Potential undergraduate biology students take note: You don't have to go to medical school.
The final part of the annual Biology Career Services series took place last night to educate students about various job opportunities involving biology after graduation, which do not always require a medical degree.
Funded by a grant to the UA by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the event featured a panel of five different UA alumni who earned undergraduate degrees in the field of science and later took unique career paths.
Olivia Marbutt, an associate at the Atlanta office of Jones Day, said careers are not always predictable, but studying science helped her make a decision to take a job in patent litigation.
"The path isn't straight and you don't really need to know now what you want to do 30 years from now," Marbutt said.
Andrew Edmonds, an infectious disease analyst who studied HIV and AIDS in Zambia, was a panelist who said the best advice he can give to students is to gain experience.
"Don't be afraid to go out there and investigate," Edmonds said to the audience of about 15 students. "There are so many different options."
Following the discussion was an open question forum and an informal dinner, which gave students the opportunity to network with the panelists.
Carol Bender, the program director, said she hoped the event would help students make informed career decisions while giving them an opportunity to meet individuals who can help them reach their career goals.
"Students are not always aware of the panoply of options available to them when they complete their education," Bender said. "Part of our responsibility as educators is to ensure that students know how they can use the education they receive at the university."
Bender said the main focus of the event was to show students what career paths are available.
"The Biology Career Series we have offered this year is designed to promote student awareness of different careers and to provide networking opportunities for students," Bender said. "This is the fifth of five Biology Career Events that we have hosted this academic year to acquaint students with careers one can enter with one or more degrees in the biological sciences."