Research and Internships
As a biology student at Elmhurst, you’ll benefit from a high degree of individual attention from world-class scholars, combined with exciting opportunities not usually found at an intimate liberal arts institution.
Research Projects
Students at Elmhurst gain valuable experience in the field with hands-on research opportunities that are seldom available to undergraduates at larger institutions. Interested students choose a research project and work under the guidance of a faculty mentor.
Recent Examples
- Research with Dr. Arriola on the impact of drought stress on the reproductive potential of plants and the factors that make weeds such effective competitors
- Research with Dr. Bennett on the evolution of the unique inheritance system of mussels
- Research with Dr. Guenther on the ontogeny and biomechanics of the postcranial skeleton of hadrosaur dinosaurs
- Research with Dr. Hebert on the role of inflammation in neurological diseases
- Research with Dr. Marsh on the metabolic capabilities of thermophilic bacteria and Archaea from Yellowstone National Park
- Research with Dr. Mellgren on the virulence mechanisms of the plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae
- Research with Dr. Mikenas on plant and insect diversity of green roofs
- Research with Dr. Mineo on the evolution of phenotypic plasticity in ectotherms by examining seasonal adjustments in metabolism
- Research with Dr. Raimondi on the molecular mechanisms of tumor progression
Elmhurst students also are involved in summer laboratory research programs at nearby institutions such as Loyola University Medical School.
In addition, first-year and transfer students interested in STEM fields are invited to join Elmhurst’s KEYSTONE (KEYs to Success Through Year ONE) Program.
Internships and Mentoring
Elmhurst offers plenty of opportunities to gather real-world knowledge of your chosen field through career-oriented internships and mentoring opportunities.
Recent Examples
- As a pre-med student, you might spend two weeks shadowing a highly regarded surgeon in San Francisco, himself an Elmhurst alumnus.
- You might spend a week at the National Center for Ethics in New York, learning about and discussing issues related to the health-care field and ethics.
- Many other students work with local laboratory researchers, health-care professionals, fish and wildlife professionals, and even zookeepers to learn and experience the satisfaction of their target careers.
You might shadow a research biologist, work part time at a veterinary clinic, or meet periodically with a surgeon over the course of a semester. These and other opportunities help you get the feel of what the future might hold.