OVERVIEW: General Introduction to the Department

It is now widely recognized that the Life Sciences are growing more in the 21st century than other sciences. Whether it's deciphering genomes, dealing with ecological crises, discovering new life forms from the deepsea to rainforests, analyzing adaptations of organisms, or making medical advances, the efforts of biologists are in the news every day, widening our understanding of the natural world and human interactions and survival in that world.


Whitman Biology students and faculty at the 13th Annual Murdock Undergraduate Science Research conference, Portland, Nov. 2004.
To prepare our graduates for all careers in the Life Sciences, the Biology major at Whitman College offers a well-rounded degree with coursework covering all the major areas of biology, from the molecular to the ecological. All courses are integrated with modern molecular and evolutionary concepts. The senior year requires a research thesis and comprehensive exams (click Policies and Requirements link here or above). Our students leave Whitman fully prepared to go into any biologically related graduate program, medicine and other health fields, laboratory and administrative positions at biotechnology companies, business and law school, and teaching. And they are prepared to enter the world in any other field as scientifically literate thinkers.
In addition to our comprehensive Biology degree, we also offer combined degrees in other Life Science areas: SEE Policies and Requirement section for major requirements.

2006: Senior Ray Andrell spends 6 weeks on the Atlantis and dives in the Alvin to collect specimens for his senior research (click for news story)

2007-2008 NEWS:

•In May 2007, emeritus professor Art Rempel passed away. Much beloved by generations of students and faculty, Dr. Rempel remained active at the college throughout his retirement. He will be sorely missed, but his incredible legacy will remain. He is survived by his wife Lucille, who has also made countless invaluable contributions to the college.
• At the end of the 2006-2007 academic year, beloved professor Charles Drabek officially retired. All other Department members will miss him greatly and we wish him all the best.
•We are joined this year by new assistant professors Kate Jackson, Thomas Knight and Leena Knight, and by Dawn Frame, sabbatical replacement for Heidi Dobson. Tim Parker, who joined us as an adjunct last year, continues with us to teach regular courses, and will become a full Assistant Professor next year.

Faculty and Staff -- Whitman College Biology Department.
Current Chair = GINGER WITHERS

NOTE: to reduce spam email, *AT* has been inserted into email addresses below. REPLACE THIS with the @ symbol for emailing
  • Heidi E. M. Dobson, Ph.D.; Associate Professor; botany and plant/animal interactions:   dobsonhe*AT*whitman.edu; ON SABBATICAL FALL 2007
  • Michelle Gisi, M.S.; Lab and Imaging Coordinator for Cell and Molecular Biology: gisimr*AT*whitman.edu
  • Kendra Golden, Ph.D., Associate Professor; microbiology, cell biology, nutrition: golden*AT*whitman.edu
  • Martha Holt, B.A., Department Technician / Lab Coordinator: holtma*AT*whitman.edu
  • Dawn Frame, Visiting Assistant Professor in botany; framedm*AT*whitman.edu
  • Delbert Hutchison, Ph.D., Associate Professor; population genetics, conservation biology, evolution: hutchidw*AT*whitman.edu
  • Kate Jackson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor; introductory biology, vertebrate zoology, herpetology: jacksok*AT*whitman.edu
  • Leena Knight, Ph.D., Assistant Professor; cell communication, pathophysiology: knightls*AT*whitman.edu
  • Thomas Knight, Ph.D., Assistant Professor; introductory biology, biostatistics, animal behavior: knightt*AT*whitman.edu
  • Tim Parker, Ph.D., Visiting Assistant Professor; Ecology, natural history, avian ecology: parkerth*AT*whitman.edu
  • Daniel M. Vernon, Ph.D., Associate Professor; molecular biology, plant developmental genetics, and genomics: vernondm*AT*whitman.edu
  • Christopher Wallace, Ph.D., Associate Professor; introductory biology; neurobiology, developmental biology: wallaccs*AT*whitman.edu
  • Ginger Withers, Ph.D., Associate Professor; neurobiology, developmental biology: withergs*AT*whitman.edu; DEPARTMENT CHAIR
  • C. Susan Weiler, Ph.D., Research Associate; phytoplankton ecology; educational/resource initiatives in aquatic and climate research: weilercs*AT*whitman.edu
  • Paul H. Yancey, Ph.D., Professor; Animal physiology, marine biology, bioethics; human anatomy and physiology: yancey*AT*whitman.edu

