Science & Research Cluster
Do you enjoy problem solving, and have a curiosity about the natural world?
Scientific research forms the foundation for advances in all major industries. There are numerous opportunities and settings for research in the sciences - such as laboratory, computational, field, and observational. Effective analytical skills, attention to detail, and independence are all important attributes for this career cluster.
- Biochemist
- Astrophysicist
- Botanist
- Molecular Geneticist
- Professor / Principal investigator
- Geologist
- Pharmacologist
- Science Writer
- Epidemiologist
- Synthetic Organic Chemist
- Astrobiologist
- Environmental Scientist
- Field Biologist
- Physicist
The following are just a few courses that you might consider while exploring this career cluster. Please note that course numbers and titles are subject to change. Consult with your faculty advisor and the Course Catalog for current course information.
- Chemistry: CHE 121, 122, 205, 323
- Physics: PHY 121, 161, 162, 263, 265
- Biology: BIO 109, 141, 142, 205, 211
- Geology: GEO 111, 212, 214
- Environmental Studies: ENV 101, 201, 202
General information about off-campus study, travel abroad, passport applications, and affiliated and non-affiliated study abroad programs are available from the Office of International and Off-Campus Studies. Students may participate in multiple off-campus study opportunities during their career at Cornell. In order to be eligible to participate in any off-campus study at Cornell, students must:
- have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 (unless a higher grade point average is specified)
- be in good disciplinary standing with the College
- be in good financial standing with the College
- National Academy of Sciences
- American Institute of Biological Sciences
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- American Physical Society (APS)
- Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO)
- Council for the Advancement of Science Writing
- American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG)
- Biotechnology Innovation Organization
- American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- American Geophysical Union (AGU)
- Association of Zoos and Aquariums
- American Academy of Forensic Science
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
- American Astronomical Society
- American Society of Plant Biologists
- National Science Foundation
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Recent internship sites:
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Iowa Raptor Project Intern, Iowa Raptor Project Solon, IA
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Neuroimmunology/Brain Tumor Lab Researcher, U of CO - Anschutz Aurora, CO
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OSA Research Assistant, Office of the State Archaeologist, Iowa City, IA
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Research Intern, Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO
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Research Intern, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA
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Science Project Research Intern, Para La Tierra, Pilar, Paraguay
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Undergraduate Research Assistant, Children’s Hospital of Colorado, Colorado Springs, CO
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Undergraduate Research Assistant, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
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Watershed Research Intern, One World Resource, Larkspur, CO
Job search resources:
- Job research tools
- Idealist.com
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics (search for your field of interest on the main site)
Ingenuity in Action Experiences and Funding:
- Berry Career Institute (BCI) Experiential Learning
- Additional Off-Campus Studies scholarships
Use the “See Alumni” button on the Cornell College page on LinkedIn to view alumni by major, geographic location, industry, etc.
Alumni Careers
- Chemical Analyst, SGS, Switzerland
- Research Assistant, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
- Project Coordinator, Exact Sciences, Madison, WI
- Laboratory Biologist, IIT Research Institute, Chicago, IL
- Graduate Research Assistant, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
- Molecular Biology Lab Assistant, Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, IA
- Research Assistant, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
- Sr. Scientific Client Specialist, Promega Corporation, Madison, WI
- Forensic Scientist, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Forensic Science Services, MN
- Elementary STEAM Teacher, White River School District, Buckley, WA
- Oceanography Teaching Assistant, Nova Souteaster University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Special Assistant for Research, Illinois Department on Aging, Springfield, IL
- High School Science Teacher, Sauk Prairie School District, Prairie du Sac, WI
- Research Associate, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
- Laboratory Instructor, Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, IA
- Lab Aide, Illumina, San Diego, CA
Should I earn a postgraduate degree?
This depends on your career goals.
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Master’s programs are designed to expand and deepen the knowledge and skills you acquired as an undergrad and allow you to specialize. Master’s programs most often last two years and can cover disciplines such as chemistry, clinical psychology, geology, molecular biology, physics, or neuroscience. In some cases, completing a master’s program may also make you more competitive for a Ph.D. program.
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Doctoral (Ph.D.) programs are generally designed for people interested in conducting scientific research. This degree can provide options for careers in research in government or the private sector, as well as academia – whether it be focused more on research, or on teaching in higher education. These programs typically last 5-7 years and cover a wide range of scientific disciplines such as physics, chemistry, biology, geology, neuroscience, and psychology.