Faculty
Akhila Gopal
BS, University of Akron. MS, Tulane University. PhD, University of Nevada, Reno. Ecologist with interests in behavioral thermophysiology, trait covariation, and science outreach. Author of articles on the pace of life syndrome. Currently serving as the SLC Endeavor Community Engagement and Environmental Science Fellow working with the Center for the Urban River at Beczak. SLC, 2026–
Undergraduate Courses 2026-2027
Biology
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Open, Seminar—Spring
BIOL 3127
This course will provide an introduction to herpetology, the study of amphibians and reptiles. Students will explore the remarkable diversity, evolution, ecology, behavior, physiology, and natural history of these animals while developing an understanding of the adaptations that have allowed them to thrive in a wide range of environments. Through lectures, discussions, readings, and hands-on activities, students will examine the major groups of amphibians and reptiles and explore topics including taxonomy, evolution, ecology, physiology, behavior, and conservation. The course may include field experiences and visits to a museum, providing opportunities to observe herpetofauna and learn about the study of amphibians and reptiles in both the wild and in preserved natural history collections.
Faculty
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Open, Seminar—Fall
BIOL 3201
Vertebrates inhabit nearly every environment on Earth, from the deepest oceans to the highest mountains, yet they all face many of the same fundamental biological challenges. They must obtain energy, move through their environments, maintain internal balance, perceive and respond to the world around them, reproduce, and survive changing environmental conditions. Throughout evolutionary history, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals have evolved remarkably different solutions to these shared challenges. Rather than surveying vertebrates one taxonomic group at a time, this seminar will take a comparative approach to vertebrate biology by exploring the common biological problems that all vertebrates must solve. Using examples from across the vertebrate tree of life, we will examine how anatomy, physiology, behavior, ecology, and evolution interact to shape the extraordinary diversity of vertebrate life. Topics will include energy acquisition, locomotion, homeostasis, sensory biology, behavior, reproduction, environmental adaptation, ecological interactions, and the impacts of global environmental change. Readings will combine textbook chapters from Vertebrate Life with primary scientific literature, popular science writing (including selections from An Immense World), documentaries, and other multimedia resources. Through seminar discussions, individual conferences, and student-led presentations, students will develop the skills to interpret scientific research, think comparatively across taxa, and communicate biological ideas effectively.
Faculty