Career Opportunities

The following information is provided to help undergraduates prepare for a career in biology. For convenience, biology has been divided into three general areas: (I) Environmental Biology and Public Health; (II) Biochemistry, Physiology and Morphology, (III) Plant Sciences. Included for each are examples of employment opportunities and lists of appropriate electives.

List of departmental advisors and their fields of specialization are included. Students are urged to discuss their career interests with appropriate members of the faculty. The faculty are eager to offer guidance which may be helpful to the student.

The B.S. Curriculum in Biological Sciences is outlined in the University Catalog. Training in Computer Science
is recommended.

Opportunities exist for outstanding students to do independent library or laboratory research under the direction of an appropriate faculty member. There are also internships available in some areas of biology which provide a student with practical experience, as well as college credit. As much undergraduate laboratory experiences as possible is encouraged.

• Environmental Biology

• Biochemistry, Physiology and Morphology

• Plant Sciences

• Career Counseling Advisors

Environmental Biology

Training in this area prepares students for careers which deal with environmental matters and with public health problems which have an environmental basis.

Examples of jobs and types of employers:

• Federal Government
  • Inspector-Food and Drug Administration
  • Administrator-Environmental Protection Agency
  • Naturalist-National Park Service
  • Administrator-Environmental Protection Agency
  • Administrator or Technician-Public Health Service \
  • Consultant-Corps of Engineers
  • Curator, Associate, or Assistant-Natural History Museum
• State of Louisiana
  • Biologist-Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
  • Biologist-Department of Natural Resources
  • Biologist-Department of Health and Human Resources
  • Biologist-Department of Environmental Quality
  • Inspector-Department of Agriculture
• Private Industry
  • Environmental Consultant-Chemical Companies
  • Industrial Hygienist-Oil Companies
  • Quality Controller-Beer Breweries
  • Toxicologist or Entomologist-Insecticide Companies
• Colleges and Universities
  • Technician in field research (B.S. or M.S.)
  • Teaching and/or research (Ph.D. usually required, some teaching positions with M.S.)
• Other
  • Keeper-Curator at Zoological Park
  • Interpreter-Naturalist at Nature Centers

Suggested Electives:

BIOS 2744 Microbiology and Human Disease BIOS 2813 Economic Botany BIOS 2904 Introduction to Marine Zoology BIOS 2954 Comparative Anatomy BIOS 3453 Genetics BIOS 3653 General Ecology BIOS 3854 General Botany BIOS 3944 Vertebrate Zoology BIOS 4003 Biometry BIOS 4224 Techniques of Electron Microscopy BIOS 4513 Population Genetics And Evolution BIOS 4523 Evolutionary Biology

BIOS 4624 Limnology and Oceanography BIOS 4634 Marine Science BIOS 4644 Animal Behavior BIOS 4713 Advanced Microbiology BIOS 4724 Marine Microbiology BIOS 4814 Marine Botany BIOS 4844 Plant Taxonomy BIOS 4914 Biology of Fishes BIOS 4924 Herpetology BIOS 4944 Invertebrate Zoology BIOS 4954 Biology of Higher Vertebrates

Appropriate electives in other departments or colleges:

GEOL 1001 General Geology, Physical GEOL 1003 General Laboratory, Physical GEOL 1002 General Geology, Historical GEOL 1004 General Laboratory, Historical GEOL 1005 General Geology, Environmental GEOG 2158 Conservation GEOG 2151 Elements of Physical Geography GEOG 4833 Terrestrial Plant Ecology ECON 4253 Environmental Economics

URBA 4140 Environmental Planning ENCE 4320 Water Resource Management and Preservation ENCE 4323 Design of Water & Wastewater Treatment Systems ENGL 2152 Technical Writing ANTH 4721 Cultural Resource Management and Preservation Archaeology

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Biochemistry, Physiology & Morphology

Careers in this area include those that involve laboratory research in government, industry, university and medical schools. Laboratory experience is essential for those considering a career in this area. This category is subdivided below into three specialties: (A) Cellular and Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Physiology, (B) Gross and Microscopic Anatomy and Morphology, (C) Organismic Physiology

Examples of jobs and types of employers:

