Fauna BIO has an interesting business model that seeks to exploit the basic science of special animal phenotypes for insight into the development of new therapeutics (think GLP-1 agonists).

Click here to learn more about Fauna Bio.

UK Biology Annual Alumni Weekend - 2025

Thursday, October 23 - Saturday, October 25, 2025

Join Alumni, friends, and members of the Department of Biology to celebrate our Annual Biology Alumni Weekend featuring the following opportunities below.

*Thursday, October 23 

16th Annual Thomas Hunt Morgan lecturer, Dr. Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado of the Stower's Institute, will provide a scientific lecture, "Understanding the Sources of Regenerative Capacity in Animals," at 2 p.m. in the Thomas Hunt Morgan building, room 116.

Friday, October 24: 

Coffee & Networking - Meet current undergraduate and graduate students and connect with fellow alumni to share your career experience. 10-11 a.m., W.T. Young Library, Multipurpose Room (B-108C), 401 Hilltop Ave., Lexington, KY 40508

Meet Current Biology Faculty - Come learn about the exciting research and innovative teaching going on in our department from 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. in the Don and Cathy Jacobs Science Building, Room 361M, 680 Rose St., Lexington, KY 40508

Thomas Hunt Morgan Reception - Drinks and food with fellow alumni and members of the department at the historic Thomas Hunt Morgan House in downtown Lexington, 210 North Broadway, 40507 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Check out the fun we had in previous years here.

Saturday, October 25: 

Alumni Tailgate - UK vs. Tennessee. 5 p.m., game starts at 7:45pm Location: Tobacco Research Lawns, 1401 University Drive, Lexington, KY 40503
Pictures of the tailgate location below.

RSVP here!  We’re looking forward to seeing you!

*The Thomas Hunt Morgan lecture was created in 2009 to honor the research career of Thomas Hunt Morgan, a Lexington native and graduate of the University of Kentucky, and to honor the outstanding scientists whose work reflects the highest achievement in genetics, molecular biology, and developmental biology. This lecture gives scientists the opportunity to highlight their work to basic researchers, physician scientists, research faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate and undergraduate students.  

Dr. Nick Keiser | Keiser Lab

Bio:
Nick Keiser is a behavioral disease ecologist interested in how behavioral trait variation can influence infectious disease dynamics. His mentees study questions at the nexus of animal behavior, parasitology and disease ecology in a variety of such (mostly invertebrate) study systems as flies, spiders, ticks, snails and their associated parasites.

Abstract:
The fields of animal behavior and infectious disease are both typified by heterogeneity. Differences among individuals, between social groups and between populations in their behavioral trait compositions can all alter the dynamics of infectious diseases. In this seminar, I will address how animal behavior can alter host-pathogen interactions across different scales from individuals to populations in several study systems. These study systems will weave three tales on behavioral trait diversity, behavioral parasitology, and parasite manipulation of host behavior.

Watch the seminar here!