Any career in biology will provide robust experiences, and many college students have caught onto this. Careers in biology, and biology internship opportunities, are in high demand.
JUMP TO BIOLOGY INTERNSHIPS
The more internship experience you can add to your resume, the more appealing you will be to employers looking for their next biologist. Consider keeping your summers open as a college student as a placeholder of sorts for future biology internships that may become available.
Find out what type of career in biology you really want. Biology is a diverse field; one area of study can be practiced in many settings. For instance, environmental scientists are needed across the United States, opening a vast number of location possibilities.
You could be a biology intern studying glaciers in Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park, understanding the life of trees at Redwood National Park, and even tracking the environmental impact of desert tortoises at Zion National Park!
Understand what type of work environment works for you. Expanding your biology internship experiences into other businesses or places only diversifies your resume. Don’t just limit yourself to outdoor internship experiences. A huge internship benefit is having the ability to learn where you work best.
Get real-world experience beyond textbooks or a lecture hall. Your time as a biology intern grants you chances to practice what you have been taught or are learning in the classroom. You may realize you would rather pass on fieldwork and spend your future biology career working for a big company.
You will not know what suits you best until you place yourself as an intern in a variety of places. If a biology internship sounds interesting, submit your application!
Available to: College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Years 1-5
The SCA Biological Technician Internship-Kofa National Wildlife Refuge is available to students majoring in wildlife or resource management, biology, or related field. You must have interest or experience in GPS navigation, orienteering compass skills, and camping to be considered for this internship. As an intern, you will assist with wildlife management and monitoring projects on Kofa NWR, assist with activities or projects on Imperial and Cibola NWRs, and help with the Visitor Services program. Specific tasks will include checking the status of water sources, running trail cameras in remote wilderness locations, and processing photos to collect data relevant to managing the refuge for the benefit of desert bighorn sheep and other native wildlife. Duties will also include updating refuge species databases and assisting with monitoring, maintenance and feeding of the endangered Sonoran pronghorn within and outside of a semi-captive breeding pen. This internship is located in Yuma, AZ, at the SW Arizona Refuge Complex. Living, travel, and housing allowances will be given to selected applicants.
Available to: College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Years 1-5
The SCA Gopher Tortoise Biological Monitoring Internship is available to students majoring in biology, forestry, resource management, or related field. You must have interest or experience in plant identification, trail maintenance, GPS navigation, and utilizing hand tools to be considered for this internship. As an intern, your responsibilities will include assisting the NRM utilizing approved survey methodology, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and Geographic Information Software (GIS) with field surveys, and collection of spatial and temporal distribution data of Threatened and Endangered Species to include: gopher tortoises, reticulated flatwoods salamander, and other commensal species. Other duties will include assisting with management of vegetation in approximately 800-acres of pitcher-plant, longleaf pine, and other threatened and endangered species habitats, maintenance and establishment of approximately 6-miles of firebreaks, and approximately two miles of recreational trail maintenance. This internship is located in Milton, FL, at the Naval Air Station Whiting Field. Living, relocation/commuter, and housing allowances will be given to selected applicants.
Available to: College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Years 1-5
The New Logic Marine Science Camp Internship is available to students interested in marine sciences and conservation. You must demonstrate strong communication and organizational skills to be considered for this internship. Preference will be given to applicants who have previous scientific field, research, or teaching experience. As an intern, you will learn fish identification skills, perform field sampling, collect data, and will gain valuable, hands-on knowledge about biology, chemistry, engineering, geology, and conservation. Internships are offered in Delaware, Florida, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, and New Jersey.
Available to: College Seniors through Graduate Students, Years 1-5
The Curi Bio Research Associate Internship is available to senior-level undergraduate students and recent graduates who are interested in the biotech industry. You must have proficiency in Microsoft Office, be detail-oriented, and have experience handling and maintaining hazardous waste and materials to be considered for this internship. As an intern, you will be exposed to work ranging from lab setup to biochemical assays, and the possibility of tissue culture techniques. This internship is located in Seattle, WA.
Available to: High School Freshmen through College Graduate Students, Years 1-5
The Seaside Sustainability Marine Science and Education Internship is available to high school, college, and graduate students interested in environmental conservation, public education, and community engagement. You must be able to perform literature reviews and extensive research into a wide range of topics, be familiar with citing sources, and be able to organize and write about advanced scientific information for the general public to be considered for this internship. Preference will be given to applicants who have experience with STEM research, creation of educational materials for children, are familiar with ArcGIS, and who have coursework or employment related to environmental science. As an intern, you will focus on ecological restoration, community engagement, and research that ultimately protects our waterways and coastal environments. You may create educational materials for the public, perform research for lake restoration work, and assist with plans for mitigating marine debris. This internship is offered remotely.
