News


Mon, 05/02/2022

KU's 'I Am Striving Series': Featuring Paulyn Cartwright (Opens in new window)

Paulyn Cartwright, professor of ecology & evolutionary biology, shares what inspires her research and work, along with her goals for that research. Watch a video and read a story about how Cartwright uses her study subject, jellyfish and their relatives, to help understand the evolutionary biology of other animals. "My primary goal as an educator and as a researcher is to broaden participation in science," Cartwright said.
Tue, 04/26/2022

Honoring Women in Science

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Biodiversity Institute & KU Natural History Museum celebrated women in science on Saturday, March 26. Local scientists set up booths for the day, including Maggie Wagner, ecology and evolutionary biology assistant professor, and Ph.D. student Ceyda Kural, to share their science expertise with the community. Those attending were able to participate in hands-on experiments, learn about different careers in science, and also learn about women scientists from around the globe. Kural is specifically interested in plant microbe interactions, as well as phenotypic changes across environmental gradients. Wagner and Kural talked with visitors about how plants have microbiomes that are important for their health, just like people do. They also had microscopes set up where visitors could view fungi colonizing grass roots. The booth also included hands-on activity where visitors could plate out plant roots and leaves on agar, to take home and observe fungal growth over the next few days.
Tue, 04/26/2022

Join us for the EEOB Pizza Social!

Are you thinking about declaring the EEOB major or are you curious about EEOB? Join us for pizza and meet EEOB majors and professors Friday, May 6, 2022! The undergraduate committee is planning a Stop Day event for our EEOB major from 12 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Friday, May 6, 2022. The event will take place outside the first floor west entrance to Haworth Hall. Questions? Contact Dr. Fola Agusto by email at fbagusto@ku.edu.
Wed, 04/06/2022

Spring to Action: Support EEB GSO's LaunchKU Fundraiser

EEB's Graduate Student Organization's Spring LaunchKU Fundraiser is officially underway. Continuing until May 5, this fundraiser aims to attain funds to support graduate student travel scholarships and outreach work. If you are able to donate, please do so! You can also help by attending the Groupraise event April 21.
Mon, 04/04/2022

Jellyfish eyes will enable researchers to peer into inner workings of evolution

Thu, 03/31/2022

Ben Sikes receives boost from KU Research GO (Opens in new window)

Ben Sikes, associate professor, ecology & evolutionary biology, has received funding through KU's 2022 Research Grant Opportunity program as principal investigator for the project Space Stress Resistance of Microbial Communities.  KU Research GO aims to expand the university’s research enterprise by providing seed funding for projects poised to compete for external funding opportunities with application deadlines in the near future.  Fifteen projects were selected for funding through the program. 
Wed, 03/30/2022

James Walters receives Fulbright Scholar Award to Czech Republic

LAWRENCE — James Walters, University of Kansas associate professor of ecology & evolutionary biology, has received a Fulbright Scholar Award to conduct research for nine months in the Czech Republic. ...

Tue, 03/29/2022

Dr. Jae Choi joins EEB as Genomics Assistant Professor

The Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department would like to welcome Dr. Jae Choi to KU. He will start his new role in January 2023.
Mon, 03/21/2022

Four researchers named recipients of the University Scholarly Achievement Award

LAWRENCE — Four midcareer faculty members at the University of Kansas will receive an award in recognition of their significant research or scholarly achievements in their field. ...

