biology Archives - University of West Florida Newsroom

UWF receives $555K NIH award to launch NeuroNauts Scholars Program

University of West Florida — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 13:30:00 +0000

UWF receives $555K NIH award to launch NeuroNauts Scholars Program

The University of West Florida has been awarded a five-year, $555,000 National Institutes of Health R25 Research Education Grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to establish the NeuroNauts Scholars Program. The program will provide cohorts of eight local high school juniors and seniors with an intensive eight-week summer research experience spanning multiple areas of neuroscience, from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease to cognitive psychology, computational neuroscience, stroke health disparities and sensory processing in neurodevelopmental disorders.

UWF’s Dr. Wade Jeffrey recognized by ScholarGPS as Highly Ranked Scholar

University of West Florida — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0000

UWF’s Dr. Wade Jeffrey recognized by ScholarGPS as Highly Ranked Scholar

Distinguished University of West Florida biology professor Dr. Wade Jeffrey has earned global recognition with a ranking by ScholarGPS. The academic ranking platform named Jeffrey a Highly Ranked Scholar, placing him in the top .05% worldwide in the field of life sciences. Scholars are recognized for their significant contributions to research, as measured by publication count, citations and h-index.

UWF faculty member awarded prestigious NIH grant to further Alzheimer’s research

University of West Florida — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 19:30:00 +0000

UWF faculty member awarded prestigious NIH grant to further Alzheimer’s research

Dr. Rodney Guttmann, a biology professor in UWF’s Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering, has been awarded his second major National Institute of Health R15 grant, marking a significant milestone in his ongoing research on early detection of Alzheimer's disease. The three-year, $420,000 renewal grant awarded earlier this fall brings the total funding to $860,000 over six years, allowing Guttmann and students to continue cutting-edge research into blood-based biomarkers for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. His research aims to identify specific biomarkers that signal the onset of the disease, potentially enabling earlier and more accurate diagnoses that could lead to better patient outcomes.

UWF selected to join Gulf Scholars Program

University of West Florida — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 19:30:00 +0000

UWF selected to join Gulf Scholars Program

The Gulf Scholars Program of The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has selected the University of West Florida to join the program’s fourth cohort. UWF will receive $525,000 over the course of five years from the Gulf Research Program to prepare undergraduate students to address pressing environmental, health, energy and infrastructure challenges in the Gulf of Mexico region. This preparation will include courses, workshops, field experiences and a major research or creative project in partnership with a local or regional organization centered on the Gulf of Mexico region known as a Gulf Impact Project.

UWF students immerse into the culture and history of Galapagos Islands during study abroad

University of West Florida — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 13:30:00 +0000

UWF students immerse into the culture and history of Galapagos Islands during study abroad

More than two dozen University of West Florida students were recently given the opportunity to spend part of their summer participating in a high-impact study abroad class in the Galapagos Islands. From monitoring tortoises, to snorkeling with penguins and sea lions, and connecting with locals, UWF students immersed themselves in the history and culture of the islands. Located off the coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands are considered one of the world's best destinations for wildlife-viewing. Heather Stewart, an anthropology major, said the one-of-a-kind experience changed her perspective on life.

UWF and three other State University System of Florida institutions partner to test a model for oyster metabolites and Vibrio bacteria

University of West Florida — Thu, 30 May 2024 13:30:00 +0000

UWF and three other State University System of Florida institutions partner to test a model for oyster metabolites and Vibrio bacteria

A research team composed of faculty from the University of West Florida, the Florida Institute of Technology, Florida Gulf Coast University and New College of Florida were recently awarded $200,000 from the Gulf of Mexico Alliance for their project, “An AI-Directed Tool Development for Pathogenic ‘Flesh-eating’ Vibrio Bacteria Prediction and Control.”

UWF awarded a nearly $1.7 million grant to train biomedical students

University of West Florida — Wed, 01 May 2024 15:30:00 +0000

UWF awarded a nearly $1.7 million grant to train biomedical students

The University of West Florida has earned an approximately $1.7 million, five-year renewal grant from the National Institutes of Health to mentor and train the next generation of biomedical scientists. The undergraduate research training initiative for student enhancement, known as U-RISE, scholars program promotes broader participation in the biomedical research workforce by expanding the pool of well-trained scientists earning a Ph.D.

UWF student leaves lasting legacy, creates community partnership to help coral reefs

University of West Florida — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 13:56:24 +0000

UWF student leaves lasting legacy, creates community partnership to help coral reefs

A recent University of West Florida graduate is taking a class project to the next level and making a lasting impact through community partnership. Cliff Richardson, a Spring 2021 marine biology graduate, came up with the innovative idea to create a relationship between Buff City Soap and Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium for the "Conservation in Practice" assignment in the Biology of Coral Reefs course.

UWF researcher earns grant to study retina regeneration in fish

University of West Florida — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 06:00:00 +0000

UWF researcher earns grant to study retina regeneration in fish

Dr. Scott Taylor, assistant professor in the University of West Florida Department of Biology, has secured a $400,000 grant from the National Eye Institute to study how zebrafish regenerate photoreceptor cells in their eyes after they’ve been damaged.

UWF professor to use environmental DNA to assist with 5-year study of Gulf reef fish

University of West Florida — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 17:56:28 +0000

UWF professor to use environmental DNA to assist with 5-year study of Gulf reef fish

Dr. Alexis Janosik, professor in the University of West Florida Department of Biology, will participate in a multiyear study of reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico led by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.

