Academics
> Career paths of recent alumni
> Career paths of alumni more than five years out
Brandon Beaudoin '08
Pursuing the Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM) program,
University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine
Dental schools have become much more competitive and selective over the last decade, and the Saint Michael’s biology faculty were instrumental in my acceptance to dental school. I was accepted to my top three choices. Throughout my time at Saint Michael's, my professors were always available to discuss lecture topics and provide extra help. My academic advisors helped me to select all the right courses needed to prepare me for a medical curriculum, and I took courses such as microbiology, comparative vertebrate anatomy, and human and comparative physiology. In addition to the faculty, my biology classes helped to thoroughly prepare me for the Dental Admission Test (DAT).
Outside of the classroom, I played soccer all fours years at Saint Michael's. Playing a sport and juggling a full pre-medicine course load forced me to manage my time well. The biology faculty were always supportive of my travel schedule and worked with me to alleviate the potential stress of being a student athlete. The cooperation between my professors and my coach enabled me to be named to ESPN The Magazine's Academic All-American first team.
Want to know more about Brendan's biology experience?
Contact him at: bbeaudoin@saintmikesalum.com
Jennifer Hushaw '08
Pursuing master's degree programs in:
Environmental Management and Forestry,
Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences,
Duke University
I am currently pursuing a multidisciplinary program that seeks to train students to become expert environmental problem-solvers, with an emphasis on both science and policy. My experience as an undergraduate in the Saint Michael’s College Biology department gave me an excellent foundation that not only helped me with getting into this graduate program, but prepared me well for the classes I am taking now that I’m here.
In particular, the small class sizes at Saint Michael’s allow students to get a lot from their courses, and to develop relationships with enthusiastic faculty who truly care about students’ learning. It was through unique experiences, such as the Tropical Ecology Study Tour in Costa Rica, as well as through my regular lab coursework that I gained many important laboratory and field skills that I am now putting to use in my graduate work, especially in regard to plant species identification.
Another great thing about the Biology major at Saint Michael’s is the benefit derived from having a science-focused curriculum in the context of a broader liberal arts education. The ability to develop solutions and management strategies that can help solve today’s environmental problems requires this kind of interdisciplinary approach. It is important to have knowledge and understanding of the connections between science, policy, economics, and social science issues. My exposure to these disciplines in my undergraduate years has become especially useful to me as I pursue a career in the environmental field.
I feel that I received an excellent education from the Saint Michael’s Biology department. I am proud to be a graduate of the program and would recommend it to any student interested in a career in science.
Want to know more about Jennifer's biology experience?
Contact her at: jennifer.hushaw@duke.edu
Stephanie A. Ketcham '08
Pursuing a Ph.D. program at John Hopkins University in:
Cell, Molecular, Developmental Biology and Biophysics
My experience at Saint Michael's prepared me in many ways for my Ph.D. program at John Hopkins University. First, the broad knowledge base that Saint Michael's emphasizes within biology and liberal arts has prepared me to move forward. Also, the professors' knowledge of different sub-areas within the many fields of biology, combined with their eagerness to help students, allowed me to ask questions and learn more whenever I wanted. Although I will be narrowing my focus within biology in the near future, I still take with me the broad understanding I developed. Additionally, I felt that the class and lab sizes allowed for individual attention, making it easier to obtain laboratory skills as well as a better knowledge of the material.
In the department, opportunities exist for internships and/or research projects, and the professors are more than willing to help. I participated in an internship at Green Mountain Antibodies, where I was introduced to a commercial laboratory setting. Along with this internship, I worked on a research project in the biology department in which we tried to determine the role of oligopeptide transport genes and their location in rice embryos. Both of these opportunities were very beneficial in my growth as a scientist and I would strongly recommend either an internship or research project to anyone who is interested in entering a laboratory setting.
Andrew Reid '08
Biology Teacher
Mill River Union High School, North Clarendon, VT
I am in my first year as a high school biology teacher. The courses I will be teaching include two year-long courses of two different levels of General Biology, as well as two semester-long elective courses: Marine Biology, and Human Biology.
