I got to have my gut microbiome sequenced for the Human Microbiome seminar taught by Professor Jay Mellies. Everyone in the class was able to compare our results, which was fascinating (and a little scary).
What You’ll Study in the Bachelor’s Degree in Biology
Formulate and test hypotheses, hone your analytical skills, and interpret complex biological data as a biology major at Reed College. Our curriculum seamlessly integrates the educational experiences of students with faculty projects, allowing you to be involved in research at several levels, including your own independent projects, and culminating in an original, research-intensive thesis.
Roadmap to the BA in Biology at Reed
Develop the skills you need to become an excellent scientist or pursue various biology-related careers through your work in our biology department. Learn directly from our professors—not teaching assistants—from day one, and gain firsthand experience in our laboratories, the herbarium, or the beautiful Reed canyon.
Year One
Discover the Biology Program
Start your academic journey at Reed with Humanities 110. Engage with diverse perspectives from the past and present in this interdisciplinary Reed course that also strengthens your critical thinking and writing skills.
Take Biology 101 and 102 as your first major courses to study fundamental biological principles. Several faculty members teach each class, and we invite you to get to know them during their office hours.
Be sure to attend our biology seminars in which we invite scientists to present their research and inspire you. Our biology faculty also present on topics such as summer internship opportunities and postgraduate pathways.
Year Two
Prepare for Research
Learn to think like a scientist through the Intro to Scientific Literature and Discourse course. Take other upper-division biology classes, including Leaves and Landscapes and Animal Behavior.
In these advanced courses, your professors teach using a conference style in which you and a small group of students discuss current biology topics by examining primary literature. Each upper-division class also includes a six-week research project that you and your classmates design, execute, analyze, and present.
It’s not too early to plan for summer internships or research opportunities. Collaborate with a faculty member on their work or start your own project. The biology department and Reed College offer grants and fellowships to help fund your summer experiences.
Year Three
More Learning Opportunities
If you conducted research over the summer, join our Summer Research Poster Session to share your findings. You may even find yourself presenting it at an academic conference.
Consider taking a Biology 431 seminar class to study recent research in a particular biological field, from Computational Cancer Biology to Novel Ecosystems. If you want extra research experience, petition to do independent study as one of your courses.
And, of course, prepare to take the junior qualifying examination. This open-book exam contains quantitative and essay questions that test your scientific knowledge and readiness for your senior year.
Year Four
Prepare and Present Your Research
In your last year at Reed, prepare for your senior thesis. Work closely with a faculty mentor to design your project, in which you generate data, develop a model, or create a comprehensive analysis of a particular problem. Once finished, showcase your expertise by defending your thesis in an oral examination.
Want to continue your thesis research after graduation? Apply for a post-bac biology fellowship so you can further develop your project.
Why Study Biology at Reed College?
Expert Faculty Who Work with You
The support for biological teaching and research at Reed is exceptional. Our exemplary faculty are leaders in their fields and have won grants from organizations like the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. Professors work directly with students on their projects: of the 50 peer-reviewed publications by Reed’s biology faculty members over the past decade, 60 percent include student coauthors.
Well-Equipped Research Facilities
Our teaching and research facilities are first-rate, allowing biology majors to use state-of-the-art materials and methods in both laboratory coursework and original (often independent) research. Our labs contain contemporary image analysis instrumentation, such as fluorescence and confocal microscopes, molecular imaging and analyses, and instruments for biochemical assays. And did we mention you can get licensed to volunteer in our nuclear research reactor?
Alternate Program Option
Want to combine your study of biology with your professional interests? Consider petitioning to join the biology alternate program, which allows you to integrate courses in public health, urban planning, environmental law, and more.
Pre-Health Pathway
Reed offers excellent preparation for medical school as we provide rigorous coursework, research, and volunteer work that ready you for a career as a good physician. If you are interested in applying to medical school, connect with our pre-health advisers so they can help you enroll in the Reed classes that will meet admission requirements.
Learn More About Our Medical School Pathway
My Favorite Courses
Avery Van Duzer ’18
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Morgan Vague ’18
Biology
In Microbiology, Immunology, and the Human Microbiome, Professor Jay Mellies is so enthusiastic and approachable about his subject. His classes literally changed my life and set me on my research path.
Careers for Biology BA Graduates
Many Reed biology students go on to graduate and professional programs. They advance to successful careers in human and veterinary medicine, education, biotechnology, public health, law, and advocacy. Current alumni work as:
- Associate scientist, Wildtype
- Biologist fish technician, Wyoming Game and Fish Department
- Cofounder, Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods
- Health attaché, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- Microbiologist, Pacific Diagnostics Laboratories
- Senior director of business development, Pliant Therapeutics
- Outreach coordinator, The Wilderness Society
- Representative, U.S. Congress
Achievements of Biology Alumni
With our hands-on research opportunities and emphasis on clear writing, our biology students and graduates have received the following prestigious awards and scholarhips:
- Meredith Theus ’21, Fulbright U.S. Student Program
- Eliotte Garling ’18, Fulbright U.S. Student Program
- Michael Weiss ’16, Class of ’21 Award
- Wilson Horner ’15, John Van Zytveld Award in the Life Sciences
- Katie Halloran ’15, Sperling Scholarship
- Susan Alberts ’83, National Academy of Sciences
- Pamela Ronald ’82, National Academy of Sciences
Connect with Our Faculty (Yes, Really!)
Biology thrives on collaboration and mentorship. Discover our biology department’s exceptional faculty, their groundbreaking projects, and the remarkable expertise they bring to Reed. We invite you to email them so you can gain insights into their research and perhaps join their labs as a biology student.
