Lewis Obermiller, Ph.D.

Residential Faculty - Life Sciences

Life and Environmental Sciences

Life and Environmental Sciences

Office: NU 6 - Room: NU-183

480-461-7119

Office Hours

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
 
2:55 PM - 3:45 PM
1:30 PM - 2:20 PM
2:55 PM - 3:45 PM
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
    
Online
By appointment
    

All office hours are also online as well as in-person except Fridays.  On Fridays office hours are in-person only on the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month, otherwise they are online only.

Classes Taught

Fall 2026

BIO181 General Biology (Majors) I 4 Credits

The study and principles of structure and function of organisms at the molecular and cellular levels. A detailed exploration of the chemistry of life, the cell, and genetics.

Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in RDG100, or RDG100LL, or higher, or eligibility for CRE101. One year of high school or one semester of college-level biology and chemistry is strongly recommended.
General Education Designations: Natural Sciences [NSI], Natural Sciences Quantitative [SQ]
Section Location Delivery Dates Days Times Availability
17380
Dobson Campus

LS 205
In-Person
Lab
08/24/2026 – 12/18/2026
Mo
10:30 AM – 1:20 PM

Class Started

Notes: Low-Textbook-Cost Class: The total cost of the required materials for this course is $40 or less.

Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning, teaching, and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or have an open license copyright that permits no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, retention, redistribution, and adaptation by others.

Students get hands-on experience doing an original research assignment.

Lecture Notes: Students registering for class 17380 must also register for .
BIO292UR Biology Undergraduate Research 1 Credits

Provides students with group and/or individualized undergraduate research opportunities under faculty supervision in order to maximize student development. Appropriate research facilities and equipment are made available for student use.

Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor, or Department or Division Chair.
Section Location Delivery Dates Days Times Availability
17924
Dobson Campus

LS 109
In-Person
Lab
08/28/2026 – 12/18/2026
Fr
9:30 AM – 12:20 PM

Closed

Notes: Provides students with group and/or individualized undergraduate research opportunities under faculty supervision in order to maximize student development. Appropriate research facilities and equipment are made available for student use. Enrollment is ONLY by permission of the instructor.

Students get hands-on experience doing an original research assignment.
BIO298AA Special Projects 1 Credits

Organized and tailored around the interests and needs of the individual student. Structured to provide an atmosphere of individualized research and study paralleled by professional expertise and guidance. Professional-type facilities and equipment available for student use. Allows the best aspects of independent study and individualized learning to be combined to maximize student development.

Prerequisites: Permission of Program Director or Instructor.
Section Location Delivery Dates Days Times Availability
32801
Dobson Campus

LS 109
In-Person
Lab
08/28/2026 – 12/18/2026
Fr
9:30 AM – 12:20 PM

Class Started

Spring 2027

BIO107 Introduction to Biotechnology 4 Credits

An introduction to laboratory techniques and their applications in biotechnology. Students will explore the broad impact of biotechnology on society including its global economic potential, medical, forensic, environmental and military applications, as well as the associated risks, ethical and legal issues that are shaping the field. Prerequisites: None.
General Education Designations: Natural Sciences [NSI], Natural Sciences Quantitative [SQ]
Section Location Delivery Dates Days Times Availability
12305
Dobson Campus

LS 109
In-Person
Lab
01/20/2027 – 05/14/2027
We
12:00 PM – 2:50 PM

Open

21 of 24
Seats Available

Notes: This course is designed for majors and non-majors and it meets twice a week in the lab. You will learn the science behind CRISPR-Cas9 and how it revolutionized genetics, real-world applications in medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology. You will perform guided novel research projects and you will design and perform in the lab to see CRISPR in action.

Zero-Textbook-Cost Class: The total cost of required online instructional materials for this "Z Class" is $0.

Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning, teaching, and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or have an open license copyright that permits no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, retention, redistribution, and adaptation by others.

Class 12305 Students get hands-on experience doing an original research assignment.

Lecture Notes: Students registering for class 12305 must also register for .
BIO181 General Biology (Majors) I 4 Credits

The study and principles of structure and function of organisms at the molecular and cellular levels. A detailed exploration of the chemistry of life, the cell, and genetics.

Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in RDG100, or RDG100LL, or higher, or eligibility for CRE101. One year of high school or one semester of college-level biology and chemistry is strongly recommended.
General Education Designations: Natural Sciences [NSI], Natural Sciences Quantitative [SQ]
Section Location Delivery Dates Days Times Availability
11957
Dobson Campus

LS 201
In-Person
Lecture
01/19/2027 – 05/14/2027
TuTh
1:30 PM – 2:45 PM

Open

40 of 48
Seats Available

Notes: Low-Textbook-Cost Class: The total cost of the required materials for this course is $40 or less.

Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning, teaching, and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or have an open license copyright that permits no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, retention, redistribution, and adaptation by others.

Students get hands-on experience doing an original research assignment.

Lab Notes: Students registering for class 11957 must also register for one of .
10359
Dobson Campus

LS 205
In-Person
Lab
01/19/2027 – 05/14/2027
Tu
10:30 AM – 1:20 PM

Open

21 of 24
Seats Available

Notes: Low-Textbook-Cost Class: The total cost of the required materials for this course is $40 or less.

Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning, teaching, and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or have an open license copyright that permits no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, retention, redistribution, and adaptation by others.

Students get hands-on experience doing an original research assignment.

Lecture Notes: Students registering for class 10359 must also register for .
11958
Dobson Campus

LS 205
In-Person
Lab
01/21/2027 – 05/14/2027
Th
10:30 AM – 1:20 PM

Open

19 of 24
Seats Available

Notes: Low-Textbook-Cost Class: The total cost of the required materials for this course is $40 or less.

Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning, teaching, and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or have an open license copyright that permits no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, retention, redistribution, and adaptation by others.

Students get hands-on experience doing an original research assignment.

Lecture Notes: Students registering for class 11958 must also register for .

Spring Flex Start 2027

BIO107 Introduction to Biotechnology 4 Credits

An introduction to laboratory techniques and their applications in biotechnology. Students will explore the broad impact of biotechnology on society including its global economic potential, medical, forensic, environmental and military applications, as well as the associated risks, ethical and legal issues that are shaping the field. Prerequisites: None.
General Education Designations: Natural Sciences [NSI], Natural Sciences Quantitative [SQ]
Section Location Delivery Dates Days Times Availability
12304
Dobson Campus

LS 109
In-Person
Lecture
01/25/2027 – 05/14/2027
Mo
12:00 PM – 2:50 PM

Open

21 of 24
Seats Available

Notes: This course is designed for majors and non-majors and it meets twice a week in the lab. You will learn the science behind CRISPR-Cas9 and how it revolutionized genetics, real-world applications in medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology. You will perform guided novel research projects and you will design and perform in the lab to see CRISPR in action.

Zero-Textbook-Cost Class: The total cost of required online instructional materials for this "Z Class" is $0.

Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning, teaching, and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or have an open license copyright that permits no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, retention, redistribution, and adaptation by others.

Class 12304 Students get hands-on experience doing an original research assignment.

Lab Notes: Students registering for class 12304 must also register for .

Degrees & Awards

B.S. Molecular Biology

M.S. Cellular Biology

Ph.D. Molecular and Cellular Biology and Biochemistry

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