Why Study Biology at K?
As a biology major, you have the chance to observe, assess and analyze the marvels of existence and use that knowledge to improve the world around you.
K offers a Major in Biology and a Concentration in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
The department takes an empirical approach to biology so that you can develop a strong foundation in the field and the critical thinking required to answer probing questions, interpret scientific literature, conduct experiments and make original observations of biological phenomena.
The lifelong learning our biology alumni developed during their time at K has enabled them to pursue meaningful careers in public health, conservation, academia and other sectors.
Through courses, research, personalized advising, and departmental experiences, you will gain a keen awareness of the natural world and the confidence and skills to further the field of biology. Specifically, by the time you graduate the department hopes that you will:
- Feel curious about the natural world and empathetic toward our shared environment;
- Know what has been discovered about the natural world, the process by which such knowledge is gained, and how to evaluate competing claims;
- Identify as new members of an interdependent community whose goal is to address socially relevant problems and questions; and
- Continually apply/practice newfound knowledge and skills via career exploration, problem-solving, research, communication, and teamwork.
What can you do with a biology degree?
Below are some of the careers, employers, and graduate schools of our biology alumni.
Job Titles
- Physician
- Research Assistant
- Sustainability Analyst
- Geologist
- Teacher
Employers
- Bronson Hospital
- National Wildlife Federation
- Pfizer
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
- Charles River Laboratories
Graduate Schools
- University of Chicago
- University of Michigan
- Michigan State University
- University of Rochester
- Johns Hopkins University
Program Spotlights
Learn in the Great Outdoors
As a Kalamazoo College biology student, you will be able to learn about ecology and environmental science on location at the College’s Lillian Anderson Arboretum, 140 acres of marsh, meadow, pine plantation and second-growth deciduous forest. The arboretum serves as an outdoor classroom where you will be able to collect samples for labs and learn about environmental stewardship first-hand. Many students have chosen to complete their Senior Integrated Project in the arboretum; past students have researched pollination patterns, invasive plant species, and bee populations.
Take your Studies Across the Globe
At K, study abroad is central to your education and K-Plan, and biology students are heavily encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. While you can choose from any of the College’s 50+ study abroad programs and transfer any relevant biology classes, three programs offer unique experiences for biology students: learn about ecology and evolution exactly as Darwin did in the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador, apply your community and global health knowledge in San José, Costa Rica, or study and observe sustainable ecological development in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Showcase your knowledge with your Senior Integrated Project (SIP)
Whether you completed your Senior Integrated Project (SIP) within the Biology Department or not, we are proud of our seniors and want to showcase all you have learned. In that spirit, the annual Diebold Symposium is a three-day event for seniors to present their SIPs in front of their classmates, professors and families and revel in all they have accomplished. The symposium is headlined by a prominent biologist who is invited to campus to present their most recent research in a keynote address.
Meet the Current Departmental Student Advisors
Alyson Kemery
Alyson Kemery (she/her)
Major: Biology
Minor/Concentration: Psychology and Neuroscience
Best Adjective to Describe You: Ambitious
What is the best thing about being part of this department?
The variety of personalities and interests that exist within the department is what makes it so special. The expansive nature of the topic of biology makes it so that students with completely different prospective career paths can share the same classes. With the open-mindedness of students and professors, the department also has a great deal of opportunity!
What drew you to the department?
The vibrant student community, the supportive group of professors, and the engaging course topics all drew me to the department. I was also drawn to the unique laboratory opportunities, such as tree coring in the Arboretum, studying the mechanisms behind neurodegenerative diseases, and creating escape rooms based on physiology.
How have you taken advantage of the flexible curriculum or experienced breadth in your education?
Due to the open curriculum, I have ended up taking more classes outside of my department than within it! I have taken many courses that complement my learnings in my biology courses, but also some that are completely unrelated. I never would have anticipated taking so many physics, computer science, or German classes during my time in college but they have led me to awesome new experiences and they all greatly contributed to broadening my perspectives about life!
What is your favorite thing about K?
My favorite thing about K is the intimate campus environment. It’s small enough that I’ve been able to build genuine relationships with my professors and classmates. K fosters a supportive atmosphere, and that sense of connection has made my college experience very special.
What is your Senior Integrated Project (SIP)?
The Analysis of Viscosity, Adhesion, and Solubility Properties of Clinically-Relevant Artificial Test Soils for Sterilization Testing in Stryker Instrument’s Analytical Sciences Laboratory.
What are your career aspirations/next steps after K?
I hope to continue my education in either a masters or doctoral degree program! I aspire to contribute to the neuroscience field in some capacity, whether through research, clinical practice, or industry!
Zoee Perez
Zoee Perez
Major: Biology and Psychology
Best Adjective to Describe You: Outgoing
What is the best thing about being part of this department?
The staff are always very helpful and available when needed. They are all so passionate about what they teach, and you can tell when they are teaching. Not only that but they are very tight knit with each other, and it makes a wonderful atmosphere to be around.
What drew you to the department?
What drew me to the department is the fact that I have not only loved learning about what makes Humans humans, but also learning about animals and plants as well. Just overall learning about how different organism’s function.
