Career preparation - What is everyone, including admissions committees and employers, looking for?

When you've graduated, everyone will look for the same key traits.

Have you balanced breadth and depth in your undergraduate degree program?

With too broad an undergraduate curriculum, you may be unprepared to move directly either into an advanced degree program or into the workplace. With too specialized a curriculum, you may not be able to adapt to the rapid changes in biology. It's impossible to predict the future, so work with your advisor to plan a curriculum that provides a solid foundation in the basic principles of biology, and a solid working knowledge in two or more subfields.

Pursue a cross-disciplinary education. Many important problems in biology are too big to be solved by people trained in only one discipline and thus much exciting work in the future will be done at the interfaces of biology, chemistry, physics, geology and mathematics. Gaining academic breadth in these areas will prepare you to later formulate and address interdisciplinary questions, collaborate effectively across a variety of disciplines and understand your own work in a broader context. Acquire training in computer use and information technology, and education in bioethics to anticipate and present options for solving prickly social issues.

Have you had practical experience in the field?

There is absolutely no substitute for practical career experience. Try out what you think you want to do! See if it fits you. You'll gain invaluable experience for a future job or application to graduate or professional school. Volunteer in a hospital and "shadow" a doctor. Work as a summer intern or apprentice in industry. Work in a research laboratory on-campus during the academic year and either on- or off-campus during the summer. Work as a volunteer in a national or state park. Acquire a broad range of experiences. For example, pair an academic research internship with a summer apprenticeship in industry.

Of all the options, a well-planned research experience in which you design your own research project, and analyze the results may be the most valuable. You will learn about the practice of science, and that will be valuable no matter which career you eventually choose.

Have you refined both your written and oral communication skills?

Practice developing, presenting and defending your own ideas in front of both a technical and a lay audience. Lead class discussions. Pay at least as much attention to the purpose and relevance of your work as you do to the technical details. If you work in a research lab, present the results of your research to your peers both at MU and at regional and national conferences. Serve as an undergraduate teaching assistant in a science class (one for non-majors if possible) or as a peer advisor in a residence hall (being a Peer Mentor in a FIG is a wonderful experience) or in the Biology Advising Center. Tutor other students, either informally or through the MU Learning Center.

Have you developed your people/interpersonal skills?

Anything you do with a biology degree today will require that you work effectively with other people, often in other disciplines. Obviously that is true in sales or teaching or medicine. It is also true for a research scientist. Lab bench or field research today is a very collaborative, team-oriented and often multidisciplinary, and increasingly interdisciplinary process. Develop your teamwork skills in study groups that focus on collaborative problem solving. Develop your leadership skills in student organizations, group projects and volunteer activities.

Can you think critically and creatively, reason analytically and solve problems?

All employers today are looking particularly for people with the ability to use multiple tools to solve problems—critical thinkers, who are deeply rooted in their discipline but who can also work outside their disciplinary box. They highly prize analytical, adaptive, pragmatic problem-solving individuals who are not afraid to take intellectual risks.

Are you flexible/Can you adapt?

Rapid changes in science mean that most career paths in science are neither straight nor predictable. You should expect to change your area of focus several times in your career. Whole new fields of science will appear in your lifetime. To survive, you must be able to adapt quickly to rapid changes in your field. To be really successful you will have to be able to take advantage of these changes.

Are you willing to stretch yourself, and in the process take risks?

If you are interested in research, look for off-campus internships. Take advantage of the opportunity to study abroad, for a summer, a semester or a whole year. When scholarships are available, apply for them.

Have you developed a good work ethic?

Everyone is interested in this!

Biological Sciences | 105 Tucker Hall | Columbia, MO 65211-7400 | phone: 573-882-6659 | email: blairjo@missouri.edu

© 2000 Curators of the University of Missouri | equal opportunity/ADA institution | last modified: 07-Aug-2008