Available to: College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Years 1-5
The Bioventus Engineering, Research, and Development Internship is available to students majoring in Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field. You must be proficient in Microsoft Office, have familiarity with scientific software and statistical applications, and possess excellent communication skills to be considered for this internship. Preference will be given to applicants with wet lab and industrial work experience. As an intern, you will work within the quality system with a focus on design control and risk assessment tasks for FDA regulated medical devices and materials. You will also support the product commercialization process, assist in fabrication of biomaterials and medical devices, perform literature reviews, and contribute to lab cleanliness and organization. This internship is located in Valencia, CA.
Available to: College Juniors through Seniors
The Mayo Clinic Physiology and Biomedical Engineering Internship is available to junior and senior-level undergraduate students studying life science. You must be authorized to work in the U.S. to be eligible for this internship. As an intern, you will gain valuable field experience by observing the functions and processes of your assigned work unit, receive mentorship, and contribute input for the benefit of the unit. This internship is located in Rochester, MN.
Available to: College Graduate Students, Years 1-5
The CVS Student Pharmacy Internship is available to pharmaceutical students. As an intern, you will support pharmacists with pharmacy operations including the practice of pharmacy, customer service, inventory management, and asset protection. Internships are offered in various locations around the U.S.
Available to: College Graduate Students, Years 1-5
The Mars Wrigley Undergraduate Research and Development Internship is available to rising senior undergraduate students. You must be passionate about pets and/or confectionary products, research, innovation, and the consumer products industry to be considered for this internship. As an intern, you will gain an excellent depth of experience with various real world Mars projects and have exciting professional and social engagement activities throughout the experience that provide opportunities to network with your Intern peers all the way up to senior leaders. Interns will focus on one of the following areas: Product Development, Packaging Development, Process Development, Quality and Food Safety, Product and Package Transportation Support, or Sensory. This 10-12 week internship program is offered in Hackettstown, NJ, and Chicago, IL.
Available to: College Juniors through Seniors
The Mars Wrigley Undergraduate Research and Development Internship is available to rising senior undergraduate students. You must be passionate about pets and/or confectionary products, research, innovation, and the consumer products industry to be considered for this internship. As an intern, you will gain an excellent depth of experience with various real world Mars projects and have exciting professional and social engagement activities throughout the experience that provide opportunities to network with your Intern peers all the way up to senior leaders. Interns will focus on one of the following areas: Product Development, Packaging Development, Process Development, Quality and Food Safety, Product and Package Transportation Support, or Sensory. This 10-12 week internship program is offered in Hackettstown, NJ, and Chicago, IL.
Available to: College Juniors through Graduate Students, Years 1-5
The Simon-Kucher Summer Associate Consultant Internship in Life Sciences is available to undergraduate and graduate students with an intended graduation date in 2024. You must be familiar with Microsoft Office, have a strong interest in working in the life sciences industry, and possess excellent communication, quantitative, and teamwork skills to be considered for this internship. As an intern, you will work closely with a team on projects while learning industry-related knowledge. You will also build business acumen through company-sponsored training, mentoring, and other growth opportunities. Simon-Kucher assists MedTech, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, digital health, diagnostic, animal health, healthcare providers, and consumer healthcare companies identify the true value of their offerings and put the right commercial and sales processes in place to realize that value in the market. This internship is located in New York, NY, Boston, MA, Chicago, IL, and San Francisco, CA and runs for 10 weeks.
Available to: College Freshmen through Seniors
The FDA Summer Internship is available to undergraduate students pursuing a degree in a life health or medical sciences-related field. You must be a U.S. citizen to be eligible for this internship. Preference will be given to applicants who have competency in basic microbial assays, experience with microbiology methods (PCR, primer design, electrophoresis), are familiar with food and or/foodborne pathogens, and are proficient in Microsoft Excel. As an intern, you will receive training in CFSAN and Division of Microbiology (DM) biosafety procedures for handling pathogenic bacterial cultures and in DM laboratory methods, including generation and analysis of DNA sequence data from foodborne pathogens using MinION and Illumina next generation sequencing technologies. This internship is located in College Park, MD, at the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN).
