Biology: Now What?

[Found on the Occupational Outlook Handbook]

What is Biology?                         

Biologists learn how living things work, how they interact with one another, and how they evolve. They may study cells under a microscope, insects in a rainforest, viruses that affect human beings, plants in a greenhouse, or lions in the African grasslands. Their work increases our understanding about the natural world in which we live and helps us address issues of personal well-being and worldwide concern, such as environmental depletion, threats to human health, and maintaining viable & abundant food supplies. 

What Can I Do With A Bachelor’s Degree In Biology?

Selection of Employers for recent (Class of 2024) UMass Amherst Biology alumni:

• Action Ambulance Service
• Amherst Nursery
• Amherst Pediatrics
• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
• Beth Israel Lahey Health
• Boston BioProducts
• Boston Children’s Hospital
• Boston Eye Group/Boston Laser
• Boston Heart Diagnostics
• Boston Sports and Shoulder Center
• Brewster Ambulance
• Brigham & Women’s Hospital
• Bristol Myers Squibb
• Cambridge Health Alliance
• Cataldo Ambulance Service
• CCRM Fertility Boston
• Coastal Medical Transportation Systems
• Complete Spine and Pain Care
• Cooley Dickinson Health Care
• CRMG
• Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
• East West Technical Services
• Epic Systems Corporation
• Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health
• Krauss Dermatology
• Kumon North America
• Martha’s Vineyard Hospital
• Mass Audubon
• Mass General Brigham
• Massachusetts General Hospital
• MetaSystems Group, Inc.
• Moderna
• National Institutes of Health
• Nationwide Children’s Hospital
• New England Biolabs, Inc.
• Newton Wellesley Dermatology Associates
• North Shore Physicians Group Cardiology
• Perry Endodontics
• Prospect Medical Systems
• ScribeAmerica
• South Coast Dermatology
• South Shore Hospital
• Swamp Sparrow Project
• Tufts Medical School
• Tufts Skilled Nursing Facility
• UMass Chan Medical School
• University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Valley Medical Group
• Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
• Winchester Hospital 

Other Top Employers of UMass Biology Majors after Graduation (Class of 2021 – 2023):

• AbbVie
• Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
• Charles River Laboratories
• CVS Health
• Emerson Hospital
• Eurofins
• Foundation Medicine
• HelixBind
• Joslin Diabetes Center
• KBMO Diagnostics
• Repligen Corporation
• Strand Therapeutics
• Thermo Fisher
• USDA Forest Service
• Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Where Might I do an Internship?

UMass Amherst Biology Majors Have Done Internships at The Following Sites:

Walt Disney World

Northampton VA Medical Ctr

Cooley Dickinson Hospital

Baystate Health Systems

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Ctr

MASSPIRG

Shriners Hospitals for Children

Wyeth Biotech

Sanofi Group: Pasteur, & Genzyme

MA State House

Fitchburg State University

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Ctr

Wyeth Biotech

UMass Amherst Aviary Field Research

Associates of Cape Cod

Biogen Idec Inc

UMass Amherst MA Pesticide Analysis Lab

UMass Amherst Student Legal Services

UMass Amherst Emergency Medical Services

University Health Services

MSM Protein Technologies

Methuen (City of)

Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory

All-Access Fitness Academy

PrO Unlimited

PRIMA Pediatrics

Principle Profits Asset Management

Centocor

Dr. Hauschka Skin Care Inc.

Venilia Gardens

MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Richard B. Simches Research Ctr

Yonsei University (S. Korea)

Vision Showcase

Whale Ctr of New England

US Dept. of Agriculture

Richard B. Simches Research Ctr

Novartis Pharmaceuticals

Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society

Zoo in Forest Park (The)

National Aquarium in Baltimore

Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society

Boston Biomedical Research Institute

UMass Amherst Environmental Health & Safety

UMass Amherst Campus Sustainability Initiative

UMass Amherst Ctr for Health Promotion

UMass Amherst Peer Health Educators

Northampton Area Pediatrics, LLP

Craig's Doors- A Home Association

Gimhae Saint Mary's Hospital (S. Korea)

New York Sports Club

Neighborhood Physical Therapy

Harvard University

Baystate Medical Ctr

American Cancer Society

AVEO Pharmaceuticals

UMass Amherst Biology Dept

Douglas Treyz DDS

Peabody (City of)

Children's Hospital Boston

Harvard University

Joslin Diabetes Ctr

UMass Amherst

Cell Signaling Technology, Inc.

All-Access Fitness Academy

PrO Unlimited                        

PRIMA Pediatrics

Hunt and Piech Dental Group

Differential Proteomics, Inc.

Massachusetts General Hospital

Target

World Parrot Trust

Centocor

Springborn Smithers Laboratories

World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF)

Red Cross Children's Hospital

MA Environmentally Preferable Products Procurement Program

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory

Amherst Regional Public Schools

Amgen Inc.

