Welcome to the Department of Plant Biology in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences! The Department of Plant Biology provides students with training in cutting-edge science and maintains a tight-knit community for students to study plants and/or fungi within an overarching evolutionary framework. Students majoring in Plant Biology may select from three areas of emphasis: Plant Ecology and Environment, Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, or Plants and Microbes. Plant Biology students take introductory biology classes (e.g. evolution and ecology, genetics) then select an area of emphasis to put together an interdisciplinary program of study with a wider range of electives than a standard Biology degree. Our advanced upper-level classes are small and promote learning through a combination of interactive labs and lectures. We also offer a thought-provoking departmental seminar series in the fall and spring semesters, that undergraduates are welcome and encouraged to attend. We require undergraduates to pursue independent research or an internship, as it is a central theme in our department. Our leading faculty mentors provide directed study in the field or laboratory to give students hands-on experience with the process of botanical investigation. Many of our undergraduate students have the opportunity to present talks or posters and/or co-author research papers published in primary scientific literature. For more information contact Dr. Dorset Trapnell, Undergraduate Coordinator & Chair of Undergraduate Affairs Committee Phone: 706-542-6506 Email: dorset@uga.edu Michael Hill, Undergraduate Academic Advisor Phone: 706-542-8529 Email: kmhill@uga.edu Dr. Wolfgang Lukowitz, Undergraduate Affairs Committee member Phone: 706-542-9252 Email: lukowitz@uga.edu Derek Denney, Undergraduate Liaison Email: derek.denney@uga.edu Chelsea Hargroves, Undergraduate Coordinator Assistant Email: chelsea7@uga.edu
