The Bates Department of Biology is a vibrant group of teacher-scholars dedicated to instilling in our students a love of biology and respect for the natural world while working to develop a program that delivers an excellent and accessible STEM education.
Our curriculum covers the breadth of biology while enabling students to specialize in their upper-level electives. Through authentic, inquiry-driven research courses, capstone projects, and classes geared to learning a specific skill — including field botany, marine genomics, and more — students gain hands-on experience and receive personalized mentorship.
Thomas Pinette, Academic Administrative Assistant
45 Campus Avenue
Bonney Science Center
Phone: 207-755-5928
tpinette@bates.edu
The challenging curriculum of innovative coursework and research experiences prepares biology students for postgraduate training in a wide variety of professions including health care, health sciences, research, and education.
of 2020-2024 Bates graduates are employed and/or attending graduate school — settled into their next opportunity within 6 months of graduation.
“My time at Bates launched and shaped my career in biotechnology. The curriculum taught me to think critically, learn rapidly, ask the right questions, integrate ideas across disciplines, and collaborate effectively — skills essential to drug development. A deeply supportive alumni network helped me gain an early foothold in the industry and provided mentorship that guided my growth. Together, the Bates community and academic experience prepared me to navigate the complex scientific and regulatory challenges of advancing innovative therapies for patients worldwide.”
— Andrew Slugg ’99
In addition to supporting students who plan to use their biology degree in their future careers, we are invested in helping non-science majors see the value of science to society and to their everyday lives. All students participate in scaffolded, hands-on research experiences that are integrated throughout our curriculum, both in the laboratory and in the field.
My Bates experience as a biology major on the pre-dental track gave me a foundation in scientific inquiry and leadership. The rigorous academics and the professors’ mentorship taught me to think critically, communicate clearly, and approach problems with curiosity and care. These are skills that I use daily as a dentist and practice owner in Falmouth, Maine. Bates didn’t just prepare me for dental school; it shaped how I care for people.
Irina Babayan ‘01
The biology faculty is deeply invested in the growth, learning, and continued success of the program’s students. Faculty have received degrees at a variety of renowned institutions in the U.S. and around the world. Over the last five years, their research has been supported by multiple grants from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The results of faculty- and student-driven research in the biology department have been published in nearly 50 different peer-reviewed journals over the last few years.
Each year the graduating class at Bates picks a faculty or staff person to offer the Baccalaureate Address. The Class of 2026 selected Professor of Rhetoric, Film, and Screen Studies Stephanie Kelley-Romano.
On Sunday, May 31, 2026, 480 Bates students became Bates alumni, ready to face uncertainty with the support of the lessons they’ve learned at Bates, both in and out of the classroom.
The skies were changeable but the mood was resoundingly upbeat on Sunday, May 31, as 480 members of the Class of 2026 celebrated their Bates graduation surrounded by family and friends, and bolstered by speeches that dwelled on bright promises, both those already delivered and those to come.