Amherst (Town of)

Who Could I Work For?

Some of the larger companies, government agencies, and industries that hire biology majors include:

Air Pollution Control

Center for Disease Control

Department of Agriculture

Fish and Wildlife Service

Dept of Health and Human Services

Land Use Planning Commission

Environmental Protection Agency

Food and Drug Administration

National Park Service

U.S. Forest Service

Peace Corps

Bio-medical device makers

Chemical manufacturers

Health clinics

Schools and Universities

Pharmaceutical companies

Public utilities

Research foundations

Testing labs

Scientific Journals

Career Planning Resources & Websites

Career Exploration Tools: https://www.umass.edu/careers/career-journey/self-discovery 

Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: www.bls.gov/ooh

Massachusetts Career Information System: http://masscis.intocareers.org 

(Click Mass Resident to login with “Amherst/01003”  Then click “Occupations” or “Assessments”)

Career Planning Resources for Science: https://www.careercornerstone.org/biology/biology.htm 

Biology Job Search Resources    

UMass Amherst Specific Job Search Resources

Handshake: https://umass.joinhandshake.com/ 

Office of Undergraduate Research & Studies: https://www.umass.edu/ours/

UMass Amherst CNS Student Organizations: https://www.umass.edu/natural-sciences/students/student-organizations

BioPharmGuy, entry level positions: https://biopharmguy.com/services/entrylevel.php 

Internships and Research Experiences

Columbia List of Summer Internships in Biology: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/ug 

National Science Foundation – REUs: https://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.jsp 

General Biology And Science Jobs

Mass Bio: www.massbio.org

Mass Life Sciences Internship Program: www.masslifesciences.com/programs

American Society for Microbiology: www.asmcareerconnections.org

Bio Space: www.biospace.com/jobs/homepage/

Biostatistician Jobs: http://www.biostatisticianjobs.com/ 

Hire Bio: www.hirebio.com

More sites for Life Science Jobs: www.masslifesciences.com/resources

Forensic Science Jobs: https://www.aafs.org/careers-forensic-science/career-opportunities 

General Science Jobs (widely defined): http://jobs.newscientist.com/

General Science Jobs (widely defined): http://jobs.sciencecareers.org/

NatureJobs (widely defined): www.nature.com/naturejobs/science/

Bio-Tech

Mass BioTechnology Council: https://careers.massbio.org/

Mass Medical Device Industry Council: https://business.massmedic.com/jobs

Biotech Careers: https://www.biotech-careers.org/careers 

Government Agencies

National Institutes of Health: https://www.jobs.nih.gov/jobs

Health and Human Services Jobs: https://www.hhs.gov/careers/ 

Pharmaceuticals

International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers: https://www.ispeboston.org/

UMass Amherst ISPE chapter: https://sites.google.com/view/ispeumassamherst

American Assoc of Pharma Scientists Jobs Board: https://careerfair.aaps.org/jobs/ 

Professional Organizations:

Many professional organization’s websites have career information on them. You can often use them to search for networking events, meet a mentor in your field of study, find current research, search for internships or jobs, and gain insight into what direction within the field you may wish to pursue. 

Career Services has additional lists of professional organizations and resources in specialty areas such as animal sciences, health services, ecology, science communication, and forensics. Ask a career advisor!

Important Transferable Qualities To Include On Your Resume 

Analytical skills. Biologists need to able to conduct scientific experiments and analyses with accuracy and precision. 

Critical-thinking skills. Biologists draw conclusions from experimental results through sound reasoning and judgment. 

Listening skills. Biologists must carefully follow the instructions of biochemists, microbiologists, and other scientists when carrying out experiments and analyses.

Observation skills. Biologists must constantly monitor their experiments. They need to keep a complete, accurate record of their work, such as the conditions under which the experiment was carried out, the procedures they followed, and the results they obtained.

Teamwork. Biologists work together on teams under the direction of biologists or other scientists. 

Technical skills. Biologists must be able to set up and operate sophisticated equipment and instruments. 

They also may need to adjust equipment to ensure that experiments are conducted properly.

Writing skills. Biologists must write reports that summarize their findings and results clearly.

What Do Employers Look For? (Source: NACE 2024 Job Outlook for Students)

Top 10 Skills Employers Seek on Candidate Resumes

1. Problem-solving skills
2. Ability to work in a team
3. Communication skills (written)
4. Strong work ethic
5. Flexibility/adaptability
6. Communication (verbal)
7. Technical Skills
8. Analytical/Quantitative Skills
9. Initiative
10. Detail-oriented

Top 7 Attributes that can positively influence employers the most

1. Internship with the organization
2. Internship within the industry
3. Major
4. General work experience
5. Leadership experience
6. Extracurricular activities
7. High GPA (3.0 or above)