CMB Academic Resources

Explore Cell and Molecular Biology academic resources designed to support your academic goals!

Curriculum Guide

CMB Department

CLAS Advising Center

What Can I Do With This Major?

CMB Career Resources

Unlock career potential in Cell and Molecular Biology! Discover resources to maximize your professional trajectory.

Career Assessment - PathwayU

Jobs via Handshake

CMB Career Opportunities

Career Communities

Sample CMB Internship Sites

Internships provide an environment for you to gain hands-on, supervised experience. You'll apply the concepts you are learning in the classroom to a work environment while boosting your resume! Past internship sites include:

• MSU Department of Translational Neuroscience
• Corewell Health Genetic Services
• Ranir
• Charles River
• Zoetis
• Neogen
• Karmons Cancer Institute
• Illinois State Police Forensics
• National Institute of Health
• National Science Foundation (REU)
• Lilly
• State of Michigan Departments:
  • MDHHS (Michigan Department of Health and Human Services)
  • MDARD (Michigan Department of Agricultural and Rural Development)
  • Forensic Science Division (Michigan State Police),
• Federal government (CDC, FDA, USDA, EPA)
• Local health department (Kent County Health Department)

More Info on Internships

Join A Student Organization

Get involved with a student organization related to your major. Student orgs are a great way to get connected and explore career options!

• Biology Club
• Cell and Molecular Biology Club
• Chemistry Club
• Forensic Science Club
• Genetic Counseling Organization
• Microbiology Club
• Pre-Med Club

Student Organizations

Relevant Courses and Certificates for Building Skills

Developing relevant skills that employers seek is an essential component of a student's education. GVSU students should consider elective courses and certificates that pair with their major to gain additional skills.

• Advanced Craft Brewing Undergraduate Badge
• Bioinformatics and Genomics Certificates
• Grant Writing
• Homebrewing Beer Undergraduate Badge
• Research
• Responsible Conduct of Research Training
• Public speaking
• Medical Terminology

Great Electives to Consider

Community Service Opportunities

Seek volunteer opportunities related to the field you're exploring as a way of testing out future careers.

The Civic Engagement Center keeps a list of current volunteer opportunities updated on their website. There are ongoing opportunities on a continuous basis, as well as on-campus and off-campus opportunities posted as they become available.

Civic Engagement Center

CMB Study Abroad

Through study abroad you’ll also set yourself apart from other job-seekers and graduate-school applicants in an increasingly competitive market.

The best time for CMB students to go abroad tends to be early in their college careers, when gen eds and more basic science classes are still available.  Internships, especially during summers, could also be a great way to boost your science resume in preparation for a career or graduate school.

CMB Study Abroad

Explore Internships Abroad

Undergraduate Scholar Engagement

Pursuing academic, creative, and research experiences and projects outside the classroom is an excellent way to learn new skills and build a body of work in your field.

The Center for Undergraduate Scholar Engagement (CUSE) provides opportunities for undergraduate research and scholarship.

Additionally, these opportunities are specific to CMB:

• CMB Research
• CMB Symposium

Center for Undergraduate Scholar Engagement (CUSE)

Where Alumni Have Landed

Professional Positions

• Research Development Laboratory Technician – Ranir
• Research Associate – Van Andel Institute
• Clinical Research Assistant – START Midwest at The Cancer and Hematology Centers of West Michigan
• Learning Facilitator – Consumers Energy
• Quality Control – Zoetis
• Account Manager – Novogue Corporation
• Assistant Chemistry Lab Technician – Heat Transfer International
• Quality Assurance Supervisor – Boars Head
• Scientist – Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories
• General Manager and Director of Brewing Operations – Perrin Brewing
• Production Business Analyst – Agropur
• Quality Assurance Specialist – Starbucks
• Data Analyst – Genomenon
• Scientific Writer - Inotiv
• Clinical Trials Coordinator - Foundation for Vision Research
• Medical Science Liaison - Trinity Health
• Forensic Biologist - Front Range DNA Consulting LLC
• Research Assistant - Thomas Jefferson University
• Forensic Scientist - DNA Unit, Michigan State Police
• Food Safety Inspector - Michigan Department of Agricultural and Rural Development
• Research Quality Coordinator - Cancer & Hematology Center

CMB Symposium

Pizza Tuesdays

CMB Celebration

PSM Internship Presentations

Qualified undergraduates may be admitted to an accelerated bachelor's/master's program at GVSU and obtain both a BS and an MS in Cell and Molecular Biology within an accelerated time frame. Earn a combined bachelor’s and master’s degree for less money and time.

The Master of Science in Cell and Molecular Biology is designed to produce outstanding graduates, and is the study of the biochemical, biophysical, and genetic processes in cells. The Cell and Molecular Biology M.S. P.S.M. program is part of Grand Rapids’ only Professional Science Master's Degree program, and prepares students in the important and dynamic fields of Cell and Molecular Biology, Biotechnology and Biomedical research.

Where Alumni Have Landed - Graduate and Professional Programs:

• Graduate Programs in Research: PhD, MS, Professional Science Masters
• Graduate Programs in Clinical Health: Physician Assistant, Physical Therapy, Nursing
• Professional schools: Medical (MD/DO or MD/PhD), Optometry (OD), Dental (DDS), Veterinary (DVM)