Michigan State University College of Natural Science

MSU College of Natural Science

Dean	Phillip M. Duxbury
Academic staff	400+
Undergraduates	6500
Postgraduates	1000
Location	East Lansing, Michigan
Website	www.natsci.msu.edu

The College of Natural Science (NatSci) at Michigan State University is home to 27 departments and programs in the biological, physical and mathematical sciences.

The college averages $51M in research expenditures annually and claims to have more than 6,500 undergraduate majors and nearly 1,000 graduate students. There are 730 faculty and academic staff associated with NatSci and more than 47,000 living alumni worldwide.

Departments and programs

Departments

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Chemistry
• Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering
• Earth and Environmental Sciences
• Mathematics
• Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
• Physics and Astronomy
• Physiology
• Plant Biology
• Statistics and Probability
• Integrative Biology

Additional Units

• Actuarial Science (Program)
• Advanced Microscopy (Center)
• Biological Sciences (Program)
• Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics (Program)
• Cell and Molecular Biology (Program)
• Charles Drew Science Scholars (Program)
• Ecology, Evolutionary, and Behavior (Program)
• Genetics (Program)
• CREATE for STEM (Institute)
• Human Biology (Program)
• Integrative Studies in General Science (Center)
• Kellogg Biological Station (Program)
• Mathematics Education (Program)
• Neuroscience (Program)
• Plant Research Lab (Program)
• Plant Resilience Institute (Center)
• Quantitative biology (Program)
• Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment (Program)

Undergraduate studies

The college offers both Bachelor of Science (BS) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees.

• The BS requires more science and mathematics credits and less non-science, humanities and social science coursework in the 120-credit program. The BS is intended for individuals preparing for professional work in the sciences or for graduate/professional school.
• The BA is designed for individuals pursuing K-12 teaching careers or scientific application areas such as public policy, technical sales, law, and communications. The BA requires more humanities and social science credits, thus providing greater balance between science and non-science credits in the 120 credit program.

Majors in the college include:

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Biological Science (Interdepartmental; For teaching majors only)
• Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics (formerly titled Medical Technology Program)
• Clinical Laboratory Science
• Diagnostic Molecular Science
• Medical Technology
• Chemical Physics
• Chemistry
• Computational Chemistry
• Earth Science
• Environmental Studies
• Environmental Biology/Plant Biology
• Environmental Biology/Microbiology
• Environmental Biology/Zoology
• Specialization in Environmental Studies
• Geological Sciences
• Environmental Geosciences
• Geological Sciences
• Geophysics
• Human Biology
• Mathematics
• Actuarial Science Specialization
• Computational Mathematics
• Mathematics
• Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
• Genomics and Molecular Genetics
• Nutritional Science
• Physical Science (Interdepartmental; For teaching majors only)
• Physics and Astronomy
• Astrophysics
• Physics
• Physics and Geophysics
• Physiology
• Plant Biology
• Environmental Biology/Plant Biology
• Preprofessional Coursework (Pre-med, etc.)
• Statistics
• Zoology

Dean's Research Scholars

The Dean's Research Scholars are a group of outstanding undergraduate students who represent the nearly 5,000 hard-working science and mathematics majors in the College of Natural Science.

Scholars are named for a 12-month term from May through the following May. During that time, scholars will participate in the following:

• 2-4 College of Natural Science events or speaking engagements;
• Attend an orientation meeting on being a Dean's Research Scholar in August (usually the Monday or Tuesday before classes begin);
• Attend the NatSci Alumni Awards program;
• Participate in a panel discussion during Classes Without Quizzes;
• Write a student point-of-view during the school year for posting in MSU Today.

Criteria for becoming a Dean's Research Scholar

• Scholars must be enrolled full-time (12 or more credits/semester) in a major in the College of Natural Science (Lyman Briggs majors are not eligible). Students may have additional majors in other colleges, but their primary major must be in Natural Science.
• Scholars must have completed at least one semester of research with an MSU faculty mentor (the faculty mentor can be from any college, not just Natural Science) prior to application.

RISE and Drew Scholars

Two special undergraduate programs are in place for students: RISE or Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment is for MSU students interested in stewardship of the environment.

Charles Drew Science Scholars is a program providing academic and social support for high achieving students pursuing science and math degrees, including individuals interested in professional health and science careers, such as, medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, research, pharmacology, optometry, physical therapy, and public health.

