Nestled in the heart of Wisconsin’s north woods, Northland College’s biology program provides students with extraordinary opportunities to engage in hands-on research and explore cutting-edge science. Under the guidance of dedicated educators like Professors Alissa Hulstrand and Geoffrey Vincent, students gain practical experience that extends far beyond traditional classroom learning, shaping them into thoughtful leaders ready to make meaningful contributions to both their field and community.
At the core of the program is its strong emphasis on experiential learning. Northland’s small class sizes and well-equipped labs enable students to actively participate in real-world research, tackling pressing scientific questions. One standout feature is the use of advanced equipment, such as the College’s cycle sequencer. Unlike many other undergraduate institutions, at Northland, students don’t simply observe these tools from afar—they operate them firsthand. “Here, students see it, touch it, and use it,” explains Professor Vincent. “It’s something they can proudly add to their resumes.”
The cycle sequencer plays a crucial role in numerous research projects, including studies focused on tick-borne diseases, a major concern in the local community. In northern Wisconsin, ticks can carry pathogens that cause serious illnesses, such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. By analyzing the DNA sequences of these pathogens, students gain valuable insights that contribute to better surveillance and risk management.
Professor Hulstrand describes how the process works: “We start with a target piece of DNA and analyze it to identify specific bacterial species. For instance, we might look for pathogens like rickettsia that cause spotted fever. Knowing exactly which species of pathogens are present helps inform public health strategies and risk assessments.” This kind of hands-on research is a rarity at smaller colleges, where access to advanced equipment and independent research opportunities are often limited.
In 2022, students in Northland’s Field Parasitology course made a groundbreaking discovery using cycle sequencing. While collecting ticks for a class project, they identified Rickettsia montanensis, marking the first recorded instance of this pathogen in northern Wisconsin. The discovery was published in a peer-reviewed journal and has since been cited by other researchers, demonstrating the program’s commitment to impactful, real-world science.
Fieldwork is another vital component of the biology curriculum. Students have opportunities to connect classroom knowledge with the natural world, contributing to important environmental research. The Field Parasitology project is just one example of how students’ work leads to discoveries that benefit the community. “The ticks collected by our students weren’t just samples for teaching—they became the foundation for significant scientific findings,” notes Professor Vincent.
Beyond the lab and field, Northland’s biology program integrates resources like the Northland College Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation. This center actively monitors bacterial contamination in local water systems, allowing students to engage with pressing environmental challenges while gaining valuable research experience.
The program’s success is made possible through strong community support and generous donors. Recent fundraising efforts have enabled the purchase of cutting-edge tools like the cycle sequencer, expanding the program’s capacity for impactful research. For students, this means the unique opportunity to gain skills usually reserved for graduate-level study.
Reflecting on the program’s impact, Professor Hulstrand emphasizes the importance of accessibility and empowerment: “When I was an undergraduate, we didn’t even have access to sequencing technology. Here, our students don’t just prepare samples—they learn to troubleshoot, analyze, and interpret data on their own. It fosters confidence and curiosity, giving them the tools to take their learning to the next level.”
At Northland College, biology students don’t just study science—they actively engage in it. From discovering new pathogens to contributing to local environmental health, their work embodies the College’s mission to develop leaders rooted in knowledge, driven by discovery, and dedicated to making a difference. With every sample collected and DNA sequence analyzed, these students are shaping the future of science and community well-being—one discovery at a time.