• Federal and State Government
  • Technician or administrator in various government laboratories such as:
    • The Department of Agriculture
    • Public Health Service
    • Department of Wildlife
    • Fisheries
• Private Industry
  • Research technician for industry, such as petroleum companies, insecticide companies, or in new biotechnology industries.
  • Sales or public relations representative for chemical industries.
  • Quality control technician for drug company
  • Technician in medical diagnostics laboratory
• Colleges, Universities and Medical Schools
  • Research technician (B.S. or M.S.)
  • Teacher and/or researcher (Ph.D. usually required, some teaching positions available with M.S.)
• Private Professions
  • Physician (M.D. required)
  • Dentist (D.D.S. or D.M.D. required)

SPECIALTY A: Cellular and Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Physiology

Suggested Electives:

BIOS 3092 Independent Research BIOS 3104 Introductory Biochemistry BIOS 3284 Histology and Cytology BIOS 3354 Vertebrate Physiology BIOS 3453 Genetics BIOS 4003 Biometry BIOS 4114 Biochemistry BIOS 4123 Metabolic Pathways

BIOS 4153 Molecular Biology BIOS 4334 Cell Physiology BIOS 4343 Endocrinology BIOS 4354 Comparative Animal Physiology BIOS 4363 Mammalian Physiology BIOS 4373 Biology of Aging BIOS 4384 Plant Physiology BIOS 4713 Advanced Microbiology

SPECIALTY B: Gross and Microscopic Morphology

Suggested Electives:

BIOS 2954 Comparative Anatomy
BIOS 3092 Independent Research
BIOS 3284 Histology and Cytology
BIOS 4224 Tech. of Electron Microscopy
BIOS 4334 Cell Physiology
BIOS 4413/ 4421 Developmental Biology
BIOS 4713 Advanced Microbiology

SPECIALTY C: Organismic Physiology

Suggested Electives:

BIOS 2954 Comparative Anatomy
BIOS 3092 Independent Research
BIOS 3284 Histology and Cytology
BIOS 4003 Biometry
BIOS 4363 Mammalian Physiology
BIOS 4224 Tech. of Electron Microscopy
BIOS 4343 Endocrinology
BIOS 4354 Comparative Animal Physiology
BIOS 4413/ 4421 Developmental Biology
BIOS 4944 Invertebrate Zoology

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Plant Sciences

Careers in plant sciences generally involve either basic academic research, or agriculturally related applied research. The most frequent employers of plant scientists are industries providing plant related products, industries involved with the genetic engineering of agricultural plants, and the research-oriented United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Examples of jobs and types of employers:

• Federal and State Government
  • Research technician-U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
  • Administrator or technician-Environmental Protection Agency
  • Biologist-Army Corps of Engineers
  • Biologist-Federal and State Department of Forestry
• Private Industry
  • Research technician for agriculture-related industries, (e.g., agricultural chemical company, food product development company, genetic engineering company).
• Colleges and Universities
  • Technician in a faculty directed research program (B.S., M.S.)
  • Teaching and/or Research (Ph.D. usually required, some teaching positions with M.S.)

Suggested Electives:

BIOS 3854 General Botany
BIOS 4384 Plant Physiology
BIOS 4844 Plant Taxonomy Plant Anatomy or Morphology (not offered at UNO)
BIOS 4114 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory

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Departmental Advisors

Students interested in any of the programs listed below should contact the designated advisor for more detailed information. Some of these programs are two-year, non-degree programs which interphase with programs at various professional schools in the state, while other require completion of a B.S. Degree.

• General Undergraduate Advisor: Dr. Jerry Howard
• Senior Checkouts: Dr. Mary Clancy
• Premedical/Predental Advisor: Dr. Lura Williamson
• Preveterinary Advisor: Dr. Dorothy Scholl
• Prepharmacy Advisor - See the Chemistry Department website

Advising for Allied Health is conducted by the College of Sciences Counselors

• Prenursing Advisor - College of Science Counselors

Call Allied Health Advising the following fields at (504) 568-4246.
Their website: http://alliedhealth.lsuhsc.edu/Departments

• Clinical Laboratory Sciences
• Occupational Therapy and Cardio-Pulmonary Science
• Dental Hygiene
• Rehabilitation Counseling

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