Student Opportunities

Get Involved

Engage in scientific research, internships, community service and study abroad programs.
Collaborate with faculty and students in and out of the classroom to learn through a mix off laboratory and field experiences.
Acquire highly marketable skills in laboratory and field techniques, data analysis, team building, analytical problems solving, and scientific communication.

Career Possibilities

Biologists learn specific skills like DNA sequencing or field sampling techniques, but also acquire less tangible, but very marketable skills like written and oral communication of complex ideas, analytical thinking and problem solving. This qualifies biology students for many career possibilities, such as:

Career Pathways

Health care: Physician, veterinarian, dentist, optometrist, medical laboratory scientist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, medical assistant, pharmacist, clinical laboratory technician
Education and Outreach: K-12 science teacher, university professor, naturalist guide, nature interpreter, science writer
Technician: Industrial scientist, epidemiologist, bioengineer, microbiologist, environmental or agricultural scientist
Natural resources: Wildlife biologist, conservation biologist, horticulturist, forester, soil scientist, wetland biologist, park ranger, fisheries biologist, curator

Clubs and Organizations

BBB - National Biological Honor Society
Advisor: Jamie Lau
Student chapter of The Wildlife Society
Advisor: Karen Powers
Greenhouse and Selu Botanic Club
Advisor: Stephanie Huckestein
Pre-Med Association
Advisor: Matt Close
Pre-Dental Club
Advisor: Rhett Herman

Undergraduate Research

Transition from Student to Professional Biologist

Research allows you to follow your own interests and explore aspects of biology that can't be encapsulated in normal coursework.

What most interests you? Do you like animals, plants, fungi, protists or bacteria? Would you prefer field work or lab work? What subjects or processes fascinate you?
Find a few faculty members that have similar interests to you.
Contact those faculty and express why you are interested in research.

Student Awards

Biological research is important in preparing students to achieve higher levels of scientific scholarship and to be competitive in future academic or career goals. We offer academic awards to promote scientific excellence and achievement and provide outstanding students with the opportunity to design and conduct research independently or under the mentorship of Biology faculty or other research mentor.

These awards currently are offered on an annual basis. Selection of recipients is based on GPA, faculty recommendation, academic/research experience, long-term academic and career goals, and the ability to collaborate with a research mentor to propose or design a biological research project.

Ruth Bricker Painter Award

Support for this award comes from an endowment established by Ruth Bricker Painter, who was a 1928 graduate of Radford College and a high school science teacher. This competitive award funds a research project submitted as a proposal by an eligible student. The award includes $2,000 payable directly to the student and up to an additional $1,000 to be used for supplies needed to carry out the project or for research related travel or transportation expenses.

Requirements for consideration

Application cover (provided by the department)
Proposal: Eligible students should submit a maximum 5-page research proposal which describes the independent research project that they would be conducting as a recipient of the award. The proposal should include pertinent background research, a full description of the protocol and timeline for completing the project, and a line item budget for supplies and other expenses. The proposed project should be able to meet the requirements for BIOL 492 credit.
Two one-page letters of support from faculty, one of which must be from the faculty mentor for the project
A copy of the applicant's Curriculum vitae
Minimum GPA: 3.2

Past RBP Award Winners

2024: Hannah Farmer
Assessing the prevalence of the pathogenic fungus Chytridiomycosis from amphibians in the Southwest Amazon
2023: Luc White
Cross-dating death: Applications of dendrochronology for early detection of emerald ash borer invasion and tree mortality
2022: Trey Harris and Justine McLaughlin
Surveys and habitat preferences of newly-designated salamander species, Plethodon jacksoni, at Selu Conservancy
2021: James Utt
The effects of artificial light and sound pollution on the feeding habits of the giant salmon pink bird-eating tarantula
2020: Isabella Brothers
Are probiotics effective in treating alcohol-Induced gut microbiota depletion and immunodeficiencies?

Biology Research Award

Description

Competitive academic awards to provide outstanding students the opportunity to design and conduct research under the mentorship of a Biology faculty member or other mentor. The $1000 award will be paid directly to the student.

Requirements for consideration

Application cover (provided by the department)
A recommendation form completed by the faculty research mentor
A copy of the applicant鈥檚 Curriculum vitae
Minimum GPA: 2.5

Dean's Scholar Award

Each year, the faculty in the college nominate one of their graduating seniors to be named the Dean's Scholar for their academic program. This graduate has demonstrated success in the classroom, laboratory and other activities related to their chosen discipline.

Biology

2023: Camryn Williford
2022: Haley Howerin
2021: Drew Meyers
2020: Aubrey Marshall
2019: Conner Philson

Biomedical Science

2023: Aminata Yarmah
2022: Binuk Samarasinghe
2021: Kara Bowman

Medical Laboratory Science

2024: Jordan Lockhart
2023: Corey Whited
2022: Rabia Ikram
2021: Courtney Frost

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