Division of Mathematics & Natural Sciences

Biology

Facilities

The Biology Department maintains extensive facilities for teaching and research. Eight research laboratories are used by the faculty, and most projects include student participation. Two general teaching laboratories support courses in introductory biology, anatomy, physiology, and microbiology. The environmental laboratory provides both wet lab benches and conventional class seating for courses in ecology and environmental science. An upper-level course laboratory serves advanced courses in anatomy, physiology and cell and molecular biology. All the laboratories are equipped with modern light microscopes and mobile laptop computers.

Field sampling equipment is available for forestry, wetland, and limnology projects. Genetic, cell and tissue work is supported by a scanning electron microscope, a DNA sequencer, fluorescence phase microscopes, and equipment for histological preparations. Environmental growth chambers are available for culturing microorganisms and plants. A greenhouse supports classroom work and student-faculty research projects.

Classroom Technology
Our facility has both IBM and MAC computer carts, which contain 12 laptop computers each and are utilized as teaching tools in the laboratory classrooms. Other resources include Pasco PasPort sensors, used for data collection and analysis in the science labs.

Research Laboratories
All faculty maintain individual laboratories for their research programs, which often involve undergraduate researchers.

Greenhouse
The department maintains a modern greenhouse facility to accommodate the botanical teaching collection, as well to provide for the research needs of the faculty and their students. The greenhouse is open for independent student projects.

Environmental Research Laboratory (ERL)
The facility houses faculty research space and is intended to serve as a field station on campus. Located behind the Spring Run Stadium Nearby environments for study include a variety of habitats: stream, old field, pond and a 20 acre woodland.

Field Sites
Recent Project have taken faculty to field stations and study sites in the Great Lakes, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, New York, New Mexico, Wyoming, Puerto Rico, Dominica, South Africa, and New Zealand.

Penn State Altoona Natural Study Sites
Penn State Altoona's 150-acre campus provides our students opportune access to multiple natural study sites. The diversity of habitats includes undisturbed fields, two ponds, forested areas, and a stream. Students have opportunities to use these sites in their laboratory exercises and independent research. In addition, within a half hour drive of the campus there are extensive areas for study and research.

Nearby Study Sites and Natural Areas

Canoe Creek State Park is a 957 acre park with diversified habitat and a 155 acre lake where faculty are engaged in research as well as education.

Prince Gallitzin State Park has 6,249 acres of mixed habitat including a 1,600 acre lake.

Blue Knob state Park has 5,874 acres of woodlands and the second highest mountain (3,146 ft) in Pennsylvania

Penn State University's Russell Larson Agricultural Experiment station with its experimental field plots and greenhouse is less than 45 minutes from the Penn State Altoona campus.

State Game Lands containing a diverse assemblage of terrestrial and wetland habitats are located within 15 minutes of the campus.

Contact:

Dr. Edward P. Levri
Associate Professor of Biology
Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Office: 202 Hawthorn Building
Phone: 814-949-5496
Email:
WWW: http://www.personal.psu.edu/epl1