Biology faculty with Jared Diamond, Feb. 2002. L to R: Charles Drabek, Delbert Hutchison, Ginger Withers, Kendra Golden, Jared Diamond (visiting speaker from UCLA), Heidi Dobson, Paul Yancey, Dan Vernon, Chris Wallace. Dr Diamond gave a talk on his award-winning book Guns, Germs and Steel, which all Whitman entering students read during the summer of 2002.
Photo by Chris Bishop

 


Department Research Facilities

New Facilities! A new wing was added in 2001-02 to the Science Building, and the old wing was renovated in 2003-04. Biology gained a new greenhouse, new teaching rooms, new stockroom, and new student-faculty research rooms.


Above: The 1981 wing of the Hall of Science with Biology on the 2nd and 3rd floors.
Right: the atrium of the 2002 wing, with classrooms, displays and lounges used by all departments

Department Policy Statements

What Do Our Graduates Do?

Whitman Biology graduates go on into numerous endeavors around the world. Here are examples of the most common careers (NOT a complete list):


Student Research in the Biology Department
Many students conduct their required research via paid INTERNSHIPS.
An example: the American Physiological Society national internships program.
See our INTERNSHIPS PAGE for more examples! Examples of student research projects and publications:

Oct. 2001: 3 Whitman students present their work at the 2nd Internat'l Hydrothermal Vent Symposium, Brest, FRANCE (see Fiess et al., below)
Examples of PUBLICATIONS (*=undergraduates)
  • G. G. Parker, M. M. Davis*, S. M. Chapotin (2002). Canopy light transmittance in Douglas-fir western hemlock stands. Tree Physiology 22:147-157
  • Cushing DA*, Forsthoefel NR, Gestaut DR*, & Vernon DM (2005). Arabidopsis emb 175 and other ppr knockout mutants reveal essential roles for PPR proteins in plant embryogenesis. Planta, 221: 424-436.
  • Rosenberg*, N.K., R.W. Lee, P.H. Yancey (2006). High contents of hypotaurine and thiotaurine in hydrothermal-vent gastropods without thiotrophic endosymbionts. J. Exp. Zool. 305A: 655-662.
  • Brand*, G.L., R.V. Horak*, N. LeBris, S.K. Goffredi, S.L. Carney, B. Govenar, P.H. Yancey (2007). Hypotaurine and thiotaurine as indicators of sulfide exposure in bivalves and vestimentiferans from hydrothermal vents and cold seeps. Mar. Ecol. 28: 208-218.
  • Samerotte*, A.L., J.C. Drazen, G.L. Brand*, B.A. Seibel, P.H. Yancey (2007). Contents of trimethylamine oxide correlate with depth within as well as among species of teleost fish: an analysis of causation. Phys. Zool. Biochem. 80: 197-208

 


Calendar of Events

•Dr. Tetsu Sato, Nagano University, Japan: "The ecology and behavior of cichlid fishes of Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi"-- Tuesday October 30, 4pm, Science Hall 151
Dr. Eva Enders, NOAA - National Marine Fisheries Service (salmon researcher): "Changing flow velocities encountered by fish: How do they influence fish behavior and energetics." Fri Feb. 8, 12pm, Science xxx

•The 2007-08 REMPEL LECTURE: Paul Alan Cox: "Indigenous peoples and island conservation." March 5th in Maxey Auditorium


Biology Courses Online Information

FOR OTHER biology courses, see the College Catalog.
Careers in Biology

What do you do with a biology degree after college? I trust that you have talked with the following:

On campus we also have a fine resource in the Career Center. Check them out as they have lots of material and people to talk to. Also, check out their Employment in Science site.

Here are some other Web resources that may be of use.


Internet Resources of Biological Interest

Below we list some interesting Web sites you may wish to visit. If you go to the Home Pages for the various Biology web courses you will find many more resources.


Professor Paul Yancey maintains this page (originally designed by Prof. Earl Fleck).

Last update 14-Jan-2008