Biology Program

Walking across a graduation stage brings pride, relief, and sometimes a spark of disbelief. For one Little Rock family, that moment will carry a rare sense of unity and accomplishment: three women — two daughters and their mother — each in different fields, each carving her own path, but all reaching the finish line together. … A Family Affair: Mother and Daughters Graduate Together

An unforgettable week is on the horizon for Ragen Hodge and Sutton Manatt. The University of Arkansas at Little Rock students are preparing to graduate this May, compete in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Track and Field Championships, and get married—all within the span of just one week. Hodge, a native of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and … A Milestone Week: Graduation, Championships, and “I Do” for UA Little Rock Couple

A passion for helping others has shaped Taylor Ward’s path at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, leading her to pursue careers in both health care and law enforcement. The Little Rock native will graduate in May with a double major in general biology and law enforcement — bringing together her interests in health … Purpose in Action: Taylor Ward Prepares for a Career Helping Others

Walking into Ottenheimer Library, you might not expect to come face-to-face with the skull of a sabertooth cat or the claw of an Allosaurus. But that’s exactly the kind of moment Syd Joheim has been working to create. A senior double majoring in geology and biology with an ecological and organismal concentration, Joheim has spent … Two-Time Winner Syd Joheim Is Leaving a Legacy Millions of Years in the Making

Nine students from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock recently showcased their research at STEM Posters at the Capitol, an annual event held at the Arkansas State Capitol that highlights student-led research from across the state. STEM Posters at the Capitol provides students with the opportunity to share original research with state lawmakers and … Nine UA Little Rock Students Present STEM Research at Arkansas State Capitol

One morning, a University of Arkansas at Little Rock research project showed up on millions of phones. A UA Little Rock professor’s study on urban raccoons — once confined to a classroom and a scientific journal — had gone viral, sparking national attention and an unexpected wave of visibility for student-driven research. Dr. Raffaela Lesch, … UA Little Rock Raccoon Study Goes Viral, Capturing Millions Online

Inspired by her mother’s work as a registered nurse, Kemiya Bornds knew by age seven that she wanted to pursue a career in medicine. She set her sights on becoming an OB-GYN, a physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology. With the support of her parents, that dream has never changed. This Saturday, Bornds will take … Pursuing Medical Dreams Starting at UA Little Rock

Dogs may be humanity’s oldest companions, but their evolution from wild wolves is still full of mysteries. New research from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock is helping solve one of them by showing how domestication may have altered far more than behavior. Jacob Hansen, a graduate student in biology, and Dr. Raffaela Lesch, … UA Little Rock Research Sheds New Light on How Domestication Shaped the Canine Voice Box

Raccoons, often called “trash pandas,” are showing physical traits consistent with the earliest stages of domestication, according to a groundbreaking new study published in the online journal Frontiers in Zoology. The study, led by Dr. Raffaela Lesch, an assistant professor of biology at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, is also notable for featuring … Research Study Co-authored by 16 UA Little Rock Students Finds Raccoons Show Early Signs of Domestication

Nistha Neupane, a student double majoring in biology and chemistry at UA Little Rock, has received a Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) grant from the Arkansas Division of Higher Education for the second year in a row. The highly competitive grant will support her research on gold nanoparticles for cancer therapy under the mentorship of … UA Little Rock Student Earns Second SURF Grant for Cancer Research