How have you taken advantage of the flexible curriculum or experienced breadth in your education?
I have taken full advantage of the flexible curriculum. I have taken classes in most areas such as History, Theatre, English, Spanish, Chemistry, Psychology and Biology and honestly it made me figure out what I truly wanted to do and what I love to learn about.
What is your favorite thing about K?
The community, I have met so many different people that I can’t live without now.
What is your Senior Integrated Project (SIP)?
How culture affects risk-taking tendencies.
What are your career aspirations/next steps after K?
Graduate school for clinical psychology or working a field related job.
Mia Pierce
Mia Pierce (she/her)
Major: Biology
Study Abroad: Aberdeen, Scotland
Best Adjective to Describe You: Practical
What is the best thing about being part of this department?
The biology department covers so many different subject areas, there’s always something more to learn!
What drew you to the department?
I’ve always loved being in the lab, so I was really excited about majoring in a field where I get to do what I love!
How have you taken advantage of the flexible curriculum or experienced breadth in your education?
Even though my major is in biology, I’ve taken a lot of chemistry and math classes. Less traditionally, I’ve also taken classes in history, political science, and German.
What is your favorite thing about K?
I love the smaller class sizes. I think it really allows you to not only get to know your professors, but your peers as well.
What is your Senior Integrated Project (SIP)?
My SIP focuses on the use of digital and quantitative PCR to measure DNA damage and corresponding changes in gene expression in animal kidney tissue. I’m looking at the total number of mitochondria while simultaneously quantifying the proportion of mitochondria with heteroplasmy, which results from mitochondrial DNA damage associated with aging and kidney disease progression.
What are your career aspirations/next steps after K?
Hopefully I will enter a master’s program to become a Pathologist Assistant!
Brigid Roth
Brigid Roth (she/her)
Major: Biology
Minor/Concentration: Psychology, Neuroscience
Study Abroad: London, UK
Best Adjective to Describe You: Curious
What is the best thing about being part of this department?
The K Biology Department thrives on the tenacity of its professors, the curiosity of its students, and the combined drive of both entities. That environment encourages experimentation, mistakes, and most importantly, growth. The best part of K Biology is the community of diverse thinkers and the respect and kindness they show each other as well as the entities they study.
What drew you to the department?
I’ve always been interested in how life works, in every sense of the word. From how chemicals in the brain translate into the tiniest twitch of a finger to how people make decisions that will reverberate throughout the rest of their lives. Part being in a biology department at a liberal arts college is not only the acceptance of differing points of view, but the expectation of them. That holistic approach is my primary attraction to the department, as well as K College itself.
How have you taken advantage of the flexible curriculum or experienced breadth in your education?
I’ve completed courses in Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies, Psychology, Anthropology & Sociology, Philosophy, Chemistry, and Professional Development. I also studied abroad and completed courses in Theatre, Environmental Studies, and English. I’ve been extremely privileged to be able to explore so many of my interests without ever feeling like I wouldn’t complete my degree in 4 years.
What is your favorite thing about K?
The people. The K community is what makes everything worth while and I find inspiration and awe from the people within it on a daily basis.
What is your Senior Integrated Project (SIP)?
I will be completing a research internship at UTHealth in Houston, TX under Dr. Laura Goetzl, studying targeted biomarkers for early predictors of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) response as well as fetal brain alterations as a result of maternal stress.
What are your career aspirations/next steps after K?
I’m hoping to go on to graduate school, either for a masters or a PhD in Psychology. Whether I end up as a counselor or a researcher remains to be seen, but I’m excited to find out!
Hailey Yoder
Hailey Yoder (she/her/hers)
Major: Biology and Spanish
Study Abroad: Quito, Ecuador
Best Adjective to Describe You: Outgoing
What is the best thing about being part of this department?
I am able to learn from wonderful professors, with peers of all different concentrations. In any one class, there can be people interested in research of sorts, ecology, medicine or a different variation of these options. It allows me to see many different perspectives within the same classes, and has allowed me to have a more well-rounded education.
What drew you to the department?
I have always had a passion for biology, and have loved every class I took in the department. I love to learn more about how the world around us functions, weather that be in the largest ecosystems down to our cells!
How have you taken advantage of the flexible curriculum or experienced breadth in your education?
I gained a strong interest in Spanish after studying abroad and have loved incorporating Spanish classes into my schedule. I also took a few econ and stats classes that helped me gain a deeper understanding for some of the math and statistical analysis that I will come into contact within my field of biology. It was cool to learn about that from outside fields and perspectives! Finally, I have really enjoyed taking photography classes and even have continued to take pictures outside of my classes because it gave me a newfound interest in the field!
What is your favorite thing about K?
I love the community that K gives to its students by being such a small college filled with so many unique groups and people.
What is your Senior Integrated Project (SIP)?
I am investigating the connection between coral reef restoration and what overall changes of the ecosystem leads to. I am looking specifically into fishes within an ecosystem pre and post restoration. My goal is to identify if there is a positive difference in ecosystems after this restoration.
What are your career aspirations/next steps after K?
I would like to go onto grad school and work towards my PhD in ecology or biology, then I hope to be a professor in a smaller school like K to do research and teach students.