Bachelor of Science Biology
SUNY Polytechnic Institute
SUNY Polytechnic Institute, New York’s premier public polytechnic, provides an innovative and affordable higher education for students interested in science, engineering, technology, business, healthcare, and other liberal arts offerings for a well-rounded approach to experiential learning. Our commitment to a hands-on education situates students with both the academic structure customary of undergraduate study and unique opportunities for training and cutting-edge research, ultimately providing learners an unmatched education targeted for success in our fast-changing world. SUNY Poly students enjoy public school tuition with benefits that many small, private institutions boast, including small class sizes, individualized learning experiences, and a tight-knit community.
Student Research Experiences
SUNY Poly students’ educational experience is differentiated from other institutions is the incredible opportunity to research with cutting-edge partners, such as the Masonic Medical Research Institute (MMRI).
Aaron Farley ’22
Student Spotlight
Biology alumni Aaron Farley was credited as a co-author for a newly published article in a highly respected, peer-reviewed science journal, Cells. This opportunity to conduct this exciting research arose when Aaron was studying in the 10-week “Summer Fellows” program at the Masonic Medical Research Institute in Utica, NY, with Dr. Lin, who led the study. A new study led by the Masonic Medical Research Institute published in the journal Cells shows for the first time that a particular gene, called VGLL4, is required for embryo development but is dispensable for myocardial growth.1 This fact was previously unknown, and with this discovery, medical researchers now have useful new information about heart cell development, helpful for our understanding of congenital heart defects and heart failure.
Catherine “Cat” Hagearty-Mattern ’24
Biology and psychology major Catherine Hagearty-Mattern was drawn to MMRI’s research in cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. HageartyMattern tested different methods of peptide synthesis that targets fibrin, which, when injected into the body, will bind with any fibrin found within the artery.
Yuriy Milobog ’22
While working as a Registered Nurse at Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS), Yuriy Milobag was also studying Biology in the pre-med track and applying to medical school. During his time as a SUNY Poly student, Yuriy was part of the Masonic Medical Research Institute’s summer fellowship program for the summers of 2021 and 2022. He worked on developing fluorescent nanoparticles for inflammation imaging.
Dr. Adam McLain
Faculty Spotlight
Dr. Adam McLain, Associate Professor of Biology, was recently the primary researcher in discovering the Groves’ dwarf lemur in southeast Madagascar, named after the late colleague Colin Groves, a British-Australian biologist and anthropologist, who was working on the project involving this type of dwarf lemur when he passed away. In 2022, McLain surveyed a cryptic population of dwarf lemurs, located on the island of Nosy Hara, that he said have likely been isolated there since the last glacial maximum (13-14,000 years ago). Dr. McLain serves on the Board of Directors at the Utica Zoo, where he’s established a partnership between Zoologists and Zoo staff and the University, providing himself and students with ample opportunities to engage in cutting-edge genome sequencing projects that can lead to animal preservation and conservation efforts.
Dr. Lauren Endres
After earning her Ph.D. from the University of Toronto in Medical Biophysics, Dr. Lauren Endres engaged in Post-doctoral research in the field of cancer biology, first at Harvard Medical School, and then at SUNY Poly’s College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering. Her curiosity in biology is fueled by trying to understand the precise ways in which cells respond to their ever-changing environments, and she is particularly interested in how cells use anti-oxidant mechanisms in their response to environmental toxicants, which have important implications for cancer biology. Dr. Endres supports undergraduate student research by employing Student Research Assistants in SUNY Poly’s competitive Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP). Recently, she mentored senior biology major Anthony Cahill on culturing human and mouse cells to assess their capacity to respond to, and recover from, oxidative stress-inducing compounds, preparing him for a career in a research lab before pursing a master’s degree.
THE FACULTY
SUNY Poly faculty work closely with students and challenge them to excel. Many members of the faculty have experience in business and industry as well as academic credentials. A low student-to-faculty ratio means faculty really get to know and work closely with students.
Affiliate faculty at the local Masonic Medical Research Lab offer student opportunities in heart and cancer research.
What You’ll Study
You will get a solid foundation across cellular, genetic, and organismal biology, as well as ecology, evolution, and physiology. You can then focus in an area of your choice through your elective courses, and easily get a chemistry minor by adding two additional chemistry classes to your open electives.
Focus Areas
Pre-Med
Your pre-med advisor collaborates with your major advisor to ensure that you have the opportunity to take the courses you need to sit for the MCAT, in addition to the courses required for your major.
Physician Assistant, Physical Therapy, Pharmacy, and Other Pre-Health Careers
Your program provides sufficient open electives to take the classes you need for specialty health areas. Your advisor works with you to ensure that you have the prerequisites you need to enter the healthrelated graduate area of your choice. We also support students who plan to pursue an upper-level bachelor’s health program such as medical imaging and medical technology.
Industrial Research
The labs and equipment you have access to include an array of professional-grade instruments. Research opportunities for elective class credit are available with faculty on campus and faculty at local labs, and many alumni have gone on to work at pharmaceutical and other research companies.
Other Areas
You can also choose to plan a more broadlybased degree for maximum flexibility. Electives in oncology, developmental biology, phylogenetics, primatology, and more are offered on a rotating basis and allow for you to follow your interests.
Access the SUNY Poly catalog at https://webapp.sunypoly.edu/undergrad-catalog/ for specific courses and program requirements.
Our Campus
Located in Utica, NY, on hundreds of wooded and landscaped acres, SUNY Poly’s campus is a beautiful living and learning environment. Students live in our modern, spacious residential complexes, including the new Hilltop Hall, SUNY’s first zero-net carbon residence hall, and enjoy an expanding array of student-focused facilities that include our state-ofthe-art Center for Global Advanced Manufacturing, Student Center, and Wildcat Field House. Life on campus is enriched by a wide variety of events and activities, including the Wildcats’ championshipwinning intercollegiate athletics program, our Wildcat Esports team, and a weekly agenda of intramurals, concerts, comedians, and more. Students can join one of the dozens of clubs and organizations or start one with a group of friends who share an interest.
