Dept. Publications

Bios

Biosphere


Contact


Department of Biology

18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8303

Phone: (818) 677-3356
Fax: (818) 677-2034

Email:biology.dept@csun.edu

Office Location:
Chaparral Hall 5101

Hours:
Mon-Fri: 8:00am-5:00pm

Map

Courses


Students in Serology Lab.


CSUN has many cell biology, molecular biology and physiology courses that incorporate both lecture and laboratory sections to give students an opportunity for hands-on experience performing state-of-the art research techniques.  In addition, students have ample opportunities to gain research experience in faculty laboratories through the BIOL499 and BIOL699 Independent Studies.  The Bachelor of Science Degree in Cell and Molecular Biology (Option I) includes courses in cell and tissue culture, developmental biology, physiology, and molecular biology.  Upper division specialty courses in immunology, virology, microbiology, parasitology, biotechnology and bioinformatics allow students to tailor their program to their specific goals.  Students earning a B.S. degree in the Cell and Molecular Biology Option are well prepared to enter graduate programs or careers as research associates in a variety of fields including medical, pharmaceutical, agricultural or environmental biotechnology.  Students in the Biology Master’s program also adapt their academic curriculum to their individual research interests while working in faculty research laboratories on their Master’s theses.  Students are encouraged to present their findings at local and national meetings and to prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals. 

Research

Faculty and students in the Cellular, Molecular and Physiology section are actively engaged in a variety of research activities that are funded at the local, state and national levels.  Undergraduate and graduate students often work side-by-side and are encouraged to present their research findings at national meetings and to submit manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.  Dr. Lisa Banner’s research focuses on the signaling that occurs between the immune and nervous systems during stress.  Dr. Randy W. Cohen’s laboratory uses a variety of model organisms including cockroaches to study the biochemical and physiological effects of neurotransmitters on animal behavior.  Studying development and differentiation, the laboratory of Dr. Maria Elena de Bellard works on the molecules that influence neural crest cell migration in the developing embryo.  Dr. Stan T. Metzenberg studies the molecular biology of infectious diseases while Dr. Mary-Pat Stein’s laboratory studies the intracellular trafficking of Legionella pneumophila.  And, Dr. Maria Elena Zavala’s research uses plants to investigate development and growth and the coordinated regulation of gene expression.