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Research Opportunities

Research is a cornerstone of the scientific process—one that teaches you how to consider evidence while revealing how new discoveries are made. As a public research institution, UNO gives you countless opportunities to get involved in research while working toward a bachelor’s degree in biology. Many of our undergrads present their research at conferences, and they are recognized as co-authors in prominent publications along with their faculty advisors.

Research for Course Credit

When you sign up for BIOS 3092, you’ll earn credit toward a B.S. degree in biology by conducting research under the guidance of a professor. Some professors even pay students to work in their labs on ongoing projects.

Louisiana Biomedical Research Network

Every summer, UNO undergraduate and graduate students gather for a 10-week, research-based program with other students from across Louisiana.

Campus Programs

The Privateer Undergraduate Research and Scholarly UNO Experience (PURSUE) and the College of Sciences Undergraduate Research Program (COSURP) are two on-campus organizations that work to help more undergraduate students participate in research—and also provide funding for lab supplies and student wages.

What You’ll Learn

Biology is a wide and varied field, ranging from the microscopic scale of molecular genetics all the way to large, interconnected ecosystems. But no matter where you choose to focus your studies, a Bachelor of Science in biology from UNO will give you a deeper understanding of the scientific process, the intricacies of research, and the thrill of discovery.

In UNO’s Bachelor of Biological Science program, you will:

• Explore core concepts for biological literacy: evolution, biological structure-function relationships, information flow, pathways and transformations of energy and matter, the connections and interactions of living systems, and more.
• Learn how to communicate scientific information and research findings to a broad audience.
• Examine what goes into the scientific research process and how to critically evaluate scientific literature.
• Interpret and accurately communicate data and analyses, and draw biological inferences from raw data.
• Generate biological data using scientific techniques and instrumentation, as well as laboratory and field techniques.
• Collaborate as part of a laboratory or research group.
• Use quantitative reasoning, modeling, and statistics to describe living systems.

By the time you complete a B.S. degree in biology, you’ll be ready to participate in scientific inquiry and research in medical school, graduate or professional school, a full-time career, or anywhere life takes you next.

From UNO to the Scientific Frontier

Jacob Frick has been researching cyanobacteria with mentor Dr. Wendy Schluchter, chair of the UNO Department of Biological Sciences. Thanks to UNO’s support of undergraduate research, Jacob is proud to pursue a career in scientific exploration.

Opportunities across Louisiana

There is no shortage of ways to make research and hands-on learning part of your B.S. in biology right on our New Orleans campus. But you’ll also have the opportunity to study biology across the state of Louisiana, and all along its coast.

Audubon Nature Institute

Together, UNO and the Audubon Nature Institute are addressing some of the most pressing research topics in wildlife conservation and management. Four of our faculty members work with UNO undergraduate fellows in Audubon Nature Institute facilities, tackling projects related to wildlife sustainability in threatened ecosystems and zoo populations.

Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON)

UNO students and faculty can take advantage of LUMCON’s coastal laboratory facilities to study some of the most productive estuaries in the United States, including vast salt, brackish, and freshwater marshes, barrier islands, and offshore environments of the northern Gulf of Mexico.

UNO Pontchartrain Institute for Environmental Sciences

The UNO faculty members who belong to the Institute work to develop practical solutions to environmental challenges in the Pontchartrain Basin, the Gulf of Mexico, and similar costal ecosystems. From water quality and biodiversity to coastal restoration strategies, the Institute is working hard to protect the unique environment of our region.

W.M. Keck Conservation and Molecular Genetics Laboratory

Located in the UNO Department of Biological Sciences, this shared facility gives students and outside researchers access to instruments for research, education, and technical services in the field of molecular science.

What Can You Do with a B.S. in Biology?

Biology is a diverse and exciting field, with plenty of career paths open for you after graduation. A bachelor’s degree in biology might lead to a career in…

Courses Offered

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Biology Student Organizations

As you work toward a B.S. in biology, you can take part in any of these four well-respected student organizations. Get to know your fellow students, make meaningful connections, explore your future field—and enjoy yourself while doing it!

Beta Beta Beta

TriBeta is the honor and professional society for students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biology. Here, you’ll deepen your interest in biology and your appreciation for research—and work toward having a positive impact on the world. TriBeta is also a service organization, participating in many activities around UNO and in the community.

Alpha Epsilon Delta

AED is a preprofessional honor society for students with an interest in the health sciences. You’ll have the chance to hear from leading speakers in the health professions, meet other students who share your professional goals, and participate in service activities that benefit the entire university community. AED is open to students who have completed three or more semesters of premed work, with an overall GPA of no less than 3.20.

Pre-Dental Society

Students working toward a career in dentistry can participate in the Pre-Dental Society to network with other students, attend meetings and seminars, and learn more about various scholarship opportunities.

Pre-Veterinary Society

As part of the Pre-Vet Society, you can attend two to three meetings per semester featuring guest speakers, gain insight into veterinary school admissions, learn about rewarding careers in veterinary medicine, and more.

91ֱ�� Biology Alumni

Our alumni have taken their B.S. in biological sciences and gone on to succeed in careers all over the country—and right here in New Orleans. To give you an idea of what’s possible, here are just a few standout alumni.

• Terence Flotte, M.D. B.S. in Biological Sciences ’82 Celia and Isaac Haidak Professor, Dean of School of Medicine, Provost and Executive Deputy Chancellor University of Massachusetts Medical School
• Dr. Eduardo Gallo, Ph.D. B.S. in Biological Sciences ’04 Assistant Professor of Neuroscience Fordham University
• Fred Rodriguez, M.D., MASCP B.S. in Biological Sciences ’72 Emma Moss Professor of Pathology LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine