So many honors and recognitions to round up in Biology this season! See all the accomplishments of our community below!Laura Quinche, Biology graduate student, has been featured and interviewed in the Journal of Experimental Biology's Early Career Researcher Spotlight! Hank Woolley, research scientist in the Sidor Lab, was awarded a 2026 UW Outstanding Undergraduate…

In a Q&A with UW News, Biology Assistant Professor Andrea Durant, Biology Assistant Professor Willem Laursen, and Biology Professor Jeffrey Riffell discuss what it’s like to study mosquitoes and why these critters are actually really important.Excerpt from the UW News Q&A:Summer is almost here, which means that people are starting to look up best practices — from what colors to wear to…

Another academic year has come to a successful close, and we were delighted to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduating students at this year’s 2026 Biology Commencement ceremony. Biology Chair, Marti Bosma, with distinguished guest speaker and Nobel Laureate, Mary Brunkow, '86 (B.A. in Biology) Graduates, family members, and friends gathered at the Hec Edmundson Pavilion on Friday…

UW News spoke with UW Biology Assistant Professor Elli Theobald, Biology postdoctoral fellow Carly Busch and Biology doctoral student Madison Meuler about their recent paper where they examined almost 3,000 science guidelines and assessment questions for any connections to society. Of the approximately 200 elements that had real-world implications, many discussed ethics and public health issues.…

Nobel Laureate and 2026 UW Biology Graduation/UW Commencement speaker Mary Brunkow, '86 (B.A. in Biology) was bestowed the 2026 Alumna Summa Laude Dignata honor at this year's 2026 UW Awards of Excellence ceremony.The Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus Award (ASLD) is the highest honor bestowed upon a University of Washington graduate and is presented annually by the UW and UW Alumni Association. It…

Kasim Rafiq, Biology research scientist, and Marie-Pier Poulin, Biology doctoral student, were recently interviewed by UW News about their upcoming field season in Botswana where they study how large predators, such as lions and African wild dogs, are affected by climate change and other shifts in their environment.Excerpt from UW News Q&A:Tell us about the trip. Where are you going…

Greetings from the Greenhouse! We hope to see you at the greenhouse this summer during our public hours: Wednesdays from 12-4 PM and 2nd and 4th Saturdays from 10 AM-2 PM. We can be your tropical summer vacation!We’re excited to welcome Victoria cruziana back to the greenhouse this summer!Visitors who remember the old greenhouse may have already noticed the familiar-…

The Department of Biology welcomed community members, families, students, and science enthusiasts back to the Life Sciences Building for our 2026 Biology Open House this past spring. The event once again transformed the building into a hub of discovery, offering visitors an opportunity to explore the exciting research and teaching taking place across the department.Guests of all ages enjoyed…

Jennifer Ruesink was recently featured in UW News on her recent research offering a new, non-chemical approach to controlling shrimp populations in shellfish-growing areas. Excerpt from the UW News article:Burrowing shrimp are small marine excavators native to Washington. They make their homes deep in the sediment by digging, turning the ground to Swiss cheese. This presents a problem for…

On May 8th, 2026, UW Biology hosted its first BioFest – a celebration of undergraduate research in the department. The event brought together undergraduate researchers, faculty mentors, and community members to explore a wide range of biological research projects. Through research talks and poster presentations, students shared their work on topics spanning ecology, evolution, genetics, molecular…