University of South Dakota Biology Department

08/01/2026

USD and the South Dakota Discovery Center are helping STEM teachers bring new ideas into the classroom with the help of chameleons.

07/31/2026

06/10/2026

There’s something special about seeing the world a little more closely and that’s exactly what David L. Swanson brings to life in A Birder’s Guide to South Dakota

From wide open prairies to hidden habitats, this work invites readers to slow down, observe, and connect with the incredible birdlife right here in our region. It’s a reflection of curiosity, dedication, and a deep appreciation for the natural world

Proud to celebrate this contribution during USD Research Week 2026 and the voices that continue to inspire discovery across our community

06/05/2026

Great mentorship creates lasting impact, and this is one worth celebrating!

We are proud to recognize Christopher Anderson as the Outstanding Research Mentor at the University of South Dakota during Research Week 2026. His dedication to student success, passion for research, and commitment to excellence continue to inspire and shape the next generation of leaders.

His impact goes far beyond the classroom, strengthening the Coyote community through leadership, support, and a shared pursuit of excellence. This is what leadership looks like at USD, and it is something we are proud to stand behind!

05/15/2026

Jeff Wesner: Big ideas begin with curiosity

Congratulations to Jeff Wesner, recipient of the President’s Award for Research Excellence: Established Faculty for his sustained record of influential research, external funding and professional leadership, which have brought significant national and international visibility to USD in the field of freshwater ecology. His research focuses on freshwater ecosystems, nutrient cycling and the movement of contaminants across ecological systems. He has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications, along with book chapters, a textbook and a widely used software package, with his work appearing in leading journals such as Nature, Global Change Biology, Ecology, and Environmental Science & Technology. A notable achievement includes his 2024 Nature publication, in which he examines continental-scale transport of nutrients and contaminants by pacific salmon.

Wesner has secured nearly $3 million in competitive external funding, maintaining continuous support from the National Science Foundation since 2018, in addition to funding from the U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service, Environmental Protection Agency, and South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks. He has served on NSF proposal review panels, contributes as a subject-matter editor for Ecosphere and has provided leadership as co-chair of an international scientific conference with more than 1,000 participants. Mentorship has also been central to Wesner’s career, as he has supervised numerous graduate and undergraduate students whose work has resulted in more than 20 peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national and international conferences.

This is a primer example of research excellence at USD. Go Yotes!!

04/15/2026

Congrats, Dr. Wesner!

USD is proud to recognize four faculty members—Jeff Wesner, Melissa Dittberner, Etienne Gnimpieba and duncan b. barlow—with President’s Research Awards.

These candidates were chosen by external reviewers for their research accomplishments, publications and grant success. Congratulations! 🎉

Learn more about the awards 👉 https://yote.us/4dPiS1o