As a young adult entering into the field of education I am certainly nervous about my first years as a teacher. However, based on my student teaching experience, one of my greatest strengths is my breadth of knowledge surrounding the sciences as well as my own confidence in this knowledge. Saint Michael's College provided me with a diverse array of courses in biology that allowed me to develop my pool of knowledge in subjects ranging from microbiology, ecology, genetics and vertebrate anatomy, to name a few. This wide availability of different courses let me choose which course I was most interested in, and also allowed me to become comfortable with the concepts of many different biological sciences. This education helped to create my "tool box," a term often used in my education classes to describe those skills, information, and practices that one can draw upon in the classroom, for teaching.
Both the Biology and Education departments at Saint Michael's College have high expectations for their students. However, the professors of these departments work just as hard as the students to provide the experiences, information and skills to ensure that students can meet these expectations. The past four years were extremely academically rigorous for me; however, it is because of the rigorous course load that I know I am prepared and have the skills to answer the questions of my students and to find the answers to those questions I do not know. I feel confident that I will be able to stand in front of a class of 25 adolescents and share with them my knowledge that I have received at Saint Michael's College with the same enthusiasm, honesty and passion that I have had the privilege to experience from my own professors.
I would recommend Saint Michael's College to any individual thinking about entering the field of biology, especially to those looking into science and education. My advisors worked hard with me to ensure my timely graduation, and flexibility exists within both departments to help accommodate for the work load of both the biology degree as well as the teaching license.
Nate Schoenly '08
Attending the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine
I feel that what I have learned from the biology program at Saint Michael's has helped me immensely to get into this dental program and to do well on the Dental Admission Test (DAT). Specifically, I felt I learned a great deal from Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy since it was my first true anatomy course that challenged me to learn the structures and evolutionary relevance of the different anatomical structures of vertebrates. The laboratory section of this course was helpful to learn generally what might be expected of me (in terms of memorization) in dental school when I take a course such as Gross Anatomy. I also found the sterile and microbiological techniques taught in Genetics and Molecular Biology to be very helpful, especially when I undertook an undergraduate summer research fellowship with funding from the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). The faculty of the Biology department helped me achieve this goal and apply for a research grant from the ASM.
I learned a great deal from my research experience at Saint Michael's, and am very fortunate that I was given the chance to pursue it. I feel the campus community and friendly biology faculty were integral to me achieving my research goals. I will present my research findings at the annual meeting of the ASM in 2008 via poster and presentations.
In addition to my pre-med track at Saint Michael's, I also enjoyed taking field courses including Population Ecology, Community Ecology, and Ichthyology. The Saint Michael's biology program enabled me to take a wide variety of different courses that led to a well-rounded scientific education, something I am truly grateful for especially when considering the broad coverage of the DAT (which includes information taught in field biology courses).
Finally, what was unique and sets Saint Michael's apart from other schools is its focus on obtaining a liberal arts education. At Saint Michael's, I was able to work toward a second major in English Literature. In addition to biology, I found I developed a love for 19th Century literature and Postmodern theory, something I feel I may have never found at a different college where I would only take biology-specific courses. Indeed, the liberal arts education I received from Saint Michael's College was very helpful to me beyond my undergraduate career. When interviewing for acceptance into the University at Buffalo, the interviewers said they were looking for "worldly and culturally literate students." I feel Saint Michael's and especially the environment of the biology department do a fine job creating culturally literate individuals and I am happy to be one of these students.
Want to know more about Nate's biology experience?
Contact him at nschoenly@saintmikesalum.com
Scott Thompson '08
Working for Saltwater, Inc. in Anchorage, Alaska
I am a groundfish observer for a company called Saltwater Inc. based in Anchorage, Alaska. Saltwater Inc. is contracted by the National Marine Fisheries Service to record yearly information on the Alaskan fisheries, which includes observers accompanying fishing vessels on their trips to record catch statistics. The observer position requires a B.S. in biology, and includes an additional 3-week training period for the taxonomic identification of fish species, National Marine Fisheries Service policy/protocols, and marine safety.
Want to know more about Scott's biology experience or his job?
Contact him at: sthompson2@saintmikesalum.com
Jeff White '08
Pursuing a Ph.D. program in aquatic ecology,
Michigan State University
I am currently a graduate student studying aquatic ecology at the Michigan State University Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. I began my graduate career as a summer research assistant at the Kellogg Biological Station in southwestern Michigan.
