Biology Research & Facilities
UNC offers a wide range of facilities for researching different aspects of biology, including ecology, molecular biology, cell biology, pharmacology, and more!
Discover Hands-On Research Opportunities
The Department of Biological Sciences at UNC is home to a wide range of research labs, exploring everything from animal behavior and ecology to molecular biology. Our labs give students at all levels the chance to gain hands-on experience, develop research skills, and contribute to exciting discoveries.
Laboratory Facilities
Research laboratories include those designed for ecology, plant and animal physiology, molecular biology, genetics, cell biology, pharmacology, systematics, microbiology, and methods courses in biological education. These laboratories are typically 600 sq. ft. in size and fully equipped for cutting-edge discovery by undergraduate and graduate students working closely with faculty mentors.
Why Get Involved?
- Hands-on Experience: Participate in active research projects.
- Skill Development: Learn lab techniques, data collection, and analysis.
- Mentorship: Work closely with faculty and graduate students.
- Student Stories: Share your experiences and make an impact.
Research and Facility Options
At the southwest end of Ross Hall is a Natural Area incorporating vegetation from the native short-grass prairie and foothills regions. This area is maintained as an instructional resource and is used frequently for a variety of courses.
In addition to the resources on campus, there are outstanding field resources just a few miles from UNC. Many of the biology faculty utilize these resources in their research, but they also provide outstanding recreational opportunities as well.
The Herbarium is a core repository for plant specimens that are used for teaching and research. The collection consists of 24,000 specimens and focuses on species from the southern Rocky Mountain region and the high plains. For more information, contact Mitchell McGlaughlin.
The University maintains a greenhouse which hold materials that are used for both teaching and research purposes. For more information, contact Scott Franklin.
The Natural History Museum is a repository for animal specimens that are used for both teaching and research. The collection includes an extensive number of vertebrate and invertebrate specimens with a focus on animals from the Rocky Mountain west. For more information, contact Lauryn Benedict.
A variety of instruments are available in the School and we are adding more all the time. We currently have the following instruments available for use by investigators:
- Molecular Devices UV-Vis Plate reader
- Bio-Rad CFX 384 real-time PCR machine
- Bio-Rad VersaDoc gel imager
- Beckman ultracentrifuge
- Leica fluorescence microscope
- Atomic force microscope
- Zeiss confocal microscope
- Scanning electron microscope
- Sony cell sorter
- Attune flow cytometer
The use of some equipment is fee-based. To establish an account, please contact biology@unco.edu.
Explore Our Labs
Avena Lab - STEM Education
The STEM Education Laboratory’s main areas of research include instructor and Learning Assistant (LA; peer undergraduate instructor) professional development and LA impacts, applied programming experiences in biology, student conceptual understanding and problem solving in biology, and practices that support an inclusive science community.
The Benedict laboratory studies how birds communicate and interact, exploring evolution and social behavior through field and lab research.
Burns Lab - Animal Reproduction
The Burns laboratory studies how natural chemicals in the body affect reproductive health. The lab also examines how fish oil affects the outer layers of cells and how cells communicate with each other.
The DeKrey laboratory studies how drugs, foods, and harmful substances affect the immune system and the body’s ability to fight disease, with a focus on intestinal immunity.
Franklin Lab - Disturbance Ecology
The Franklin laboratory studies plant communities and their responses to flood and fire.
Gomez Lab - Plant Physiology
The Gomez laboratory studies how soil fungi, plant roots, and insects affect one another. Researchers aim to improve plant growth by supporting helpful relationships between fungi and roots while limiting insect damage.
The Han laboratory studies how behaviors and lifestyle choices may contribute to diseases like cancer, focusing on what happens at the molecular level in the liver.
Haughian Lab - Cancer Biology
The Haughian laboratory investigates how cancer cells grow and function to help develop better treatments for cancer.
Holt Lab - Bioeducation and Lichen Ecology
The Holt laboratory explores two areas of research: biology education and ecology. Researchers study how students learn biology and understand climate change, as well as how environmental disturbances affect lichen communities.
James Lab - Cell and Molecular Biology
The James laboratory studies how cells move and join together to form tissues, using zebrafish eye development to understand the process.
Leatherman Lab - Developmental Biology
The Leatherman laboratory investigates how the cells around adult stem cells affect their growth and function, using fruit flies to uncover how stem cells work.
The Mackessy laboratory studies snakes and their venom. Engage yourself in the variances between different types of reptile venoms while exploring potential new poison compositions and structures.
The McGlaughlin laboratory explores the genetic diversity of rare and endangered plants to uncover how new species develop and help protect plant diversity.
The Pullen laboratory explores how inflammation shapes the immune system’s response to cancer and other diseases, with the goal of better understanding how the body fights illness.
Shutz - Origen Laboratory
(More information coming soon)
Lab Safety
Emergency and 24-hour response
- UNC Campus Emergency: 911
- UNC Campus Police (non-emergency): 970-351-2245
- Weld County Poison Control Center: 1-800-222-1222
School of Biological Sciences
- Main office: 970-351-2921
- Chair, Dr. Scott Franklin: 970-351-2650
- Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO), Dr. Karen Gomez: 970-351-2555
UNC Environmental Health and Safety
- Director, Mr. Glenn Adams, Director: 970-351-1149
- Radiation Safety Officer, Dr. Cynthia Galovich: 970-351-2079
Safety Quiz and Tutorials
Compliance with regulatory mandate
- Take the laboratory safety quiz here (Canvas).
- Read and study the Biology’s Laboratory Safety document
