Biology Student Research and Internship Opportunities

Are you interested in biology research at Geneseo? Check out the information below.

GREAT Day 2022 Biology Research with Dr. Gerringer
GREAT Day 2022 Biology Research Gruop
GREAT Day 2022 Biology Research

 

Biology faculty research areas

Jennifer Apple—Arthropod Ecology

Travis Bailey—Regeneration and Stem Cells

Isidro Bosch—Aquatic Ecology

Sara Burch—Dinosaur Paleobiology

Ming-Mei Chang—Plant Molecular Biology

Robert Feissner—Cytochrome c biogenesis             

Mackenzie Gerringer—Deep-Sea Biology 

Kristi Hannam—Acoustic Ecology 

Gregg Hartvigsen—Modeling Biological Systems 

Brian Hoven—Plant Ecology

Elizabeth Hutchison—Microbiology     

Varuni Jamburuthugoda—Biochemistry and Molecular Biology       

Jani Lewis—Cancer Biology 

Kevin Militello—Molecular Microbiology

Susan Muench—Parasitology 

Hristina Nedelkovska—Immunology           

Josie Reinhardt—Evolutionary Genomics

Tara Sweet—Neuroscience, Physiology 

Suann Yang—Community Ecology

How to apply for student research opportunities

Research is a great way to build your skills and experience in Biology, and to find community in the program. Students can start research any semester in their undergraduate career. If you’re interested in getting involved, here are some paths into department research:

1. Finding a Research Lab. Check out the research that is going on in the department by:

  • Exploring the Biology research areas above and faculty websites.
  • Looking at posters throughout the ISC. Attending GREAT Day in the spring or the Tri-Beta Research Symposium in the fall to hear student research presentations.
  • Participating in the annual Lab Crawl open house event in the spring. 
  • Talking to your advisor and/or professors about your research interests and which lab may be a good fit for you and your goals. 
  • Speak with students who are doing research in labs. Professors can share contacts of current students who can tell you about their research experiences. 
  • Reading papers published by faculty: check out faculty’s Google Scholar pages to learn more about example research.

2. Proposing Your Own Project. Some professors also support student-proposed projects. If you have an idea or a research question, talk to a professor to see who might be a good fit for a project advisor. Offer to provide an informal research plan or proposal. A one page research plan can be a great way to demonstrate that you’ve done background reading on the project and help you communicate your goals.


3. Biology Honors Projects. You may also decide to complete research as part of an honors project for your degree. Speak with your advisor if you would like to learn more about graduating with Biology honors which requires:

  • Enrolling in 6 credits of BIOL 393
  •  Preparing an application in the form of a research proposal
  •  Writing an honors thesis
  •  Presenting your research in an oral public presentation, such as at GREAT Day 

Note that the Biology Honors program is distinct from the Edgar Fellows Honors Program, and it is not possible to participate in both.

4. Applying for Research Positions. Research applications are posted in late spring, late summer, and late fall. Check your email or this page for announcements about application windows. Complete a Research Application for consideration. You can also reach out to professors directly regarding research opportunities at any time. Craft a strong application by:​​​​​​

  • Telling your individual story. 
  • ​​​​​​Thoughtfully considering what types of research projects most interest you and fit your goals for your future.
  • Connecting to research being done in that specific lab and showing that you’ve learned about the work the lab is doing can demonstrate your interest.
  • Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart.

 If offered a position in a lab, make sure you discuss expectations for your commitments with your faculty supervisor and consider how it will balance with your coursework and other extracurricular activities.

5. Doing the Research. Commit to doing your best in the lab, communicating with your research team, and putting in 3-6 hours per week to research for each credit you are taking. Plan to complete your research project by presenting the work on GREAT Day or at a professional conference and/or publish your science in a scientific journal!

Students who do research will typically earn BIOL 299 credit the first semester and will be graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. This S/U credit does not count toward the Biology major elective credits. Students who complete BIOL 299 with an S grade are eligible to enroll in BIOL 399. Those students who complete BIOL 399 are eligible to enroll in BIOL 396. Completion of BIOL 299, BIOL 399, and BIOL 396 in the same research lab will count towards one of the upper-level lab requirements in the Biology major.

Geneseo summer research opportunities

Are you interested in summer research in biology on campus? Check out the opportunities below.

SUNY Geneseo Summer Research Fellowships

The Geneseo Foundation sponsors 6 full-time summer fellowship awards ($3000 stipend) or 3 part-time awards ($1000 stipend) to conduct research in collaboration with a faculty mentor. Proposals are due at the end of February. Proposals are generally developed in cooperation with a faculty member, so you should be in a research lab already or start discussions with a faculty member the previous fall. 

The McNair Program

You may be eligible to participate in the McNair Scholars Program, which provides research experiences for students interested in pursuing graduate study who are first generation college students or members of historically underrepresented groups. Rising juniors can apply to participate in the Geneseo Introductory Research Opportunity, a summer research program. Find out more on the McNair Program website.

External research/internship opportunities

Deadlines are often December through February, so please check the links below for details. Checking early is a great way to make sure that you can get any necessary letters of recommendations and have time to put together your best application.

Research

Summer Research Programs at New York Institutions 

Many NY universities and medical schools run summer research programs that provide stipends and often housing for undergraduates. You are paired with a mentor and learn relevant skills as you work toward an achievable research goal in an 8-10 week period. 

Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)

The National Science Foundation has opportunities for undergraduate research through its REU sites program. These are institutions that host about 10 students who work with scientists on a well-defined research project. Students are provided a stipend and often also receive help with housing and transportation to and from the site. 

Summer Programs in the Northeast

Ecology/Environmental Science Summer Research Opportunities in the Northeast (also see NSF REUs)

Nationally Distributed Summer Research Programs

Additional Compilations of Nationwide Summer Research and Internship Opportunities

Internships

Ecology/Conservation/Zoology/Botany

Public Health/Biomedical

Local Internship Opportunities

Additional Opportunities: Jobs and Research Calls

  • Google Doc with additional research and job opportunities updated by faculty and staff

Biology Faculty Lightning Talks