Fall 2026 (Aug 24 → Dec 18)
Ecology
Stiling Ecology: Global Insights (rec.) · individuals→ecosystems, land + water · 3 exams + final project (60%) · lab 40% · ⛔ no generative AI.
Cellular Biology
No required textbook · cell culture lab all semester · weekly quizzes, no exams · 190-pt cytotoxicity project + poster.
Molecular Microbiology
Slonczewski Microbiology: An Evolving Science 6e (free via First Day) · 5 units · genomes → structure → metabolism → regulation · exams Oct 5 / Oct 28 / Nov 23 / Dec 16.
Intro Neuroscience I
Watson & Breedlove The Mind's Machine 5e — Oxford Insight via Canvas only · neurons & glia → sensory systems · neuroinflammation slant.
MCAT Prep
Bio · Biochem · Gen Chem · Org Chem · Physics/Math · Behavioral Sci · CARS · 528 Advanced.
Study tools
Build your own study materials — not tied to any one course.
Ask across every source you have
Searches your embedded neuro textbook, this site’s pages, Wikipedia and PubMed, then answers with a source list you can check. No API key, no sign-in.
Endless AI questions on any topic
⛔ Not for BIOL 3340 (Ecology) — Manning prohibits generative AI for that course's work.
Paste a unit, exam blueprint, or notes — or just name a topic. The engine writes endless, non-repeating exam-grade questions, grades your answers, and shows every option and exactly why it's right or wrong. Builds a per-concept mastery map so you drill your weak spots.
Interactive diagrams & flashcard studio
Draw interactive science diagrams and high-quality flashcards, then export as a GIF, image, PDF, Anki deck, or embeddable widget for these study pages. Import any file, resize, add arrows and text, download or copy in high-res.
What's in every course
Study Guide
Semester-spanning chapter notes with key terms bolded.
Flashcards
Interactive flip deck. Filter by unit, mark mastered, keyboard shortcuts.
Mastery
Spaced-repetition drill that resurfaces what you keep missing.
Practice Exams
Multiple-choice + short-answer simulators with auto-grade.
Cheat Sheet
Printable 1-page reference, formatted for 8.5×11 portrait.
Concept Maps
Visual summaries of high-level pathways and relationships.
Semester pace
| Date | Milestone | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 24 | Classes begin | Confirm syllabi, get textbooks via MavLINK. |
| Sep 7 (Mon) | BIOL 4640 First Day opt-out deadline | Slonczewski ebook is billed to your student account after this. Details. |
| Sep 8 (Mon) | Labor Day | No classes. |
| Mid-Sept | Exam 1 window | Most courses run 3 mid-term + 1 final. |
| Oct 5 (Mon) | BIOL 4640 Exam 1 | Units 1 + 2 — methods, genomes, phylogeny. The only 4640 exam covering two units. |
| Mid-Oct | Fall break + Exam 2 | Use the long weekend to drill cross-course. |
| Oct 28 (Wed) | BIOL 4640 Exam 2 | Unit 3 — cell structure + viruses. No 4640 lecture Oct 26. |
| Mid-Nov | Exam 3 window | Cellular bio lab final practical possible. |
| Nov 23 (Mon) | BIOL 4640 Exam 3 | Unit 4 — energetics, catabolism, biosynthesis. |
| Nov 26–28 | Thanksgiving | No classes. |
| Dec 8–13 | Final exams | 4-course finals week — cheat sheets help most here. |
| Dec 16–18 | BIOL 4640 Exam 4 + optional final | Exam 4 Dec 16, 10–11:59 AM; the optional comprehensive final falls in this window and replaces one of exams 1–3. Note 4640 runs later than the Dec 8–13 row above. |
| Dec 18 | Semester ends |
Your professors
Dr. David Manning
Freshwater + ecosystem ecology · stream N & P dynamics, detrital food webs, watershed land use. Expect real weight on aquatic systems and nutrient cycling. Email is the channel (~24 h). Generative AI is prohibited in this course.
Kristen Johnson
Cell-cell junctions, adherens and gap junctions · cancer-related changes in cell adhesion — her research, and the lens on lecture concepts. Office hours Tue 11:30–12:30; lab block run with Dr. Northam, TA Princess Sunday-Jimmy.
Donald Rowen
Microbial pathogenesis · Pseudomonas aeruginosa mucoid conversion · Type III secretion — his research, not a syllabus unit. Office hours Tue/Wed 10–11 AM, Allwine 114J; email drowen@nebraska.edu.
Ernest Chivero
Substance-use neuroinflammation, microglia, NLRP3, HIV-Tat. 4.7/5 RMP, 95% would retake. Online async; expect immune-brain bias on standard intro topics.
Source materials & references
- UNomaha Biology faculty directory
- UNomaha BIOL course catalog
- UNomaha NEUR course catalog
- UNomaha Criss Library — Biology Research Guide
- NCBI Bookshelf — Alberts Molecular Biology of the Cell 4e (free)
- OpenStax Microbiology (free)
- MIT OCW 9.01 Intro Neuroscience — Mark Bear (textbook author)
- NCBI Bookshelf — Purves Neuroscience 2e (free)
- Internet Archive — Smith Elements of Ecology (Ecology alternate reference; Manning recommends Stiling)
- Internet Archive — Madigan Brock Biology of Microorganisms
- Wikipedia — Molecular Biology of the Cell (book)
- Wikipedia — Brock Biology of Microorganisms
📁 Archive
Finished coursework and non-coursework sites. Astronomy and Neuro 1000 were removed on 2026-08-28; the Physics 2 lab archive below is still complete.