Biology

With a wealth of nearby natural resources and plenty of opportunities to travel far afield, biology at Hanover immerses students in the study of living things. Make your own discoveries in our advanced science labs. Explore the incredible diversity of habitats on our 650-acre campus overlooking the Ohio River. Gain valuable field experience in the remarkable forests, wildlife refuges and state parks located nearby. Travel with renowned faculty experts to destinations rich in biological interest.

Partners in learning

Because they are focused on teaching, Hanover professors mentor students closely and engage them as colleagues. That means you will:

• Conduct hands-on research in collaboration with professors at a level often reserved for graduate students at other colleges.
• Research a subject you find personally exciting, such as the evolution of water snakes in Southeast Asia or how much land is needed to protect crawfish frogs.
• Present your findings at local or national conferences.

Along the way, you will learn to think critically, solve problems and use science to better understand the world around you.

What do biology majors study?

• Heredity and evolution 
• Cells and systems 
• Genetics 
• Biodiversity 
• Other topics that interest you, from freshwater ecosystems to conservation to molecular biology

Although pre-med is not a major, many biology students are considering careers in medicine. Those who take the exercise science course in  human anatomy have the unique opportunity to work with a human cadaver as an  undergraduate.

Previous graduates' careers and professional placements have included:

•   Research Analyst (Natural Environmental Policy Institute)
•   Secondary School Teacher (Memphis School District)
•   Medical Doctor (Indianapolis)
•   Professor of Law (Case-Western Reserve University)

Graduate and medical school placements have included:

•   Indiana University
•   University of Illinois
•   Ohio State (Veterinary School)
•   University of Chicago (Chicago Medical School)
•   Notre Dame (School of Optometry)

Research opportunities

Hanover College's biology program will provide you with opportunities for research through the college's facilities, as well as through relationships with other top universities, including Ohio State University, Indiana State University, and Ohio University.

Some recent research projects include:

• Ashley Linville's "Analysis of Water Quality in Southern Indiana Streams Through the Use of Macroinvertebrates." This project led Ashley to understand and present compelling analysis on the origins of contaminants. 
• Heather Andrew's "Phylogeography of Enhydris plumbea in Southeast Asia Using Mitochondrial DNA."
• Kyle Walden's "Determining Fertility Rates and Population Models in White-Tailed Deer with Histories of Hunting." 
• Valeria Horobik's work in "Spatial and microhabitat variation in Lyme Disease risk in Southeastern New York." 
• Jessica Walker's work with the "Role of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase, protein kinase C, protein tyrosine kinases, and MAP kinase in the motility and chemotaxis of bovine neutrophils."

Faculty

The range of specialties represented on Hanover’s biology faculty is unique for an institution of its size. Students have the opportunity to work side-by-side with an immunologist, a dendrochronologist, a cellular biologist and a forest ecologist.