FURMAN BIOLOGY
OVERVIEW PEOPLE COURSES WHO TO SEE SPECIAL PROGRAMS RESOURCES FACILITIES NEWS
Who To See About...
Becoming a Furman Biology Major
If you have a biology professor as your academic advisor, he or she is the person who helps you sign the proper forms. If your advisor is in another department, you must ask a biology professor to become your advisor before you can start the major declaration process.
Beta Beta Beta (Biology Honorary Society)
Dr. Haney is the faculty advisor of this active and enjoyable student organization. To learn more about this national biological honor society, go to its WEB PAGE.
Study Abroad
As we move to a semester system, our Study Abroad programs are changing to match the new calendar. A two-course package (Marine Biology and Mayan Archeology) will be offered in the May Experience of 2009. Check with the Department as we solidify plans for other courses to such locations as Ecuador and South Africa.
Graduate Schools
All biology faculty members can advise on graduate programs, but the following two are especially prepared to discuss specific topics, including The Graduate Record Examination: Drs. Turgeon and Liao. Also, see this online resource: Becoming a Biologist: The Role of Graduate Education.
Careers
Dr. Banisaukas (Chemistry Department) is the health fields advisor, helping students to prepare for all careers relating to human health and veterinary medicine. If you have any interest in these, regardless of your major, you should visit him as soon as possible. Dr. Banisaukas is also faculty advisor for AED, the undergraduate health fields student organization. The Health Careers Guide isn online and can be viewed by clicking HERE.
Dr. Turgeon helps students planning to go into pre-college teaching.
All members of the biology faculty can advise you on the many other career areas available to graduates of our biology program. Specific faculty members who keep information on careers include: Drs. Liao and Turgeon. In addition, Dr. Snyder maintains an online guide to biological and medical careers, The Biology Careers Page.
Internships and Independent Research
If you are planning to take one of these courses (BIO 502 or 503), you should identify possible topics that interest you. Then, look at the research and teaching interests of our faculty (see Faculty Profiles) and visit the professors whose interests match yours.
Note: you must decide on a topic and have it approved by your faculty advisor and the Department Chair before you begin the term in which you will be taking the course.
Susan Ybarra is the Health Careers Experience Coordinator, handling internship opportunities in these fields.
The Paul Lewis Fisher Book Award and The Townes Fund
These are described under Student Programs, Special Funds, and Awards, elsewhere in this website. The deadline for application to both awards is typically in April. Watch the biology hallway bulletin board for specific dates and application procedures.
Part-time Student Employment in the Biology Department
Talk to either Ms. Sherry Craze in the Biology office or Ms. Gracie Farrow (one of our lab coordinators), whose office is in TNS 171-K
Summer Research Opportunities
Go through the same thought process described above for "Internships and Independent Research." Talk to the professors whose interests match yours, asking them whether they plan to be on campus next summer and whether they could advise you on a project. Click HERE to see detailed descriptions of each professor's research interests. Also, check this website maintained by Dr. Hestermann: Finding Summer Research Opportunities: it lists many off-campus summer research opportunities. You can also speak personally with Dr. Hestermann, who is our coordinator of summer student research.