Dean: Neal Smatresk, Ph.D.
206 Life Science Bldg. • Box 19047 • 817-272-3491

 

Mission and Philosophy

The College of Science graduate programs are committed to excellence in graduate education and research and contribute, along with other institutions in this country and throughout the world, to the expansion of scientific knowledge. Graduates of our programs are highly trained and educated scientists who will be able to contribute to the economic and social well-being of our state and nation.

History and Overview

The College of Science was established as a separate academic unit in 1966 and at that time offered master's programs in mathematics and physics. Currently, master's programs are offered in all departments. Doctoral training is offered in the departments of Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology. The faculty currently numbers 96, with more than 240 graduate students enrolled in master's and doctoral programs. Research is an integral part of the college's graduate training and provides opportunities to generate new knowledge and acquire state-of-the-art investigative techniques. Research within the College of Science is both basic and applied in nature.
In addition to a wide range of research programs represented in each department, the college currently houses centers for research in advanced polymer research, biological macrofouling, colloidal and interfacial dynamics, electron microscopy, fossil fuels chemistry, geoarcheological studies, high energy physics and technology, medicinal chemistry, parasitology, and earth resources and the environment.

Scholastic Activity and Research Interests of the Faculty

Biology
The Department of Biology has a wide array of research programs ranging from molecular through population levels of integration. The program boasts strength in microbiology, molecular biology, aquatic biology, evolution, systematics, animal physiology, ecology and behavior, and has active funding from a variety of private and public agencies. The department also hosts centers for parasitology, biological macrofouling, electron microscopy and a collection of vertebrates. The research program emphasizes quantitative aspects of biology and provides students with strong training in statistics and experimental design.

Chemistry and Biochemistry
Research programs include synthetic work on natural products, medically active agents, novel precursors for semiconductor fabrication, new catalysts, stabilization of reactive intermediates, and electrically conducting polymers. Biochemical research includes studies of enzymology and molecular biology of methylotrophic metabolism. Physical, analytical and electrochemical research includes studies of colloids and surfaces, electrode modification through thin film surface deposition, and characterization of the electrical properties of polymers and other materials. Theoretical studies involve both a major computational program applying molecular orbital theory to a variety of problems and the statistical mechanics of condensed phase systems.

Geology
Department research has a strong orientation toward the application of geochemistry, geophysics and paleobiology to earth resources and the environment. Current research interests include analysis and modeling of geologic deformational structures, landsliding, nautiloid paleobiogeography for Siluro-Devonian terranes, spectral sedimentology, continental faults, environmental and archeological studies, shales, accreted rock formations and plate tectonics.

Mathematics
The department has a large group working in numerical analysis and scientific computing. Specialties include finite element methods, particle models, computational geometry, non-linear dynamical systems with applications in biology and other sciences, game and control theory, statistical research focused on quality control, sampling and systems reliability. Current projects include studies of computer modeling of natural phenomena, dynamical aspects of medicine, volterra operators, neural network modeling, probabilistic methods in quantum mechanics, game theory, analysis of viscous fingering porous media, adaptive estimation in statistics, statistical process control charts, computer modeling of developable surfaces, algebraic geometry, geometry and analysis of Riemannian manifolds, and least-squares finite elements.

Physics
Current research in the department is primarily in the areas of condensed matter physics, materials science and high energy physics. The theoretical condensed matter group is engaged in cluster, electron transport, electronic structure, molecular dynamics and path integral computations having relevance to the chemical, electrical and magnetic properties of surfaces, metals and semiconductors. The experimental condensed matter group is engaged in studies of diamond coatings, magnetic multilayers, metals, semiconductors and surfaces using electron, positron, optical and magnetic resonance spectroscopies. The experimental high energy group is involved in collider experiments at Fermilab, Brookhaven Laboratory and CERN to study QCD and to search for supersymmetry and other physics beyond the standard model. Other active research areas include high energy theory, optics, parallel computing and statistical physics.

Psychology
Expertise and research activity include animal behavior, animal and human learning, cognitive processes, social psychology, psychobiology and developmental psychology. Current research interests include group brainstorming, verbal memory and neuropsychology, applied psychological measurement, pain systems, decision processes, naturalistic social cognition, stress, genetic and hormonal determinants of aggressive and defensive behaviors and parent-offspring interactions, sea turtle behavior, and infant mental representation of objects.

Programs

Master's
Biology
Chemistry
Geology
Mathematics
Physics
Psychology

Doctoral
Chemistry
Experimental Psychology
Physics and Applied Physics
Quantitative Biology

In addition, the College of Science offers interdisciplinary master's and doctoral programs with the College of Engineering in Materials Science and Engineering and in Environmental Science and Engineering. The College of Science also participates in the interdisciplinary Mathematical Sciences Program. Entries for the aforementioned interdisciplinary programs are in the Interdepartmental and Intercampus Programs section of this catalog.

Departments