Welcome

The School of Life Sciences consists of five academic disciplines, Biology, Botany, Marine Biology, Microbiology, Molecular and Cell Biology within the College of Natural Sciences. The five disciplines offer a cohesive set of undergraduate degrees (BA and BS) and the graduate programs of Botany, Microbiology and Zoology offering MS, and PhD degrees. The School of Life Sciences promotes the understanding, appreciation and preservation of biological diversity through excellence in research, education, service and outreach.

About

The life sciences are of fundamental importance in a science or liberal arts education, as they provides students with a keener insight into and a deeper appreciation of the many facets of living systems. And Hawai’i offers a unique environment for the study of the life sciences.

Most students plan to use their training as preparation for professional work, such as aquaculture, biotechnology, biological research, dentistry, marine biology, medicine, optometry, park services, pharmacy, or teaching. Our graduates have an outstanding record of acceptance in advanced degree programs at dental, medical, pharmacy, and graduate schools. Many of our graduates also become teachers after obtaining a post-baccalaureate teaching certificate at the College of Education.

The School of Life Sciences of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa was formed in the Fall of 2019 by the merger of the Departments of Biology, Botany and Microbiology, and began operations on January 1, 2020. Life Sciences is home to 5 Undergraduate Majors and 4 Graduate Programs:

Students may also Minor in Biology, Botany and Microbiology, obtain a certificate in the Marine Option Program (MOP), or become certified as a Clinical Microbiologist.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to investigate all living things by promoting learning and discovery through scientific research. We seek to maintain a high standard of education based on the development of biological literacy, application of quantitative and scientific methods, the exploration of biological concepts and the development of integrative and multidisciplinary thinking. The School of Life Sciences is committed to providing a positive educational experience for undergraduate and graduate students and a supportive working environment for faculty and staff based on principles of safety, inclusiveness, personal and professional integrity, and the pursuit of excellence.

Latest News

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  Antarctica’s icy water attracts researcher, students
  Read more about Dr. Amy Moran and Zoology graduate students’ (Aaron Toh and Graham Lobert) research in Antartica’s icy waters here: https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2021/11/30/antarctica-marine-life-research/ Photo: Aaron Toh captures a photo of his …
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  Graduate fellowship in Botany available
  Hauʻoli Mau Loa Foundation – Graduate Assistantship Opportunity in Botany
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  Sticky toes and grippy claws: lizards use habitat in ways that match their clinging ability
  New research from the Wright Lab on functional morphology and ecology of introduced lizards in Hawaii featured on the cover of the journal Functional Ecology. Read the “behind the paper” …
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  The Power of Celibacy
  SoLS faculty Amber Wright talks about our local all-female gecko species, Lepidodactylus lugubris, in this BBC Discovery episode. From the podcast description, “A virgin birth may be miraculous to us, …
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  Scientists’ Warning: island biodiversity at risk
  The Board of the Society of Island Biology has published a paper calling attention to ongoing threats to island biodiversity worldwide. Island species have gone extinct at alarming rates in …