Department of Biology

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Checo J. Rorie, Chairperson

Objectives

The objectives of the Department of Biology are as follows:

1. to prepare students for careers in research, industry, and government.
2. to prepare students for graduate study in the biological sciences.
3. to prepare students for admission to professional schools (i.e. medical, dental, pharmacy, and veterinary school).
4. to provide courses in biology that fulfill the general education core requirements of the university.
5. to provide cognate courses for students majoring in or receiving certification in other fields including, but not limited to, agricultural and environmental science, nursing, and human performance and leisure studies.
6. to serve as a resource to the university and community through cooperative programs, workshops, seminars, course offerings, and public service.
7. to conduct research and scholarly activity in the areas of biology, biotechnology, computational biology, and biology education.
8. to provide students with experience in the applications of computers in biological research.

Degrees Offered

Biology - Bachelor of Science

Students interested in pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree in the Department of Biology are advised that rigorous high school preparation is important to success. The Department strongly recommends that a prospective student’s preparation include 5 units of high school science (including units in biology, chemistry and physics) and at least 1 unit of mathematics beyond Algebra II.

General Admission Requirements

For Fall 2017, the admission of students to the undergraduate degree program in the Department of Biology are based upon the general admission requirements of the University. For students entering Spring 2018 and thereafter, to be admitted into the undergraduate degree programs of the Department of Biology incoming freshmen must meet all of the following requirements:

• English: Four course units emphasizing grammar, composition, and literature
• Foreign Language: Two course units in the same language
• Mathematics: Four course units including Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and a higher level mathematics course for which Algebra II is a prerequisite
• Science: Three course units including at least one unit in a life or biological science, at least one unit in a physical science, and at least one laboratory course
• Social Science: Two course units including one in United States history
• A minimum SAT (math plus reading comprehension) combined score of 800 or an ACT composite score of 16
• A minimum high school grade point average of 2.5 (unweighted)

Departmental Requirements

Biology (Pre-Professional) - Students are required to complete a minimum of 120 hours for graduation. This includes a minimum of 47 semester hours of biology and 39 semester hours of supporting math and science courses. The remaining courses satisfy other requirements of the Department and University.

Transfer students from other colleges and universities and from other disciplines at A&T must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher in all college work. All biology majors must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher to qualify for graduation. Biology majors are expected to earn a grade of “C” or higher in all biology courses. Any student earning a grade less than “C” may have to repeat the biology course to maintain a 2.0 GPA in the major.

Enrichment Programs

Several enrichment programs and activities are available to students in the department, which are designed to increase the knowledge and competitiveness of biology majors. They include:

1. Departmental Seminars All students are encouraged to attend seminars presented by research scientists from industry, medical institutions, research laboratories and universities.
2. Undergraduate Research and Academic Training Programs: NIH sponsored Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC).
3. Pre-Professional Biological Sciences Association. The club includes a chartered Student National Dental Association, Student Medical Association Program, and a National Black Graduate Student Association Chapter. Activities include field trips, seminars, and community service, promotion of careers in health care and preparation for national entrance examinations to professional schools.
4. Honor Societies. Tau Phi Chapter of the Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society.
5. Life Mapping and Advising Center (LMAC). This facility includes a computer and material for academic advising, in addition to spaces equipped for career planning and exploration. The center offers intrusive advising, life coaching, peer tutoring and peer mentoring (Big Brothers & Big Sisters). The center is open four days a week for advising by appointment or for walk-ins. We also offer a virtual LMAC for student convenience. Location: Barnes Hall 126, Barnes Hall atrium, or Virtual (links provided in Blackboard Biology Organization).
6. Faculty/Student Advisement. All biology majors have an assigned faculty advisor who will provide pin numbers, advice on course scheduling, career counseling, university resources, and personal issues that may affect academic performance. Students should schedule appointments to see advisors at least two times a semester.

Enrichment Facilities

1. Research Laboratories. The Department of Biology houses several state-of-the art research laboratories to support faculty and student research in molecular biology, biotechnology, microbiology, bioinformatics, genomics, ecology, neuroscience, and other biological sciences.
2. Molecular Biology Research Core Lab. This facility is equipped with high through-put technology for cutting-edge research.
3. Lecture Facilities. The teaching facilities in Barnes Hall include a seminar room, a computer lab, and an auditorium, including classrooms with video-conferencing capability for online communication.
4. Graduate Student Resource Room. This facility provides space for graduate students to study, network, or relax.
5. Life Mapping and Advising Center (LMAC). This facility includes private cubicles with computers and material for academic advising, in addition to spaces equipped for peer tutoring and for career planning and exploration. The center offers intrusive advising, life coaching, peer tutoring and peer mentoring (Big Brothers & Big Sisters). The center is open four days a week for advising by appointment or for walk-ins.