The Saint Michael’s College Biology Department prepared me well. The faculty is extraordinarily supportive and committed to teaching biology; the student is always the priority. The liberal arts curriculum exposes students to a broader range of subdisciplines. I found that this exposure has made my overall understanding of biology much stronger and served me well for graduate school entrance exams.
Saint Michael’s College, and the biology department in particular, offer numerous opportunities for students to get involved outside of the classroom; my advice to incoming students is to actively seek these out and take full advantage of them. For example, I spent two years working on a research project supervised by a faculty member and funded by grants through both the biology department and external sources. This undoubtedly not only improved my chances for getting into graduate school but also involved an entirely different type of learning experience that cannot be reproduced in any classroom. Such hands-on experience allows the student to truly “own” the material and think critically through real-life problems. It is through opportunities like this and others, such as the Tropical Ecology Study Tour in Costa Rica or academic internships, where the Saint Michael’s biology student can maximize his undergraduate experience.
Want to know more about Jeff's biology experience?
Contact him at: jwhite3@saintmikesalum.com
Tyler Gaudet '07
Environmental Scientist,
Tetra Tech, Inc., www.tetratech.com
The biology department at Saint Michael's allowed me to intern with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Essex Junction, VT, during the spring of my junior year. My time was spent authoring an aquatic invasive species identification guide. This not only sharpened my writing skills but also my field identification skills. The internship eventually led to summer seasonal positions with the USFWS as a fisheries technician. These positions were great opportunities for me to build my resume and prepared me for a career in biology.
During my time at Saint Michael's, I took a field ecology course that was conducted in Costa Rica with some of the Saint Michael's biology professors. There, we studied forest composition and conducted a small study on poison dart frog habitat assessment.
The biology department at Saint Michael's opened a number of doors for me and helped me to build a solid foundation of vital skills for a career in biology.
Want to know more about Tyler's biology experience?
Contact him at: tyler.gaudet@tetratech.com
Anna Michael '07
Enrolled in both the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine,
and in the University of Minnesota School of Public Health
Positions Held:
President-Elect, University of Minnesota Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association (SCAVMA); Class of 2012 Representative - Committee on Curriculum and Educational Policy (CCEP).
The Saint Michael's College Biology Department helped me to succeed in so many ways. I was able to be a strong veterinary applicant by having a wide range of experiences and opportunities that both the biology department and the Saint Michael's liberal arts education provided me. While biology majors at other institutions might not able to study abroad due to rigorous year-long classes, at Saint Michael's this is not the case. I was also able to study abroad in Costa Rica over the winter break with the biannual biology class "Tropical Ecology," and I was able to travel to France with the summer class, "Culture and Society in Medieval Burgundy." I went to Madagascar on a research study, and was able to receive academic independent research credit by writing a project report and giving a seminar on my experience. I was also able participate in an internship at a local veterinary clinic during my senior year and I received academic credit for that as well. When I applied for veterinary school, I stood out with my experiences and my glowing recommendations from professors that really knew me as a person, not just as a student.
Want to know more about Anna's biology experience?
Contact her at: micha303@umn.edu
Maggie Holmes '06
Third-year medical student,
University of Vermont
I am pursuing medical studies at the University of Vermont College of Medicine. I found my Saint Michael's biology experience to be very valuable in getting me there. Not only did I have wonderful opportunities to learn the science content needed to get into medical school, I was also provided with amazing experiences that I couldn't have encountered anywhere else. For instance, there are opportunities to do independent research projects with the guidance of a professor during the summer or during your senior year. I did two projects: one was nest site competition by ants in edge vs. interior habitats in Vermont, and the other one was measuring the mutation rate of base substitution alleles under variable high and low transcription strains of yeast. I learned so much by working with a professor on these projects and I feel that these projects were one of the most valuable experiences I had in my college education. I even presented my yeast research at a conference in Orlando, Florida.
