You are here

Faculty

Faculty in the College of Biological Sciences conduct research on a broad range of subjects, from molecules to ecosystems, and make discoveries that improve human health, restore the environment, provide new sources of renewable energy and enhance agriculture. Here you will find a collection of news, features and opportunities for and about CBS faculty.

Getting an EDGE on new way to engineer function into microbes

Imagine if you were editing an email and every time you tried to change a word, three other words would randomly change as well. That probably sounds like a frustrating and time-consuming way to compose anything useful. And it’s equally frustrating and time-consuming for biologists trying to study adaptation or edit the genes of organisms. Conventional approaches to mutation offer little opportunity to target individual genes without altering others as well.

Making Sense of the Situation

Professor Susan Jones shares her thoughts on pandemics, past and present as part of student-led discussion series. 

With a background studying disease ecology and the history of science, Susan Jones holds a unique perspective in our challenging and ever-changing times. From the flu to the plague or the current spread of COVID-19,  Jones' research and worked has looked at the broader historical context and impact of pandemics and disease spread.

Research Brief: Glimpse Into Ancient Hunting Strategies of Dragonflies and Damselflies

Damselfly

Dragonflies and damselflies are animals that may appear gentle, but are — in fact — ancient hunters. The closely related insects shared an ancestor over 250 million years ago — long before dinosaurs — and provide a glimpse into how an ancient neural system controlled precise and swift aerial assaults.

Research Brief: 3D Movies Reveal How Cuttlefish Determine Distance When Striking at Prey

Cuttlefish

While cuttlefish wearing glasses is an unexpected sight, a University of Minnesota-led research team built an underwater theater and equipped the cephalopods with specialized 3D glasses to investigate how cuttlefish determine the best distance to strike moving prey. Their research revealed cuttlefish use stereopsis to perceive depth when hunting a moving target.

Checking in With Dean Forbes - April 2020

It would be difficult to overstate the impact of this pandemic on how we fulfill each part of our mission including education, research and outreach. Feelings of dislocation and disappointment are to be expected, but despite personal and professional challenges, this community has risen to the occasion in ways large and small. We have demonstrated great resilience and adapted to dramatically changed circumstances with creativity. I want to share a few of the many examples.

Are gene-edited foods the future?

Plant scientist Dan Voytas leads the way using precision techniques to quickly improve traits in crops we depend on.

Dan VoytasLast year, Minneapolis-based Calyxt introduced a soybean oil without trans fats for commercial sale.