Research & Extramural Funding

As is the standard in quality programs nationally, the department receives training and research support from Federal, State and private funding agencies to support its educational and research missions. Research areas in the department include:

Career Opportunities

Due to the depth of required courses in biology and the breadth of support courses in the quantitative sciences, humanities, the arts and others, Biology majors qualify for employment in many fields. Highly motivated graduates in biology compete successfully for entry into graduate and professional schools. Research careers in government and industry as well as jobs in technical and pharmaceutical sales, biotechnology, environmental science, and teacher education are some of the career opportunities available to majors in biology.

Directory of Faculty

Elena Arthur; Adjunct Professor
B.S., North Carolina State University; Ph.D., Postdoctoral, North Carolina Central University

Andrea Byers; Adjunct Professor
B.S., University of North Carolina Chapel Hill; M.S., Ph.D., North Carolina A&T State University

Reginald Cannady; Assistant Professor
B.S., Fayetteville State University; Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Roy Coomans; Associate Professor and Associate Chairperson
B.S., Eckerd College; Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Joseph L. Graves, Jr.; Professor
A.B., Oberlin College; M.S. University of Lowell; Ph.D., Wayne State University

Jian Han; Associate Professor
B.S., M.S., Nankai University; M.S. University of Hawaii at Manoa; Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University

Scott Harrison; Associate Professor
B.S., Ph.D., Postdoctoral Michigan State University

Liesl Jeffers-Francis; Assistant Professor
B.S., M.S., Barry University; Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Vinaya A. Kelkar; Adjunct Professor
B.S., Gujarat University-India; M.S., Old Dominion University; Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Perpetua Muganda; Professor
B.S., Lock Haven State College; M.S., Howard University; Ph.D., Indiana University School of Medicine; Postdoctoral, Lineberger Cancer Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Heather Newman; Adjunct Professor
B.S., West Chester University of Pennsylvania; M.S., PhD., Johns Hopkins University

Robert H. Newman; Associate Professor
B.A., McDaniel College; Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University; Postdoctoral, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Farr Niere; Assistant Professor
B.S., University of California, Los Angeles; Ph.D., University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Postdoctoral, Wake Forest University

Kimberly Pigford; Teaching Assistant Professor
B.S., M.S., Ph.D., North Carolina State University

Shaquinta Platt; Adjunct Lecturer
B.S., M.S., North Carolina A&T State University

Checo J. Rorie; Associate Professor and Chairperson
B.S., Clark Atlanta University; Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Postdoctorals, New York University and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Raymond Samuel; Professor
B.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology; M.S., M.D./Ph.D., Yeshiva University/Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Eric Scott; Adjunct Professor
B.S., University of North Carolina at Pembroke; Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Adreinne Smith; Teaching Assistant Professor
B.S., North Carolina State University; M.S., Fayetteville State University; Ph.D., North Carolina State University

Simone M. Smith; Assistant Professor
B.S., University of South Florida Honors College and University of South Florida College of Arts & Sciences; Ph.D., University of South Florida College of Medicine

Pameeka Smith-Pearson; Teaching Assistant Professor
B.S., University of Georgia; Ph.D., Wake Forest University

Misty Thomas; Assistant Professor
B.S., College Universitatire de St. Boniface; PhD., University of Manitoba, Postdoctoral, National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences

Martha Paige Wagner; Adjunct Professor
B.S., Salem College; M.S., Arizona State University

Jenora D. Waterman; Associate Professor and Interim Director of Applied Science & Technology Ph.D. Program
B.S., Bennett College for Women; M.S., North Carolina A&T State University; Ph.D., North Carolina State University

Angela M. White; Teaching Assistant Professor and Assistant Dean of Student Success (Science and Technology)
B.S., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; M.S., North Carolina A&T State University; Ph.D., North Carolina State University

C. Dinitra White; Associate Professor
B.S., Johnson C. Smith University; Ph.D., Wayne State University; Postdoctoral, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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