Available to: College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Years 1-3
The MLSC College Internship Challenge Program is available to undergraduate students and graduate students enrolled in a master's degree program who are interested in a career in the life sciences. You must be a Massachusetts resident, attend an accredited college or university located in Massachusetts, or attend an Historically Black College or University (HBCU) to be eligible for this award. As an intern, you will gain hands-on, real-world experience and direct exposure to the Massachusetts life sciences ecosystem. You will also build a professional network in the life sciences industry and gain relevant work experience needed to enter the workforce.
Available to: High School Freshmen through Seniors
The MLSC High School Internship Challenge Program is available to high school students who are interested in a career in the life sciences. You must be at least 16 years of age to be eligible for this internship. Additionally, you must attend a vocational high school, attend a public high school in a designated "gateway" city, attend a public high school that has a "low-income" classification status, or be enrolled in the METCO program. As an intern, you will receive rigorous pre-internship biotechnology/biomedical and professional skills development.
The Benefits of a Biology Internship
Because biology careers are highly sought after, students need to have a plan in place that will help them secure that dream STEM job. Your plan should include having at least one biology internship experience under your belt before college graduation.Career Paths for Biology Majors
Because biology encompasses vast areas of study, there are many career paths for students majoring in biology. Connect with your academic advisor to develop a study plan that matches the biology field you would like to work in. In addition to a bachelor's degree, many biology careers require an advanced degree. Be sure to apply for biology scholarships throughout high school, as an undergrad, and as a grad student. Below is a small sample of biology career paths for students majoring in biology:Microbiologist
Microbiologics.com highlights 14 career paths for microbiology students—many of these involve work within a laboratory. Upcoming microbiologists can work in food science and technology labs, researching vaccines as immunologists, studying fungus antibiotics as mycologists, developing new drugs as pharmaceutical scientist and so much more!Environmental Scientist
Scientists with an environmental focus may choose to work as climate change or environmental analysts, environmental chemists, environmental restoration and rehabilitation specialists, industrial ecologists, and environmental health and safety specialists. RaiseMe.com mentions there are numerous career pathways at the federal, state and local government levels.Marine Biologist
Most of Earth is covered in water—more than 70%, according to Florida Tech University. This gives future marine biologists a lot of career paths to dive into! Marine biology students can expect a wide range of career paths such as mammologist, zoologist, aquarium manager, fish and wildlife biologist, marine conservationist and ichthyologist, just to name a few.Biochemist
Students studying biochemistry generally conduct research at pharmacy or biotech companies, but if this is not the career path you would like to take, U.S. News & World Report states that a biochemist’s career path could be agricultural scientist, biochemical engineer, biomedical engineer, petroleum engineer, pharmacologist, veterinarian and more.Zoologist
Considering there are millions of animal species in the world, a zoology student also has many career path choices. Careers for zoologists may include animal science museum curator, park manager, zoo caretaker, wildlife biologist, veterinarian, animal trainer, and more. If you are set on taking care of a specific animal species, expect to continue your education as a specific animal specialist. Naming only a few, these specialized zoologist titles could include herpetologists, entomologists, ornithologists, and cetologists, according to RaiseMe.Types of Internships for Biology Majors
To match the scope of biology, you will find there are different kinds of internship programs for biology college students. These can be grouped into three categories below:Laboratory Work
Lab internships involve helping and assisting with laboratory operations. Expect to examine and experiment with the supervision of a laboratory manager.Fieldwork
Fieldwork internships take place in the field, within the elements or area of what you are studying. Expect to be outside collecting specimens and data. Internships that involve fieldwork are literally hands-on experiences.Academic
Academic-focused internships involve the review and application of research. Academic interns are often led by tenured faculty within a college or university biology department. Some academic internships can be used for college credit as part of an educational program2022 Biology Internships
Student Conservation Association Biological Technician Internship-Kofa National Wildlife Refuge
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Years 1-5
The SCA Biological Technician Internship-Kofa National Wildlife Refuge is available to students majoring in wildlife or resource management, biology, or related field. You must have interest or experience in GPS navigation, orienteering compass skills, and camping to be considered for this internship. As an intern, you will assist with wildlife management and monitoring projects on Kofa NWR, assist with activities or projects on Imperial and Cibola NWRs, and help with the Visitor Services program. Specific tasks will include checking the status of water sources, running trail cameras in remote wilderness locations, and processing photos to collect data relevant to managing the refuge for the benefit of desert bighorn sheep and other native wildlife. Duties will also include updating refuge species databases and assisting with monitoring, maintenance and feeding of the endangered Sonoran pronghorn within and outside of a semi-captive breeding pen. This internship is located in Yuma, AZ, at the SW Arizona Refuge Complex. Living, travel, and housing allowances will be given to selected applicants.
