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.
Biological Data Sciences offers 3 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 on your journey to earning an online degree.
Get a Bachelor of Science Degree in Botany
One degree, five options. Learn the core scientific and analytical skills surrounding botany and plant pathology, and focus your education on one of five key areas of focus.
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.
Congratulations to BPP Faculty and Staff Promotions!
Luisa Santamaria
Professor
Achala KC
Associate Professor with Indefinite Tenure
Toby Westberry
Associate Professor, Sr. Research
Kelsey Sondreli
Sr. Research Associate I
Ellie Kurth
Sr. Faculty Research Assistant II
Victoria Skillman
Sr. Faculty Research Assistant I
Briana Richardson
Sr. Faculty Research Assistant I
Caity Smyth
Sr. Instructor I
Outreach and Extension
- Providing the State of Oregon with extension education in plant pathology is a major service mission.
- Our extension faculty include 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 diagnostic disease 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
On the origin of strawberries
High-quality genomes of the cultivated strawberry’s progenitors provide the strongest evidence to date for the identity and chromosomal...
The food chain is at risk due to the warming of the sea
The hotter the water gets, less dense it becomes. On the surface there is a strip of warm water and in the depths, colder waters, which is known...
Climate change impacting ocean's color
The ocean’s color has changed significantly over the last 20 years, and the global trend is likely a consequence of human-induced climate change...