UNF Biology Department

05/02/2026

Congrats to all of our Bio-Ospreys who graduated today! We are so proud of you!

04/08/2026

Hi all!

UNF Giving Day is here and the race is on until 11:59pm tonight!

I am writing to ask you to consider making a donation of any size to the UNF Department of Biology and help us reach our departmental goal of 40 donors! As of 8am, we are already over halfway there at 24 donors! Thanks so much to those of you who already donated!!

You can donate to the Biology Excellence Fund at:
https://givingday.unf.edu/campaigns/biology-excellence-fund

As a 17-year faculty member of UNF, I have seen firsthand how even modest amounts of funding can provide our students with valuable and life-changing hands-on learning opportunities. Our support can make it possible for students to participate in faculty research projects and internships, attend and present their research findings at professional scientific conferences, and network with world-renowned scientists, improving their chances for attending graduate or professional schools and/or obtaining employment in science fields.

Remember – donors are more important than dollars and any amount, even $1, matters!

My deepest gratitude,
Jim Gelsleichter

04/07/2026

Just one more day until UNF Giving Day!

I know that I am probably sounding like a broken record, but this is because I have the upmost confidence in the faculty of the UNF Department of Biology to excel in our mission of educating the next generation of medical professionals, biomedical researchers, and coastal and marine biologists! I ask you to please help us provide UNF Biology and Biomedical Sciences students with meaningful, hands-on experiences in Biology!

To do this, you can donate to the Biology Excellence Fund at:
https://givingday.unf.edu/campaigns/biology-excellence-fund

Remember – donors are more important than dollars and any amount, even $1, matters!

Jim Gelsleichter
Chair, UNF Department of Biology

04/06/2026

This is just a reminder that University of North Florida’s annual fundraising event, UNF Giving Day, is coming on Wednesday, April 8!

The UNF Department of Biology Giving Day page is open for donations! Thanks to those of you who have already donated!!

You can donate to the Biology Excellence Fund at:
https://givingday.unf.edu/campaigns/biology-excellence-fund

Your support can make it possible for students to participate in faculty research projects and internships, attend and present their research findings at professional scientific conferences, and network with world-renowned scientists, improving their chances for attending graduate or professional schools and/or obtaining employment in science fields!

Remember – donors are more important than dollars and any amount, even $1, matters!

04/03/2026

The University of North Florida’s annual fundraising event, UNF Giving Day, is coming on next Wednesday, April 8!

UNF Giving Day is a 24-hour race to fuel the future of UNF – supporting scholarships, colleges, programs, and the student experiences that matter most!

The race begins at midnight on April 8, 2026, and goes full throttle until 11:59 p.m. However, the Giving Day website is NOW open so it is possible to make an early gift! In fact, I already did!

The University’s goal is to reach 4,750 donors in 24-hours! Every donation fuels the future of UNF!

As current Chair of the UNF Department of Biology (and maybe even your former professor), I am writing to ask you to make a donation of any size to help support students in the UNF Department of Biology AND to encourage at least one member of your personal or professional network – family, friends, or colleagues – to do the same!

You can donate to the Biology Excellence Fund at:
https://givingday.unf.edu/campaigns/biology-excellence-fund

As a 17-year faculty member of UNF, I have seen firsthand how even modest amounts of funding can provide our students with valuable and life-changing hands-on learning opportunities. Your support can make it possible for students to participate in faculty research projects and internships, attend and present their research findings at professional scientific conferences, and network with world-renowned scientists, improving their chances for attending graduate or professional schools and/or obtaining employment in science fields.

I hope that you will consider contributing to this worthy and meaningful purpose!

Remember – donors are more important than dollars and any amount, even $1, matters!

Jim Gelsleichter
Chair, Department of Biology

At any given time, you can find UNF Biology students working in our state-of-the-art laboratory facilities on topics such as cancer biology and other human diseases, health effects of spaceflight, aging, or a host of other important human health-related issues. At the same time, it is also common to...

12/12/2025

More of our Ospreys have departed the nest! Congrats to the Fall 2025 Biology and Biomedical Sciences graduates!

10/27/2025

Please join us at Biology Lecture Series this Friday at 3-4 pm in room 1701 of the UNF Biological Sciences building (Building 59) as Dr. Orlando Laitano from the University of Florida presents the talk "Mechanisms of Sepsis-Induced Myopathy!"

10/23/2025

Please join us at Biology Lecture Series this Friday at 3-4 pm in room 1701 of the UNF Biological Sciences building (Building 59) as Dr. Elise Morrison presents the talk "Biogeochemistry Across Aquatic Systems!"

09/09/2025

As the title of this article indicates, northeast Florida boasts some of the greatest places to see dolphins! Learn more about our dolphin populations and the work that the UNF Dolphin Research program, led by Dr. Quincy Gibson, conduct!

Seeing dolphins in downtown Jacksonville never gets old.

09/08/2025

Please join us at Biology Lecture Series this Friday at 3-4 pm in room 1701 of the UNF Biological Sciences building (Building 59) as our own Dr. Candice Tahimic discusses her research on using rodent models for investigating the physiological effects of spaceflight!

09/03/2025

Please join us at Biology Lecture Series this Friday at 3-4 pm in room 1701 of the UNF Biological Sciences building (Building 59) as Dr. Jennifer Cowart from the Mayo Clinic - Jacksonville presents "AI in Healthcare: Modeling Non-Invasive Mechanical Ventilation Failure." This work includes research conducted in collaboration with our own Mooney Laboratory for Informatics, Genomics, Health, and Technology!