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THE DIVISIONS

 The Department of Biological Sciences is functionally divided into three divisions. These divisions are described briefly below.

BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (BMB)

The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology division offers the opportunity to obtain degrees in either Biochemistry or Biological Sciences. The diverse interests of the faculty facilitate advanced study of prokaryotic and eukaryotic molecular biology, molecular genetics, enzymology and physical biochemistry.
 
Bioinformatics, proteomics and metabolomics, are important components of many of these investigations. Physical structure studies may include working at the nearby Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices (CAMD), a synchrotron research center which is the only such university-owned facility in the United States.
Some more specific areas of research include:
  • Regulation of prokaryotic and eukaryotic gene expression
  • Photosynthesis, bioenergetics and chloroplast biogenesis
  • Structure and function of carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and proteins
  • DNA repair and mutagenesis
  • Enzyme mechanisms

CELLULAR, DEVELOPMENTAL AND INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY (CDIB)

The Division of Cellular, Developmental, and Integrative Biology is a diverse group within the department. Faculty research interests include a broad range of approaches to studying a variety of organisms, ranging from microorganisms to plants and animals. This division includes research in cell biology, developmental biology, endocrinology, neurobiology, and physiology. Experimental approaches include biochemistry, molecular biology, electrophysiology, image analysis, morphometrics and electron microscopy. Research is performed on topics including cell signaling, mechanisms of responses to certain diseases, cellular organization, physiological responses to the environment, and mechanisms of cell death. More specifically, faculty are working in the areas of:
  • Sensory and endocrine systems at the molecular, cellular and systems level
  • Developmental biology and cell differentiation in plants, zebra fish, etc.
  • Intra- and inter- cellular signaling; cellular functioning
  • Functional and comparative morphology
  • Comparative and environmental physiology

SYSTEMATICS, ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION (SEE)

The Division of Systematics, Ecology and Evolution includes faculty working with a diverse set of organisms, from microorganisms to plants and animals. Research in this area often combines field studies with laboratory work, and molecular methods and bioinformatics are standard tools of the trade. The faculty participate in a variety of projects that are aimed at a better understanding of the world in which we live, interactions among organisms and their environments, and evolutionary processes. Some of the research at LSU is centered on terrestrial tropical and sub-tropical ecosystems and coastal environments. Some examples of research areas include:

  • Classical and molecular systematics and organismal biology of prokaryotes, fungi, plants and animals
  • Evolutionary biology including population genetics, evolutionary ecology, and molecular evolution
  • Population and community ecology of temperate and tropical aquatic and terrestrial systems
  • Quantitative ecology and ecological modeling
  • Ecotoxicology and conservation biology

The Department maintains modern facilities, has access to the collections of the Museum of Natural Science and the LSU Herbarium, and is a member of the Organization for Tropical Studies. Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) provides support for marine/estuarine research. LSU is one of only nine universities in the country designated as both a land-grant and sea-grant institution, and one of only a select number of universities designated as a Doctoral/Research - Extensive University by the Carnegie Foundation.