Department of Biological Sciences

Main Departmental Office
Biology Building, 233
P.O. Box 5218 Denton, TX 76203-0218
(817) 565-2011
Fax (817) 565-3821

Gerard A. O'Donovan, Chair

Graduate Faculty: Atkinson, Beitinger, Benjamin, Chapman, Dickson, Donahue,
Fitzpatrick, Fuchs, Gill-King, Goven, Gross, Kelly, Kennedy, Kunz, Lott,
Masaracchia, Norton, O'Donovan, Pirtle, Saleh, Schafer, Schwark, Shanley,
Sinclair, Smith, Stewart, Tam, Vance, Vela, Waller, Zimmerman.

    The department offers graduate programs leading to the following degrees:

 -Master of Arts, and
 -Master of Science, 
both with majors in biology and concentrations in ecology, immunology, microbiology, physiology and plant
science; 

 -Master of Science with a major in biochemistry, and 
 -Master of Science with a major in environmental science. 
 
 -Master of Arts, and 
 -Master of Science,
both with majors in molecular biology. 

 -Doctor of Philosophy with a major in biology and concentrations in ecology, immunology, microbiology, physiology and
plant science; Doctor of Philosophy with a major in biochemistry, 

 -Doctor of Philosophy with a major in environmental science, and 
 
 -Doctor of Philosophy with a major in molecular biology.

    The PhD with a major in molecular biology is offered as part of the Federation of
North Texas Area Universities.

    Students also may work on graduate degrees in biological sciences under the
direction of basic science faculty members at the UNT Health Science Center at
Fort Worth (see also Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences).

Financial Support

    Teaching assistantships funded by the department and research assistantships
funded by individual faculty research grants support the majority of graduate
students. Nine-month stipends range from $5,800 for pre-master's students to
$8,500 for PhD candidates. In addition, out-of-state and international students
who are funded at least one-half time are eligible for in-state tuition rates.
Summer teaching assistantships are available but limited in number. Contact the
department for further information about assistantships. Contact the Financial
Aid Office for student loan information.

Center for Network Neuroscience

Main Office Science Research Building,
120 P.O. Box 5218
Denton, TX 76203-0218
(817) 565-3615

Guenter Gross, Director

    Students interested in neuroscience, cognitive science, artificial intelligence,
advanced computer science or the mathematics of neural modeling may participate
in an interdisciplinary research effort directed at investigating the behavior of
neurons in networks. As a result of unique equipment and research experience, UNT
has formed the Center for Network Neuroscience (CNNS), the first formal center in
the nation dedicated to the elucidation of information processing and storage in
small mammalian networks.

    The center specializes in in vitro preparations, especially monolayer cultures of
mammalian central nervous system cells, and emphasizes research on pattern
generation, storage and recognition. It has pioneered the development and
application of photoetched multimicroelectrode devices and special culture
chambers that allow the simultaneous monitoring of electrical activity at 64
sites in a network. A sophisticated data analysis system, centered on a Masscomp
5700 computer, is dedicated to these research efforts and provides a unique
opportunity to correlate network morphology with electrophysiological activity.

    The center also has pioneered the development of pulsed, near-UV laser microbeam
cell surgery for the simplification of networks and alteration of circuitry
during recording. This capability has allowed expansion of research into central
nervous system injury on the cellular level. Laser amputations of dendrites at
precise locations are used to study the sequence of subcellular deterioration
leading to cell death.

Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology and Human Identification

    The Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology and Human Identification provides field
search and recovery technology and scientific laboratory analysis of human
remains to medical examiners, coroners, and law enforcement agencies within the
state of Texas. The laboratory also provides accredited professional training in
various aspects of forensic science to death investigators. The main laboratory
and x-ray facility are housed in the Department of Biological Sciences together
with a teaching lab. Cooperating facilities include the Videocomputing Laboratory
(Center for Instructional Services), and the Zooarchaeology Laboratory (Institute
of Applied Science). Research activities focus upon material properties of bone,
isotopic dietary reconstruction and taphonomy.