UWF celebrates opening of state-of-the-art Laboratory Sciences Annex

University of West Florida — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 20:23:37 +0000

UWF celebrates opening of state-of-the-art Laboratory Sciences Annex

The University of West Florida Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering celebrated the grand opening of the Laboratory Sciences Annex, a state-of-the-art facility that provides additional space for wet teaching labs and offices for faculty and staff.

UWF NIH-funded MARC Scholars Program earns five-year renewal, expansion

University of West Florida — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 13:30:07 +0000

UWF NIH-funded MARC Scholars Program earns five-year renewal, expansion

The University of West Florida has been renewed by the National Institutes of Health to support the Maximizing Access to Research Careers, or MARC Scholars Program. With an anticipated five-year budget of $1.44 million, the MARC Scholars Program was funded for eight scholars per year. The first five-year grant was awarded in 2014 and totaled $979,000, which supported six scholars per year.

UWF professor works with NOAA to inventory reef fish communities in the Gulf

University of West Florida — Thu, 31 May 2018 13:30:36 +0000

UWF professor works with NOAA to inventory reef fish communities in the Gulf

University of West Florida biology professor, Dr. Alexis Janosik is working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to take an inventory of reef fish communities in the Gulf of Mexico.

UWF breaks ground on state-of-the-art teaching laboratory facility

University of West Florida — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 16:51:52 +0000

UWF breaks ground on state-of-the-art teaching laboratory facility

The University of West Florida Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering broke ground today on a Laboratory Sciences Annex, which will be connected to the Life Sciences Laboratory on the Pensacola campus to provide additional space for classroom and wet research lab needs.

National grant to fund research experiences for transfer students

University of West Florida — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 15:17:25 +0000

National grant to fund research experiences for transfer students

A $278,880 National Science Foundation grant awarded to three University of West Florida professors will provide research experiences to help acclimate transfer students and enhance undergraduate research in the Department of Biology.

UWF Graduate in China to Study Fungi that Stimulate Plant Growth

rconn — Wed, 10 May 2017 20:18:59 +0000

UWF Graduate in China to Study Fungi that Stimulate Plant Growth

Pensacola – A recent graduate of the University of West Florida will conduct research at a prestigious agricultural university in China for three months alongside plant physiologists and biochemists.

UWF Professor Finds Rare Sturgeon Using Environmental DNA

rconn — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 17:49:06 +0000

UWF Professor Finds Rare Sturgeon Using Environmental DNA

The Alabama sturgeon is critically endangered, so much so that some believed the species had become extinct.

CEDB Looks Beyond Microbial Biology for New Research Projects

rconn — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 18:55:13 +0000

CEDB Looks Beyond Microbial Biology for New Research Projects

Pensacola – Dr. Wade Jeffrey is a professor in the University of West Florida Department of Biology and has served as director of the University’s Center for Environmental Diagnostics and Bioremediation (CEDB) since June 2015. He has been with the center since 1991.

UWF Professor, Students Monitoring Shark Nursery Habitats

rconn — Tue, 31 May 2016 19:00:04 +0000

UWF Professor, Students Monitoring Shark Nursery Habitats

Pensacola – A crew of University of West Florida graduate students cast and set a gill net off a fishing boat in Pensacola Bay, hoping to catch a shark.

UWF Professors Contribute to Study of Genetic Diversity Within Coral Reefs

rconn — Wed, 18 May 2016 19:46:29 +0000

UWF Professors Contribute to Study of Genetic Diversity Within Coral Reefs

Pensacola – A recently published study shows that areas of coral reef undisturbed by human activity or climate change tend to contain the most genetic diversity, providing important insight into the best ways to monitor and preserve coral reef biodiversity.

UWF Professor Using DNA Testing to Look for Rare Sturgeon

rconn — Tue, 10 May 2016 16:07:01 +0000

UWF Professor Using DNA Testing to Look for Rare Sturgeon

Uriah, Alabama – Trying to find an Alabama sturgeon has been akin to searching for the proverbial “needle in a haystack,” according to Dr. Alexis Janosik, an assistant professor in the Department of Biology at the University of West Florida.

Researchers, Restaurateurs Tackle Lionfish Problem

mensley — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 16:00:43 +0000

Researchers, Restaurateurs Tackle Lionfish Problem

Pensacola – While it may be beautiful in a home aquarium, the aggressive and fast-reproducing lionfish is wreaking havoc in the ocean ecosystem and endangering reef habitats.

UWF receives RESTORE Act grant for artificial reef research

University of West Florida — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 14:00:29 +0000

UWF receives RESTORE Act grant for artificial reef research

The University of West Florida Center for Environmental Diagnostics and Bioremediation, in collaboration with the University of South Alabama and Dauphin Island Sea Lab, was recently awarded a $293,992 grant for artificial reef research.

New director and vision for UWF Center for Environmental Diagnostics and Bioremediation

University of West Florida — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 13:32:32 +0000

New director and vision for UWF Center for Environmental Diagnostics and Bioremediation

On June 1, 2015, Dr. Wade Jeffrey became director of the University of West Florida’s Center for Environmental Diagnostics and Bioremediation. A veteran professor of the Center, Jeffrey first came to UWF as a research assistant in 1991, moving through a series of promotions before assuming the leadership role.