The Biological Sciences major is offered in both the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Arts & Sciences. The major is administered by The Office of Undergraduate Biology.
Finding Summer Positions
Check out these web sites to search for internships, co-ops, and research experiences
Search for opportunities in all areas of biology!
- OUB’s Summer Research Opportunities database. You can sort by city or state if you are hoping to stay closer to home.
- NSF-funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Biological Sciences. Find paid research opportunities funded by the National Science Foundation in all areas of biology!
- Search for opportunities by field using Pathways to Science. Includes a huge diversity of opportunities!!
- RIT’s List of Summer Experiences in the Life Sciences This site clearly indicates whether opportunities are paid or not. Site it not yet updated for 2021, but many of the links are accurate for this year.
Internships in Industry, Government, and Non-Profits
- Sign up for Cornell Handshake for access to postings in these areas.
- The ISPE (International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering) maintains a list of companies and agencies that have internship programs. They’re not limited to pharmacy or engineering, so search with an open-mind! Once you follow the link to a specific company, you might have to search around a bit – “internship” or “intern” are great keywords when searching company job databases.
- Look up individual companies you’ve heard of and find out if they have internships. Just Google it! For example, companies like Sangamo Therapeutics have internships that can be hard to find unless you go directly to their web site.
- Chegg Internships compiles internships in a huge variety of fields. Use this sitemap to search by location or internship subject.
Opportunities in ecology, evolution, conservation, and organismal biology
- EcologyPlus: Posts internships and fellowships for undergraduates in ecology. Positions span conservation, resource management, research opportunities (field & lab), science policy & communication, and more!
- Ecological Society of America’s SEEDS Partnerships for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) Fellowship
- RIT’s curated list of Co-ops, Internships, Volunteer Opportunities, and Research Opportunities in Ecology, Animal & Plant Biology, and Marine Science. Site it not yet updated for 2021, but many of the links are accurate for this year.
- Association of Zoos and Aquariums Internships (filter Job Type by Internships)
- Undergraduate Positions in Ecological Physiology on Ecophys Jobs
- Keep an eye on the ECOLOG listserv for emails about summer opportunities, jobs, and more!
- Atkinson Center summer internships, sponsored by David and Pat Atkinson, give Cornell undergraduate and graduate students hands-on experience at the intersection of science and policy. These internships expose student scholars and budding scientists and social scientists to the inner workings of leading environmental advocacy groups, such as Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). The interns work on cutting-edge sustainability issues in vibrant workplaces to gain subject matter expertise and workplace skills.
Extensive lists of opportunities related to health careers
(includes veterinary medicine, human medicine, public health, dental, and other specialties)
- Tufts’ google doc of pre-health summer opportunities
- Swarthmore’s list of opportunities
Opportunities related to veterinary careers
- Hamilton College’s list of pre-veterinary internships by state
- RIT’s list of pre-veterinary opportunities Site it not yet updated for 2021, but many of the links are accurate for this year.
- Association of Zoos and Aquariums Internships (filter Job Type by Internships)
Opportunities related to pre-health careers and/or biomedical research
- NIH’s STEP-UP Program – work with research mentors around the US, even in your hometown!
- If you are a freshman/sophomore and pre-health you should consider the FREE (full tuition, housing, and meals) program SHPEP (Summer Health Professions Education Program), apply now! Those who apply early have a better chance of admission.
- Opportunities at Weill Cornell! Weill is eager to receive applications from CU students:
- MD-PhD focus: http://weill.cornell.edu/mdphd/summerprogram/
- MD focus: http://weill.cornell.edu/education/programs/tra_sum_res.html
- PhD focus: http://gradschool.weill.cornell.edu/student-experience/diversity-and-inclusion/summer-undergraduate-research
- The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has a summer internship in biomedical research
- NAAHP Internship Database
- AAMC's page on getting medical experience (see Aspiring Docs Fact Sheets)
- AAMC’s Summer Undergraduate Research Programs list
- AAMC’s MD-PhD-focused Summer Undergraduate Research Programs
- Health Career Connection
- If research is your focus (including MD/PhD), consider Leadership Alliance (stipend, travel, and housing expenses covered).
Other opportunities
- Cornell in Washington. Example internships include the National Wildlife Federation and National Institutes of Health
- Summer internships at Cornell and beyond
- OADI’s Scholarship & Internship Database
- Sign up for Cornell Handshake for access to postings from employers looking specifically for Cornell students
- Alumni Connections Program provides job shadowing and informational interview opportunities. Ask an alum if they know of any summer opportunities.
- CU-eLinks: University-wide online networking platform where community members can connect with the people and resources they need to achieve their academic, career, and personal goals.
- Cornell Botanical Gardens Internship Program offers internships in botanical collections, natural areas research, the wildflower garden, and education.
- Cornell's Shoals Marine Laboratory offers unique opportunities for students to experience marine science through summer research internships and employment (in addition to summer courses) on Appledore Island, in the Gulf of Maine. College freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors in all majors may apply.
- Experience Cornell contains opportunities for students on campus and abroad.