Another strength of the Saint Michael's biology program is the opportunity to really get to know the faculty. Not only are the class sizes small, but the department is full of caring, understanding people who go to great lengths to make sure you understand the material. The courses offered cover a broad range of science topics as well. As part of the biology major, you must take classes from different categories. This provides a great opportunity to take courses you may never be able to take again. In my case, I was able to enjoy an ecology course. (That's something I don't get to do in medical school!) I couldn't have asked for a better education from the Saint Michael's biology program.
Want to know more about Maggie's biology experience?
Contact her at: mholmes@saintmikesalum.com
Rebecca Lynch '03
Renal Dietitian
The biology program at Saint Michael's College provided me with a strong foundation in the sciences. The classes and labs were small so I was able to learn directly from my professors and they were interested in teaching and mentoring me. During my senior year in college, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work independently on a research project that fostered the development of my critical thinking skills and the abilities to read, write, and evaluate scientific research papers. The biology program at Saint Michael's taught me how to ask the right questions and use the scientific process to find answers.
After college, I was immediately hired as a research technician at a major cancer research hospital, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA. During my short time there, I was able to make significant contributions to four separate publications. There is no doubt in my mind that my success in cancer research was the direct result of the solid science education I received in college. After working in the lab for two years I decided that I wanted to pursue a slightly different field: applied nutrition. My background in cellular and molecular biology helped to make the transition easier. In nutrition, I must translate my knowledge of nutritional biochemistry and cellular biology into useful advice that I can give to my clients. I believe that my education at a liberal arts college and my strong background in biology has made me a better, more well-rounded dietitian.
David Guertin '97
Senior Research Associate
Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research (Cambridge, MA)
I chose to attend Saint Michael's because it allowed me to explore my diverse interests, both in science and in other disciplines, while exploring the beautiful and rustic backdrop of Vermont. Having a small class size and easy access to expertise was also important to me, both of which I found at Saint Michael's. I enjoyed all of my science classes. One thing I can say is that I graduated with more questions than answers. My four years as a biology major inspired me to go on to graduate school to earn a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences. After subsequent post-doctoral research, I am now an independent scientist. My work focuses on understanding the mechanisms of how normal cells control their growth, how cancer cells take advantage of these mechanisms to grow uncontrollably, and on facilitating drug-develop strategies that might one day lead to effective therapies.
Want to know more about David's biology experience?
Contact him at: guertin.david@wi.mit.edu
Cynthia Leclerc Turcotte '93
Manager of Sequencing Production
454 Life Sciences - a next generation sequencing company
Saint Michael’s College has provided me with a strong foundation for my career as a research scientist. The small class size and supportive faculty allowed me to really learn and understand the given topic. The biology curriculum exposed me to different areas of science (cell and molecular biology, anatomy and physiology and environmental science) helping me determine my field of interest. The curriculum also focused upon communication skills for biologists, teaching students how to read scientific journals and present data in public forums. These skills have helped me through graduate school and in my present career.
In my senior year, I opted to do an independent research project. The faculty advisor allowed me enough freedom to feel that the research was truly my own while simultaneously providing me with guidance that I needed. This experience was a great introduction to graduate school. At the conclusion of the study, I compiled the data in a written report and presented my findings at the Lake Champlain Research Consortium. This work was continued by other Saint Michael's students and eventually published.
After graduation, I worked as a research technician at Children’s Hospital in Boston MA where I further developed my research skills. After two years doing research there, I attended Yale University where I received my doctoral degree in cell biology. I currently work for 454 Life Sciences, a next generation sequencing company in Connecticut. I am the Manager of Sequencing Production and head up a team of 25 scientists who process client samples to provide sequencing data for a variety of organisms (from bacteria to human and everything in between!). Last year, we were involved in the sequencing of the genome of James Watson (one of the co-discoverers of DNA) and are currently participating in the sequencing of the Neanderthal genome.
Alumni Profiles
in Biology Matters
Each issue of the biology department's e-newsletter, Biology Matters, features interviews with alumni and stories about their career paths.
Click the names below to read their accounts.
Matt Hadjun '05
School Teacher
Tracy Romano '86
Senior Vice President,
Research and Zoology
at Mystic Aquarium
Elena Wellens '86
Podiatrist
James O'Brien '87
Founder of Vertex Engineering Services
Michael Koziol '73
World expert in
food science