Biological Data Sciences
A transdisciplinary undergraduate major offered at OSU!
The Biological Data Sciences (BDS) program is administered by the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, and offered in collaboration with faculty from Botany and Plant Pathology, Computer Science, Fisheries and Wildlife, Horticulture, Microbiology, and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
The Biological Data Sciences program offers three options, new BDS courses, and a minor! Enroll today!
Earn your Botany degree online!
Join more than 300 students from around the world and start your journey toward earning an online degree.
Get a Bachelor of Science Degree in Botany
One degree, five options. Learn the core scientific and analytical skills in botany and plant pathology, and specialize in one of five key areas.
Learn more about Undergraduate Program
Graduate Programs
We offer Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Within each program, students may elect to specialize in one of eight key areas of concentration.
Outreach and Extension
- Providing the State of Oregon with extension education in plant pathology is a major service mission.
- Our extension faculty includes Cynthia Ocamb, Jay Pscheidt, and Mana Ohkura, who are based on campus. Luisa Santamaria, Ken Frost, Achala KC, Christina Hagerty, and Jeremiah Dung are located at research stations throughout the State.
- The OSU Plant Clinic, a plant disease diagnostic center housed in Cordley Hall, provides service to growers and the general public. The Insect ID Clinic is located within the OSU Plant Clinic.
Learn about Outreach and Extension
Welcome New Grad Students!
Josh Dyer
Degree Program: MS in Botany & Plant Pathology
Advisor’s name: Dr. Barry Pryor
Area of interest. Mycology, fungal cultivation, and applied research.
What I will be researching. For my MS thesis, I will be investigating the cultivation of multiple gourmet and medicinal fungi that have not been widely cultivated in the United States, alongside studying comparable native Pacific Northwest species. This work will expand cultivation knowledge for under-studied fungi and highlight their potential applications in food, medicine, and ecology.
Why I decided to study at OSU/BPP. OSU offers one of the strongest programs in mycology, with excellent faculty support and access to both greenhouse and laboratory resources. The department encourages innovative projects that bridge fungal ecology with applied cultivation research, which is exactly what I was looking for.
Goals after graduation. I would like to continue research in fungal cultivation and applied mycology, with the aim of developing practical methods for producing lesser-known fungi and exploring their applications in nutrition, medicine, and ecological restoration.
Araya Andersen
Degree Program: Accelerated Masters Program
Advisor's name: Sam Leiboff
Area of interest. Evolutionary developmental biology of leaves in the Araceae/Araceae taxonomy/Araceae morphology
Research Focus. I am investigating leaf primordia development in Spirodela polyrhiza, focusing on both morphological and anatomical characterization. My work aims to clarify the definition of a organs within this species, to address fundamental questions about duckweed morphology - specifically, whether the frond is a lamina and petiole, a leaf and stem, or essentially a stem-stem structure, and to describe turions, including their morphology and anatomical features.
Why I decided to study at OSU/BPP. The Accelerated Master’s Platform/developmental biology opportunity previously offered through Sam's expertise.
Goals after graduation. Ph.D. in evolutionary developmental biology
Sofia Hernandez
Degree Program: PhD in Botany and Plant Pathology
Advisor’s name: Germán Vargas Gutierrez
Research Focus. My main interest is to study how plants from different ecosystems respond to abiotic stressors such as drought or high temperatures. Additionally, I am interested in understanding how evolutionary processes affect plant physiology.
Why I decided to study at OSU/BPP. I decided to study at OSU because it offers me the opportunity to both study and teach as a graduate student, which will help me become a better professor in the future. Furthermore, I chose the Botany and Plant Pathology department because it focuses on interdisciplinary research that contributes to understanding a problem from different perspectives. I am also interested in the collaborative work that is done between the professors of the department.
Goals after graduation. My main goal is to continue investigating about plant physiology, but I also want to teach about plants and science to students to increase their interest in plant biology.
Haley Sotelo
Birgitta Woods
Degree Program: MS
Advisor’s name: Posy E. Busby
Area of interest. Plant-fungal interactions
Research Focus. My research is on canopy microclimate effects on foliar fungal communities of Douglas-fir.
Why I decided to study at OSU/BPP. I chose OSU, because they have an amazing BPP program and I was highly interested in the mycological research being done.
Goals after graduation. My goals post-graduation is to pursue a research career in industry studying fungal pathogens and discovering solutions to plant diseases.