Students working in biomedical engineering in areas of tissue engineering and human physiology perform original research work through MS and PhD programs in the Department of Biological Sciences. Essential equipment for gene isolation, cloning, and sequencing is available and includes electrophoresis systems, ultracentrifuges, scintillation counters, and support equipment. The University's setting near the world's largest freshwater lake and the many nearby lakes, rivers, streams, as well as the extensive woodlands that cover much of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, provides an exceptional array of aquatic and terrestrial research sites. The well-equipped lake lab, a greenhouse, and individual research laboratories provide facilities for experimentation needed to evaluate hypotheses derived from field work. Students have access to sixty-four controlled environment aquaria, six artificial streams, and numerous environmental chambers.
Special facilities are available for chemical and other analyses of water and soil samples.
The University has an extensive array of computer equipment providing facilities for word processing, calculations, data management, statistical analyses, literature searches, and for production of publication-quality graphics. These are especially useful in thesis production. Computers can also be used to access all major national and university databases. Close working ties are maintained among the faculty, graduate students, and scientists of various departments and campus research institutes. These interactions foster collaboration and creative interdisciplinary approaches to research projects.