Careers & Extracurricular Study Opportunities in Biology:
Research Opportunities in Biology
Internships: Internships are defined as off-campus work or research experiences. All students are eligible for internships. They are a great way to get additional experience in the fields of Biology and Microbiology, and indirectly or directly, can lead to job opportunities in the sciences. Students can conduct internships at other universities, governmental entities (e.g. Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA), City of Oshkosh Wastewater Treatment plant, NEW Zoo), and private industries (e.g. Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Affinity Medical Center, Badger Labs and Engineering). If research is being done in collaboration with a UWO faculty member, and the majority of the work is conducted off-campus, this may also qualify as an internship.
Students have the primary responsibility for contacting
employers about an internship. Some internships involve formal application
procedures. Others, especially those that are unpaid, can sometimes be arranged
more informally by contacting potential employers.
Students can take up to 6 credits of Bio 300 (Biology Internship) or Bio 301
(Microbiology Internship) during their undergraduate career. However, a maximum
of 3 credits of internship can be taken per semester. Internships can be paid
or unpaid (this is completely dependent on the employer). For paid internships,
about 140 hrs of work on the internship must be done for every 1 credit of Bio
300/301 earned. For unpaid internships, about 70 hours of work are required per
credit. Students can conduct internships any time during the academic year,
including summer.
In addition to work performed for an employer as part of an internship, students
are also required to submit 1) a daily/weekly log that documents the work
performed, and 2) a 2-3 page essay that summarizes the work completed and that
describes how the internship experience contributed to the career goals of the
student.
For more information, contact the internship advisors Dr. Greg Kleinheinz and
Dr. Bob Stelzer.
Shadow-a-Professional: Students interested in a particular profession are urged to arrange a shadow experience well before applying for jobs or for post-baccalaureate education in the profession. To shadow, the student obtains permission from a practitioner (e.g. research scientist, pharmacist, zookeeper, aquaculturist) to accompany him/her on the daily job. This may require a confidentiality agreement, liability waiver, vaccinations, or a background check.
Job shadows provide invaluable insights to the realities of any career, an important quality sought after by admissions committees and employers. Job shadows may also provide valuable letters of recommendation.
Shadowing can be done at any time during the school year or summer. Many students find it most convenient to shadow during vacations instead of during the academic year, and that's just fine. A student may wish to shadow just one practitioner, or several. A shadow diary is recommended so that you can make the most of your experiences. No course credit may be earned for job shadows; they are not equivalent to internships.
Career tracks in Biology:
Biology careers in general: http://www.uwosh.edu/career/pages/biology.htm
Biotechnology lab technician program in Madison:
http://matcmadison.edu/biotech/pbCertificate.htm
Botany
careers:
http://www.sysbot.org/ click on "Career Information" in menu on left;
http://www.botany.org/bsa/careers/
Forensic Science careers: http://www.aafs.org/, click on “Resources” at top and then “Choosing a career”
Health Care careers: http://www.ahec.wisc.edu, click on “Healthcare Occupations” in menu on left
Health Care careers: http://www.healthprofessions.org/
Last edited on 08/05/2005. Contact webmaster.