The Program provides a rich research environment with excellent facilities and modern equipment. The graduate faculty cover a wide spectrum of research interests and all students are required to conduct independent, yet guided, research as part of their graduate training. Training also includes basic and advanced courses, as well as seminars on current issues. Additionally, all graduate students receive training in teaching at the undergraduate level.

The Biological Sciences Graduate Program at Ohio University offers training in five major areas: Cell Biology and Physiology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Exercise Physiology and Muscle Biology, Microbiology, and Neurobiology. These areas represent major research focus groups within the Program in which excellence in research training can be attained. Excellent interdisciplinary opportunities exist in the Program in which students can enroll in the Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology and the Program in Environmental Biology (M.S. only). Furthermore, qualified medical students may enroll in our D.O./Ph.D. degree program offered through the Program and the College of Osteopathic Medicine.

The cell biology and physiology group investigates the roles of endocrine, genetic and environmental factors on the regulation of anatomical, physiological, and metabolic systems.


The ecology and evolutionary biology group integrates research on ecology, functional morphology, phylogeny, genetics, and life histories of natural populations and model organisms to study evolutionary patterns and process.

The exercise physiology and muscle biology group focuses on effects of exercise, nutrition, gender, and aging on the human performance, skeletal muscle histology and physiology, skeletal muscle injury and healing, and metabolic and reproductive endocrinology.


The microbiology group applies molecular biological techniques to theoretical and practical problems in bacteriology, virology, parasitology, and immunology.


The areas of research of the neurobiology group include computational neurobiology; developmental neurobiology emphasizing trophic interactions in the development of sensory systems; control of movement; central pattern generation; muscle biology; musculoskeletal mechanics; visual, auditory, and vestibular neurobiology; cardiovascular regulation; neural cytoskeleton and axonal transport; neurobiology of aging; neuroendocrine control of development; and neural and neuroendocrine control of the autonomic nervous system.

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