Student Conservation Association Gopher Tortoise Biological Monitoring Internship
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Years 1-5
The SCA Gopher Tortoise Biological Monitoring Internship is available to students majoring in biology, forestry, resource management, or related field. You must have interest or experience in plant identification, trail maintenance, GPS navigation, and utilizing hand tools to be considered for this internship. As an intern, your responsibilities will include assisting the NRM utilizing approved survey methodology, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and Geographic Information Software (GIS) with field surveys, and collection of spatial and temporal distribution data of Threatened and Endangered Species to include: gopher tortoises, reticulated flatwoods salamander, and other commensal species. Other duties will include assisting with management of vegetation in approximately 800-acres of pitcher-plant, longleaf pine, and other threatened and endangered species habitats, maintenance and establishment of approximately 6-miles of firebreaks, and approximately two miles of recreational trail maintenance. This internship is located in Milton, FL, at the Naval Air Station Whiting Field. Living, relocation/commuter, and housing allowances will be given to selected applicants.
New Logic Marine Science Camp Internship
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Years 1-5
The New Logic Marine Science Camp Internship is available to students interested in marine sciences and conservation. You must demonstrate strong communication and organizational skills to be considered for this internship. Preference will be given to applicants who have previous scientific field, research, or teaching experience. As an intern, you will learn fish identification skills, perform field sampling, collect data, and will gain valuable, hands-on knowledge about biology, chemistry, engineering, geology, and conservation. Internships are offered in Delaware, Florida, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, and New Jersey.
Curi Bio Research Associate Internship
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: College Seniors through Graduate Students, Years 1-5
The Curi Bio Research Associate Internship is available to senior-level undergraduate students and recent graduates who are interested in the biotech industry. You must have proficiency in Microsoft Office, be detail-oriented, and have experience handling and maintaining hazardous waste and materials to be considered for this internship. As an intern, you will be exposed to work ranging from lab setup to biochemical assays, and the possibility of tissue culture techniques. This internship is located in Seattle, WA.
Seaside Sustainability Marine Science and Education Internship-Remote
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: High School Freshmen through College Graduate Students, Years 1-5
The Seaside Sustainability Marine Science and Education Internship is available to high school, college, and graduate students interested in environmental conservation, public education, and community engagement. You must be able to perform literature reviews and extensive research into a wide range of topics, be familiar with citing sources, and be able to organize and write about advanced scientific information for the general public to be considered for this internship. Preference will be given to applicants who have experience with STEM research, creation of educational materials for children, are familiar with ArcGIS, and who have coursework or employment related to environmental science. As an intern, you will focus on ecological restoration, community engagement, and research that ultimately protects our waterways and coastal environments. You may create educational materials for the public, perform research for lake restoration work, and assist with plans for mitigating marine debris. This internship is offered remotely.
Bioventus Engineering, Research, and Development Internship
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Years 1-5
The Bioventus Engineering, Research, and Development Internship is available to students majoring in Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field. You must be proficient in Microsoft Office, have familiarity with scientific software and statistical applications, and possess excellent communication skills to be considered for this internship. Preference will be given to applicants with wet lab and industrial work experience. As an intern, you will work within the quality system with a focus on design control and risk assessment tasks for FDA regulated medical devices and materials. You will also support the product commercialization process, assist in fabrication of biomaterials and medical devices, perform literature reviews, and contribute to lab cleanliness and organization. This internship is located in Valencia, CA.
Mayo Clinic Physiology and Biomedical Engineering Internship
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: College Juniors through Seniors
The Mayo Clinic Physiology and Biomedical Engineering Internship is available to junior and senior-level undergraduate students studying life science. You must be authorized to work in the U.S. to be eligible for this internship. As an intern, you will gain valuable field experience by observing the functions and processes of your assigned work unit, receive mentorship, and contribute input for the benefit of the unit. This internship is located in Rochester, MN.
CVS Student Pharmacy Internship
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: College Graduate Students, Years 1-5
The CVS Student Pharmacy Internship is available to pharmaceutical students. As an intern, you will support pharmacists with pharmacy operations including the practice of pharmacy, customer service, inventory management, and asset protection. Internships are offered in various locations around the U.S.