Study Abroad, Study Away

NatSci also offers a Study Abroad and Study Away off-campus programs in:

• Africa – Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda,
• Americas – Ecuador, Galapagos Islands, Costa Rica, Virgin Islands
• Antarctica
• Asia – India, Borneo
• Europe – Germany, United Kingdom, Switzerland
• Oceania – Australia, New Zealand
• Florida – Orlando, Gainesville
• Hawaii
• Alaska
• Michigan – Upper Peninsula, Isle Royale, Battle Creek

Graduate studies

Advanced study is available through the following degree programs and specializations:

• Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics
• Cell and Molecular Biology
• Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology
• Chemistry
• Cognitive Science
• Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior
• Entomology
• Environmental Science and Policy
• Environmental Toxicology
• Food Science
• Genetics
• Geological Sciences
• Human Nutrition
• Mathematics
• Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology and Toxicology
• Physics
• Physiology
• Plant Biology
• Quantitative Biology and Modeling
• Science and Mathematics Education
• Statistics and Probability
• Certification in Teaching College Science and Mathematics
• Zoology

Professional Science Masters (PSM) programs

The College of Natural Science offers several PSM degrees to prepare and train students in technical areas for positions in industry. The PSM is a professional M.S. degree in science or mathematics for students interested in a wider variety of career options than provided by current graduate programs in the sciences and mathematics.

The three areas of program development include:

• In-depth technical training in a science discipline,
• College certification of training in basic business practice including communication and presentation skills,
• Industrial internship or industrial case studies, developed in cooperation with industrial affiliates.

PSM Programs:

• Biomedical Laboratory Operations
• Food Safety
• Industrial Mathematics
• Integrative Pharmacology
• Zoo & Aquarium Science

Science and mathematics teachers

NatSci offers master's degrees and certificates for science and mathematics teachers. These programs are coordinated with MSU's College of Education. For Mathematics Education, the program is administered by Program for Mathematics Education, or PRIME. For Science Education, the program is administered by the Center for Integrative Studies in General Science, or CISGS, under the "Integrated Science Education" area.

Research centers, institutes and facilities

The college has a variety of resources available to researchers.

• BEACON: Biocomputational Evolution in Action Consortium
• Institute for Research on Mathematics and Science Education
• Center for Microbial Ecology
• Center for Statistical Training and Consulting
• Center for the Study of Cosmic Evolution
• Composite Materials and Structure Center
• Institute for Quantum Sciences
• Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics
• National Food Safety and Toxicology Center
• Albert J. Cook Arthropod Research Collection
• Center for Advanced Microscopy
• Herbarium
• High Performance Computing Center
• Kellogg Biological Station
• Max T. Rogers NMR Facility
• MSU/DoE Plant Research Laboratory
• National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory
• Protein Expression Laboratory
• Research Technology Support Facility
• SOAR Telescope

Administration

Phillip M. Duxbury is dean of Michigan State University's College of Natural Science (NatSci).

Prior to his appointment as dean, Duxbury served as chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy (PA) from August 2013 until August 2018. He joined the MSU faculty in 1986 as an assistant professor, was promoted to associate professor in 1994 and became a full professor in 1998. During his MSU tenure, Duxbury has also served as PA graduate studies director, associate director of the MSU Center for Fundamental Materials Research, director of the Center for Nanomaterials Design and Assembly, and director of the Center of Research Excellence in Complex Materials. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society.

Duxbury's specialties include statistical physics, solar device models, ultrafast processes and accelerator physics. His research focuses on ultrafast nanocrystallography and applications to ultrafast processes in materials; phase behavior of polymer-nanoparticle mixtures with applications to organic and perovskite solar cells; phase behavior of nanoparticle-lipid bilayer systems with applications to nanotoxicology; and finding the atomic structure of non-crystalline materials, such as isolated nanoparticles and complex molecules, involving the definition and solution of novel inverse problems. Duxbury's research is funded by grants from the National Science Foundation. He is also co-PI of a workforce development project in Accelerator Science and Technology funded by the Department of Energy.

Education:

Ph.D.  (physics) University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

B.S. (physics) University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia

It was announced on July 30, 2024 that Duxbury will step down as dean. Eric Hegg has been recommended to serve as the next dean of Michigan State University’s College of Natural Science effective Sept. 1, 2024.

Hegg will serve as dean designee prior to the MSU Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 6, 2024. Pending board approval, Hegg will succeed Duxbury who has served as the college’s dean since August 2018.