talks mentorship in Science Careers
To help readers at all career stages become the supportive mentors and supervisors they aspire to be, Science Careers asked researchers, including Botany Graduate Student Joseph Walston, to share the lessons they’ve learned on…
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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.