Our Department is home to faculty and researchers with research interests in ecology, environmental biology, physiology, microbiology, cellular biology and molecular biology. Our scientific facilities include an aquatics facility, a field station in the Cypress Hills of southwest Saskatchewan, the Institute of Environmental Change and Society (IECS) and the Institute for Microbial Systems and Society (IMSS). The IECS and IMSS provide infrastructure and research expertise in environmental and microbial sciences via state-of-the-art microscopy, proteomics and genomics facilities. Additionally, we frequently collaborate with researchers at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, the Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory and several other scientific organizations in southern Saskatchewan.

We offer high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs. The undergraduate programs have strong hands-on components as many courses include laboratories developed and overseen by four full-time laboratory instructors. Junior and senior students also benefit from small classes (10 - 30 students). We have an active honours program, a co-op program and many opportunities for students to participate in research projects. Accessible, modern research facilities put our PhD and MSc students at the forefront in their fields. Our graduate students benefit from working in a close-knit, supportive environment that encourages innovative science.

Biology Department Seminar Series

The Winter 2023 Biology Seminar Series will be held in person; as usual, seminars will be on Fridays at 2:30 PM (in CL 130).  The seminar schedule is posted here.

News

Term (Two-Year) Biology Laboratory Instructor Position

The Biology Dept. is advertising a two-year lab instructor position in Genetics and Plant Physiology.  See the full ad at the University Affairs Jobs website. Review of applications will begin on February 1, 2023.

Unusual Scale Patterns Found on Fossilized Dinosaur Skin

Caelan Libke (Biology Dept MSc student) and Dr. Ryan McKellar (Royal Saskatchewan Museum and Adjunct member of the Biology Dept) discovered a highy unusual skin pattern on a fossil of the hadrosaur Edmontosaurus. The fossil was discovered in Eastend, SK, near the site where Scotty the T. rex was found. Article from the Leader-Post.

Inaugural Biology Teaching Assistant Awards for 2020-2021 Announced!

 

Study Shows Benefits of Removing Nitrogen from Wastewater

Work from the U of R Biology Department shows that removing nitrogen from wastewater, due to the upgrade in the City of Regina's wastewater treatment plant, has improved water quality in Wascana Creek.  Article from the Regina Leader-Post.

Nicole Lerminiaux is the Recipient of the University's Graduate Student Excellence Award (Innovation and Research) for 2021.

Nicole's microbiology research examines how bacterial interactions drive ecological processes in farm dugouts in southern Saskatchewan. She is a PhD student working with Andrew Cameron. Congratulations to Nicole on winning this award.

 

Dana Green is a 2021 Recipient of the American Society of Mammalogist's Fellowship

Nathaneal Bergbusch is Awarded the U of R Governor General's Academic Gold Medal

The Governor General’s Academic Gold Medal recognises the outstanding academic performance of a graduate student. Nathanael (Nat) Bergbusch is the 2021 recipient of this most distinguished prize. Nat has graduated with a Master of Science in Biology. Nat’s MSc thesis research was focused on the impact of Regina’s 2016 wastewater treatment plant upgrade on the water quality of two prairie rivers: Wascana Creek and the Qu’Appelle River. Nat's MSc supervisor was Peter Leavitt. Congratulations Nat!

 

 

Looking for Signs of COVID-19 in Regina Sewage

Two U of R microbiologists have started a pilot project to assess civic health by analyzing the city's sewage. Article from the Regina Leader-Post.

Overcoming Challenges in Biology Lab Teaching During a Pandemic

U of R Biology lab instructors have developed creative ways to provide students with experience in hands-on biology. Article from Study International.

New Methods for Testing for COVID-19 and Other Viral Diseases

A U of R microbiologist part of a national effort to improve viral disease diagnostics.  Article from the Regina Leader-Post.

Ghost Fleas Affect Aquatic Mercury Cycling in Katepwa Lake

U of R Biology researchers figure out why Katepwa Lake fish have high mercury levels.  Article from the Regina Leader-Post.

Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition - Adam Sprott Wins Again!

On July 17/20, Biology graduate student Adam Sprott won the U of R 3MT competition for the second time (2018, 2020). Due to COVID-19, the 2020 competition was held via Zoom (photo on the left is of Adam's Zoom presentation, and the image on the right is the one slide that Adam was permitted to use).  Adam will be representing the University at the upcoming Western Regional 3MT competition. The 2020 U of R 3MT competition can be viewed at the Facebook page of the University of Regina Graduate Students Association. Congratulations to Adam!

 

 

NSERC CGS-M Awards 2020

Congratulations to three Biology Department MSc students who have just been awarded Canada Graduate Scholarships from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. The students who have received the awards are: Nikki Burnett, Kevina Mullock and Noah Johnson. The Biology Dept wishes these three graduate students all the best in their research endeavours.

 

 

Biology at Science Rendezvous

Biology displays caught the eye of Leader Post reporter Ashley Martin at Science Rendezvous on Saturday. Read Ashley's article "Weird Science takes over the University of Regina.