Mon, 03/21/2022

Paulyn Cartwright receives NSF DEB grant

Paulyn Cartwright, professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, has received approval for a grant funded through the National Science Foundation’s Division of Environmental Biology and KU will receive $494,890. It is titled “Phylogeny of Cnidaria - Convergent Evolution of Eyes, Gene Expression, and Cell Types” with Todd Oakley (Lead PI, UC Santa Barbara) and MariaPia Miglietta (Texas A&M University). The group is reconstructing a detailed phylogenomic tree of Medusozoa in order to trace the evolutionary history of jellyfish eyes and using comparative transcriptomes and single cell RNA sequencing to determine similarities and differences in genetic pathways of convergent eyes. Photo accompanying this story is a hydromedusae called Polyorchis pencillatus whose common name is red-eyed jellyfish. The red dots at base of the tentacles are eye spots called ocelli that contain light sensing cells. Photo credit goes to Anna Klompen.
Tue, 02/15/2022

Discovery of ancient plant fossils in Washington points to paleobotanic mystery

Thu, 02/10/2022

Forty-nine KU students receive Undergraduate Research Awards for spring

LAWRENCE — This spring, 49 KU students will receive an Undergraduate Research Awards (UGRA). UGRA recipients are awarded a $1,000 scholarship as they work on research and creative projects with mentors from KU. ...

Thu, 02/03/2022

Rob Unckless, associate professor of molecular biosciences, is 1 of 10 finalists to advance in Research Rising (Opens in new window)

Unckless' proposal, Growing KU’s Interdisciplinary Strengths in Genomics, aims to unlock the secrets held in genomes to understand where we come from, how we fight disease, how organisms respond to a changing environment/climate, and new bioengineering approaches for sustainable development and health advances.
Wed, 02/02/2022

APPLY NOW! Research Experiences for Undergraduates at the University of Kansas in Native Plant and Soil Systems

This REU opportunity takes place at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS and runs for 10 weeks from June 6 through August 12, 2022.
Wed, 01/26/2022

KU professors in biology, engineering and pharmacy named AAAS fellows

Mon, 01/24/2022

KU, KU Medical Center faculty named recipients of Higuchi-KU Endowment Research Achievement Awards

LAWRENCE — Four University of Kansas faculty members on the Lawrence and Medical Center campuses are this year’s recipients of the Higuchi-KU Endowment Research Achievement Awards, the state higher education system’s most prestigious recognition for scholarly excellence. ...

Tue, 01/18/2022

Community mourns death of Ken Armitage (Opens in new window)

The professor emeritus joined KU's Department of Zoology in 1956 and retired in 1996. He was a renowned scholar of marmots, a founder of KU's undergraduate environmental studies program and is a namesake of the Armitage Education Center at KU Field Station.
Thu, 12/16/2021

Dr. Leo Smith earns 2021 Margaret Stewart Award for Excellence (Opens in new window)

Congratulations to Dr. Leo Smith as the recipient of the 2021 Margaret Stewart Award for Excellence in Ichthyology. This award recognizes mid-career researchers for outstanding contributions to the study of fishes.
Fri, 12/10/2021

Take It Outside! Field Experiences for Jayhawks (Opens in new window)

EEB is collaborating with the KU Field Station, Kansas Biological Survey and Environmental Studies to raise funds to expand field course opportunities for KU students. Read about our efforts to help support these engaging, hands-on experiences for students and consider donating at Take It Outside! Field Experiences for Jayhawks! 
Fri, 12/03/2021

EEB students share knowledge with local fifth-graders

In early December, Sarah Flynn and Noelle Schlenk from KU's Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology shared their expertise with fifth grade students at Basehor Intermediate to shed light on a variety of topics and help inform an ongoing project.
Tue, 11/23/2021

Peterson Recognized as Top Climate Change Scientist (Opens in new window)

KU EEB Professor Town Peterson has recently been recognized by Reuters as one of the 1,000 most influential scientists investigating global climate change. 
Tue, 11/23/2021

EEB Graduate Student Recognized as Finalist in 3 Minute Thesis Competition (Opens in new window)

Graduate student Laura Y. Podzikowski has recently been recognized as a finalist in the KU 3 Minute Thesis Competition for her video presentation on "Plants to Capture Carbon: Why Diversity Matters."
Wed, 11/17/2021

Modernized storage will safeguard a celebrated mammal collection for future generations

Media Contacts

Sharon Suppes

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

7858642363