Mars Wrigley Undergraduate Research and Development Internship
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: College Graduate Students, Years 1-5
The Mars Wrigley Undergraduate Research and Development Internship is available to rising senior undergraduate students. You must be passionate about pets and/or confectionary products, research, innovation, and the consumer products industry to be considered for this internship. As an intern, you will gain an excellent depth of experience with various real world Mars projects and have exciting professional and social engagement activities throughout the experience that provide opportunities to network with your Intern peers all the way up to senior leaders. Interns will focus on one of the following areas: Product Development, Packaging Development, Process Development, Quality and Food Safety, Product and Package Transportation Support, or Sensory. This 10-12 week internship program is offered in Hackettstown, NJ, and Chicago, IL.
Mars Wrigley Undergraduate Research and Development Internship
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: College Juniors through Seniors
The Mars Wrigley Undergraduate Research and Development Internship is available to rising senior undergraduate students. You must be passionate about pets and/or confectionary products, research, innovation, and the consumer products industry to be considered for this internship. As an intern, you will gain an excellent depth of experience with various real world Mars projects and have exciting professional and social engagement activities throughout the experience that provide opportunities to network with your Intern peers all the way up to senior leaders. Interns will focus on one of the following areas: Product Development, Packaging Development, Process Development, Quality and Food Safety, Product and Package Transportation Support, or Sensory. This 10-12 week internship program is offered in Hackettstown, NJ, and Chicago, IL.
Simon-Kucher Summer Associate Consultant Internship in Life Sciences
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: College Juniors through Graduate Students, Years 1-5
The Simon-Kucher Summer Associate Consultant Internship in Life Sciences is available to undergraduate and graduate students with an intended graduation date in 2024. You must be familiar with Microsoft Office, have a strong interest in working in the life sciences industry, and possess excellent communication, quantitative, and teamwork skills to be considered for this internship. As an intern, you will work closely with a team on projects while learning industry-related knowledge. You will also build business acumen through company-sponsored training, mentoring, and other growth opportunities. Simon-Kucher assists MedTech, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, digital health, diagnostic, animal health, healthcare providers, and consumer healthcare companies identify the true value of their offerings and put the right commercial and sales processes in place to realize that value in the market. This internship is located in New York, NY, Boston, MA, Chicago, IL, and San Francisco, CA and runs for 10 weeks.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Summer Internship
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: College Freshmen through Seniors
The FDA Summer Internship is available to undergraduate students pursuing a degree in a life health or medical sciences-related field. You must be a U.S. citizen to be eligible for this internship. Preference will be given to applicants who have competency in basic microbial assays, experience with microbiology methods (PCR, primer design, electrophoresis), are familiar with food and or/foodborne pathogens, and are proficient in Microsoft Excel. As an intern, you will receive training in CFSAN and Division of Microbiology (DM) biosafety procedures for handling pathogenic bacterial cultures and in DM laboratory methods, including generation and analysis of DNA sequence data from foodborne pathogens using MinION and Illumina next generation sequencing technologies. This internship is located in College Park, MD, at the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN).
Massachusetts Life Sciences Center College Internship Challenge Program
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Years 1-3
The MLSC College Internship Challenge Program is available to undergraduate students and graduate students enrolled in a master's degree program who are interested in a career in the life sciences. You must be a Massachusetts resident, attend an accredited college or university located in Massachusetts, or attend an Historically Black College or University (HBCU) to be eligible for this award. As an intern, you will gain hands-on, real-world experience and direct exposure to the Massachusetts life sciences ecosystem. You will also build a professional network in the life sciences industry and gain relevant work experience needed to enter the workforce.
Massachusetts Life Sciences Center High School Internship Challenge Program
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: High School Freshmen through Seniors
The MLSC High School Internship Challenge Program is available to high school students who are interested in a career in the life sciences. You must be at least 16 years of age to be eligible for this internship. Additionally, you must attend a vocational high school, attend a public high school in a designated "gateway" city, attend a public high school that has a "low-income" classification status, or be enrolled in the METCO program. As an intern, you will receive rigorous pre-internship biotechnology/biomedical and professional skills development.
You Might Also Like
Shawna Newman
Managing Editor, Contributing Writer
Shawna Newman is the Managing Editor and a writer at Fastweb. She has over 10 years of experience in higher education. Her direct work with college admissions teams, financial aid officers, college deans, ...
