Northwestern’s biology professors involve students in research focused on the discovery and genetics of viruses and the impact of invasive species on an ecosystem. There’s also an expert in clinical anatomy and a professor who has created practice-based software to help students prepare for the MCAT.

Opened in 2019, the $24 million DeWitt Family Science Center is as impressive as Northwestern’s science programs. In addition to biology labs on the main and second floors, the center also houses five research labs, a confocal microscope, a mass spectrometer, and a DNA sequencer.

Northwestern is part of a program that involves biology students in a global effort to discover phages (viruses that infect bacteria) and sequence and annotate their DNA. So far, more than 60 NWC undergrads have peer-reviewed publications to tout as a result of their phage research and discoveries. Northwestern also participates in SEA-GENES, next-level research enabling our students to discover and publish previously unknown functions of genes.

Northwestern biology professors are involved in their own research and often invite students to participate as Junior Scholars or summer research assistants. You’ll earn a stipend working together as peers and possibly be included as a co-author when the professor publishes or presents research findings. Or consider spending your summer doing paid research at universities across the U.S. Your Northwestern professors will help you find and land fellowships in labs conducting research funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.