The Life Science program is open to students entering UVM in Biology, Biological Science, Plant Biology, Neuroscience, and Zoology. We pair one fall and one spring course with the core science and math courses this cohort takes as part of their major. In the fall, students take a seminar course on evolution, and in the spring, dive into research. A benefit of this program is having a small cohort of 25 peers who are taking many of the same Biology, Chemistry and Math courses and share a passion for science.
Classes proposed for 2026-27
Biology 1020 – Human Evolution: Cambrian Era to the Present (Fall)
How do human beings fit into the natural world? Are we fundamentally different from other animals, or do we just have a specialized skill set? Who are our closest relatives among non-vertebrates? Among the vertebrates? How did our evolutionary history lead our species to occupy such a key ecological role that the very future of the global ecosystem depends on the choices we make? Through readings, videos, exploratory writing, and discussion we will critically examine our place in the natural world and how we came to occupy it. We will begin the semester learning about the history of evolutionary thought leading up to Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection and studying the mechanism of natural selection. We will then follow the evolutionary history of humans, from the earliest vertebrates in the Cambrian seas, to the colonization of land in the Devonian, to the radiation of mammals after the extinction of the nonavian dinosaurs, to the evolution of humans over the last five million years. We will finish the semester by considering the Anthropocene, the period in history during which ecosystems have been primarily affected by human activities – how we got to where we are now, and where we can go from here.
Taught by Kristin Bishop, Professor of Biology
Biology 1020 – Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CURE) (Spring)
How does modern science evolve? How do researchers build upon each other’s contributions? This Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) provides early opportunities to Life Science Scholars to participate in scientific research. In this course we will focus on the first steps of scientific research: reading, analyzing, and synthesizing scientific literature. Students will discuss how science works and how it is communicated to the scientific community and the public. Specifically, we will discuss how scientific papers are structured and reviewed by peers before publication. Students will read the most recent scientific literature to develop a research question on their field of interest and write a research proposal. This course helps students to get involved early on in scientific inquiry, develop innovative ideas and realistic expectations about science, and gain confidence and competency in developing hypothesis and scientific writing - all key skills that jump-start a research career at UVM.
Taught by Kristin Bishop, Professor of Biology
Students:
“I am very thankful that I got a chance to do LASP…it had a big impact on my experience of being a freshman at UVM. One of the most important parts for me, was living with people who I was also taking classes with. This made my community feel a lot smaller and helped me find some amazing friends. Having friends in my classes with me also meant that I had people I could turn to for help with assignments or studying. Our environment of helping each other was also something I really valued. I think that being surrounded by people who had ambitious career goals and are truly passionate about biology, zoology, and neuroscience encouraged me to take my own goals more seriously. I appreciated the different interests and perspectives of other LSS students and enjoyed learning about everyone’s interests, whether that was insects, the impact of aging, equality in healthcare, or endemic species.”
- Aly R., Biological Science Major, Spanish Minor
