Sparks is returning to the faculty of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, where he is a professor.
“I have loved working with the staff of the Office of Undergraduate Biology and am very proud of the things we have been able to accomplish together to make things better for students studying the biological sciences at Cornell,” Sparks said. “I am going to miss interacting with all of the amazing biology students here at Cornell, but I am excited to get back to teaching the courses I love!”
Gilbert’s appointment was effective July 1. He has been unofficially involved with the biology major at Cornell for nearly 20 years, advising students, serving on the curriculum committee, and teaching in several of the large introductory courses, such as Introductory Biology, Evolution and Diversity, and Comparative Physiology.
“I’m excited to have a formal affiliation with the major, the largest at Cornell, as director of undergraduate biology,” Gilbert said. “I’m looking forward to improving our already strong curriculum from a more holistic perspective rather than just teaching a single course. Another priority will be to provide more opportunities for non-traditional students to get involved with research.”
Gilbert’s own research focuses on the neural mechanisms of behavior in arthropods, in particular how the nervous system integrates sensory information—primarily visual, auditory, and proprioceptive—to produce adaptive behaviors. He received his doctorate in entomology from the University of Kansas in 1986. In 2010 he won the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching from the State University of New York.
The Office of Undergraduate Biology oversees 1,400 majors from the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, with 14 concentrations and over 380 courses. OUB helps connect students with opportunities in study and research in almost every aspect of the biological sciences, and the office also sponsors a variety of summer and academic year workshops, seminars, and special events for students with interests in life science research.
“Jed has done a tremendous job leading the Office of Undergraduate Biology, which offers the university’s students a variety of essential services,” said Kathryn J. Boor, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “I congratulate Cole on his new appointment, and I look forward to the wonderful work OUB will continue to do on behalf of our biology undergraduates.”
