Biology

Student Research

From the Chair

Department of Biology students have the opportunity of doing either an internship or an independent research project. These opportunities provide students with firsthand views of research in the real world. Such experiences provide students with the opportunity to mesh the theory of science with the practical application of biological processes to real-world problems.

Read More


Independent Research/Internships

Students may participate in either independent research or an internship to enhance their academic experience and build their resumes at Hofstra.

For independent research, we have the following courses: BIO 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, and 95. BIO 93-95 are designated honors level courses that can be used to fulfill Honors College credits. Students normally take two semesters of research (maximum total of 6 semester hours), thus register for two courses (i.e., BIO 90 and 91; or BIO 93 and 94).

The department also has two internship courses (BIO 185, 186). Once again, students are allowed to receive up to 6 semester hours of credit for internships. If a student wishes to do an internship, our faculty will help them to identify internship opportunities. Alternatively, if a student has identified a potential internship opportunity, they can present it to their faculty advisor, the Chair of Biology, Dr. Maureen Krause (Email or 516-463-6178), or the Director of the Urban Ecology program, Lisa Filippi (Email or 516-463-5831). Of prime importance to the department is whether the internship will develop valuable skills and experiences that will contribute to the student's long-term goals.

Examples of places where students recently interned include:

  • Atlantis Aquarium
  • Bronx Zoo
  • CHSL Fish Hatchery
  • Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
  • Museum of Natural History
  • New York Aquarium
  • Sands Point Preserve
  • Town of Hempstead Department of Conservation and Waterways
  • Volunteers for Wildlife

The Hofstra Center for Career Design and Development is another resource for finding internships. Call 516-463-6060 for more information or email the Center for Career Design and Development's HCLAS liaison, careerdesign@hofstra.edu.

Summer Biology Research Opportunities at Hofstra

All full-time Hofstra faculty and several adjunct faculty in the Department of Biology offer opportunities for summer research and may mentor undergraduate students. For details, consult our Faculty link.

Opportunities for Undergraduate and Graduate Students

The Department of Biology offers several competitive summer fellowships to undergraduate and graduate students wishing to pursue independent research. These fellowships provide a stipend of $4,500 to students for an intensive 10-week summer research program. These fellowships may be used in conjunction with coursework (i.e., Bio 90, 91, 93, 94, or 190) to extend research activities. Email the Department of Biology for more details. Please download the appropriate form from the links below.

The deadline for Undergraduate and Graduate Summer Fellowship applications for summer 2020 is April 6, 2020.

Opportunities for High School Students

There are ample opportunities in the Department of Biology for high school students to engage in research projects during the summer. All interested high school students should refer to the Hofstra University Summer Science Research Program (HUSSRP) for further details, including how to apply to this program. 

Some additional sites to explore:

  • National Science Foundation's (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates home page and the list of biology sites for the summer.
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research and Training, which links to several educational programs sponsored by NIH.
  • Department of Energy (DOE) Student Programs and Internships. You might be thinking "DOE and biology?" but just remember that DOE was the federal agency in charge of the human genome project, and they run all of the national laboratories, including Brookhaven National Lab here on Long Island.
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers internships as well.