Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Meet Our Faculty

The Biology Department’s mission is to provide students with the skills necessary to understand the complexity of the biological world and its interconnectedness. Through hands-on laboratory and field-based coursework as well as research collaborations with the faculty, you will gain exciting new knowledge from experts in the field. Scroll below to meet our team of scientists, scholars and above all, teachers. Meet the entire department >

Meghan Brown

Dig-in to the questions that you’re curious about and seek out the resources here at HWS to explore them more fully.

Sigrid Carle

Keep your minds and options open. Explore the field of biology so you know your options.

Bradley
Cosentino

Avoid tunnel vision: step outside your comfort zone and take a breadth of classes. Now is the time to wrestle with new ideas.

Susan Cushman

Seek out research experiences and find your niche – glamor doesn’t always bring happiness!

Mark
Deutschlander

Find and foster your passion(s) in life, and turn one of those passions into your job. Imagine what you would do if money was not an issue. Then do that, and you’ll find a career that will satisfy and satiate you for a lifetime.

David
Droney

Reflect on the kind of person you are and about what it is about biology that excites you, including where you see yourself being in 20 years, and then pursue your goals with high energy and complete commitment.

Brielle
Fischman

Seek out a variety of experiences in the major. Take a broad array of courses, participate in diverse research experiences, and look for the connections among them that excite you.

David Holtzman

Kristy Kenyon

Take as many different courses as you can and connect with as many scientists as possible. Learn their stories – a single conversation can have a profound impact on your career plans.

Patricia
Mowery

Take the time to find your passion and don’t feel you have to know what your life goal is by graduation.

Elizabeth Newell

Be curious about the living world at all scales – from molecules to ecosystems – as you figure out what really excites you.

James
Ryan

Be curious: continue to ask why. Explore diverse disciplines within biology and continue your explorations outside the classroom on semester abroad or via research with biology faculty

Shannon Straub

Be open to many possible careers paths, even ones you don’t yet know exist. Get involved in research or find summer internships in fields you think you’d like for your career to really find out what you do and don’t like and what kind of work inspires you.

Biology News

Young ’18 Tracks the Birds of Ecuador’s Pacific Forests

Wed, 09 Jan 2019

In the rainforest, dry forest, bamboo forest and cloud forest, Adrienne Young ’18 has been observing and banding birds through an internship at Jama-Coaque Bird Observatory in coastal Ecuador. The…

HWS Hosts Water Quality Conference

Fri, 04 Jan 2019

The Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart and William Smith Colleges will host a research conference titled, “The Big Three: Nutrients, Contaminants and Invasive Species,” designed to bring together local and…

Ryan Authors Comprehensive Mammalogy Manual

Thu, 29 Nov 2018

With his most recent book, Mammalogy Techniques Lab Manual, published this fall by Johns Hopkins University Press, Professor of Biology James Ryan offers student-scientists a guide to practical techniques used…

Spotlight: Recent Grad

Hannah DelFavero '15

Current Position: Second Year Osteopathic Medical Student

Current Location: Old Westbury, N.Y.

Majors: Biology

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Sample Courses

Complete Course List

Introductory Topics
These courses, while focused on a range of topics, are designed to help you (1) distinguish between scientific inquiry and other modes of inquiry; (2) articulate in general terms the central concepts of biology, including the process of evolution through natural selection; the central role of DNA, RNA, and proteins in living organisms; and the inheritance of genetic information; (3) ask relevant biological questions, develop scientific hypotheses, and design experiments to test hypotheses; and (4) explain the relevance of biological knowledge to society. Each course includes laboratory sessions.

Pre-Health at HWS

Hobart and William Smith Colleges is an ideal place to prepare for a career in the health professions. Over the past five years our placement rate for medical, dental and veterinary school applicants has exceeded 80%, well above national averages. Many recent graduates are also now successful physical therapists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, occupational therapists, and a variety of other clinical practitioners.

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Student Resources

Photo Gallery

Biology Research Profile:
Grace Marshall '19