Delta State University Department of Biological Sciences

08/22/2026

Great news for Delta State University! The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has officially approved a $35,000 bald eagle project mitigation award for DSU’s Environmental Science program. In an impressively fast turnaround, the proposal was submitted on August 14 and fully approved by August 21.

It is an incredibly exciting time to be an environmental science student at DSU. This project brings fantastic opportunities, including:
- Paid roles for three to four core Environmental Science majors.
- Guest speakers sponsored by the DSU Wildlife Society.
- K-12 community outreach focused on eagle habitats and food webs.
- Hands-on field trips and new lab activities in Dr. Baghai-Riding’s classes.

DSU continues to earn well-deserved recognition for its academic programs. Stay tuned for the upcoming official news release!

Go DSU! It is a great time to be an Environmental Science major at DSU!

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08/19/2026

Great to see DSU's impactful contributions featured at the Botany 2026 conference in Tucson! Proud of our team. Go DSU!

Dr. Nina Baghai-Riding displaying the poster, "A Preliminary Anatomical Study of Allium canadense," produced by her Spring 2026 Plant Anatomy (BIO 410) class. CLEVELAND, Miss. — Seven Delta State University students and recent graduates contributed to research presented at the Botanical Society of...

08/15/2026

Delta State University was well-represented at the Botany 2026 Conference in Tucson, Arizona, by Dr. Nina Baghai-Riding from the Division of Mathematics and Sciences.

During the August 1–5 event, Dr. Baghai-Riding showcased two scientific posters featuring undergraduate environmental science research, both praised for outstanding digital microscopy:
• "A Preliminary Anatomical Study of Allium canadense" – Developed from a Spring 2026 Plant Anatomy class project, co-authored by students Aubrie Pitts, Aspen Shipp, Canaan Mercer, and Ezell Landrum.
• "Palynology of the Cockfield Formation, Mississippi and Louisiana, USA" – A collaborative study with the National Museum of Natural History and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. Co-presented with Dr. Carol Hotton, the project featured vital laboratory support from students Molly Mellen, Olivia Pharr, and Sara Davis, who utilized advanced digital microscopy to analyze and count palynomorphs.

Dr. Baghai-Riding also served as a judge for the Ecology and Paleobotany (Isabel Cookson Award) categories and met with Plant Science Bulletin editors. The publication recently highlighted DSU students working on her INBRE-grant project investigating manmade chemicals in Mississippi Delta plants. Additionally, she attended a workshop on Li-Cor Environmental Science instruments and plans to purchase new equipment for her upcoming Fall 2026 courses: BIO 415 (Material and Methods in Environmental Science) and Economic Botany.

It is an exciting time to be an Environmental Science major at DSU. For more information about the Division of Mathematics and Sciences at Delta State University please visit their website at https://www.deltastate.edu/nursing-health-sciences/mathematics-sciences/ Go DSU!

08/07/2026

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has invited Delta State University’s Environmental Science program to submit a proposal for eagle conservation efforts, with a top award of $35,000. This invitation highlights growing recognition for DSU’s Wildlife Management concentration. It builds on previous student success, such as a recent Mississippi Academy of Sciences presentation on raptor roadkill patterns in northern Mississippi. It is an exciting time to be an Environmental Science major at DSU!

07/06/2026

There are two new full-time biology positions. One is a mid-level field role in wetland restoration with the Wildlife Mississippi U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partnership in Yazoo City, MS. Another is an Entry level Biological Science Technician with the Wildlife Mississippi U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partnership also at Yazoo City, MS. Please contact Dr. Nina Riding @ [email protected] if you want more information.

There are so many good job opportunities students who have majored in for Environmental Science at DSU! Go DSU! DSU does have an Environmental Science concentration in Wildlife Management.

07/05/2026

Seven Environmental Science students are contributing to the upcoming Botanical Society of America conference that will be taking place in Tucson, Arizona. Three students have contributed to a study on Cockfield palynology from Louisiana and Mississippi sites. Four are authors of a poster about the plant anatomy of Allium canadense. All of this work is impressive.

Please contact Dr. Nina Riding about the DSU Environmental Science program. It is a great program and there still is no out-of-state tuition. Go DSU!

06/16/2026

Johnetta White Bell, a Spring 2025 graduate in Environmental Science, earned her master's degree in Environmental Law from Loyola University New Orleans this spring. This summer, she will serve as a Lemmon Fellow at the Loyola College of Law, working directly with clients on environmental social justice. Our Environmental Science students continue to achieve great success. Go DSU!

For more information about the DSU program, please contact [email protected].

06/10/2026

Our students are taking their research to the national stage. Read this excellent news coverage detailing the experiences of DSU’s Environmental Science, Chemistry, and Biology students and faculty at the TriBeta national convention in Tallahassee, Florida. Proud to see our programs gaining national exposure!

Students and faculty from Delta State University recently participated in the 2026 TriBeta National Convention in Tallahassee, Florida. The university was represented by (L to R) Peyton Bevan, Sara Davis, Kent Humphries, Dr. Nina Baghai-Riding, and Dr. William Katembe. CLEVELAND, Miss. — Students ...

06/03/2026

Here is a great opportunity if you have a degree in Environmental Science with a concentration in Wildlife Management. It is a great time to be an Environmental Science major at DSU. Go DSU!

06/02/2026

We had a fantastic time in Tallahassee, Florida, this past week for the 2026 Beta Beta Beta National Convention! Three DSU students and two faculty members from our Division of Mathematics and Sciences made the trip, staying in the dorms at Florida State University. Peyton Bevan and Kent Humphries presented posters for the Molecular and Microbiology Division, and Sara Davis presented for the Ecology, Environment, and Organismal Division. Everyone loved the field trips and presentations! A special thanks to our faculty advisors, Drs. Nina Baghai Riding and William Katembe, for mentoring us and serving as poster judges.