University of Colorado DenverCollege of Liberal Arts and SciencesUniversity of Colorado Denver

Internships for Biology Majors

Biology Internships are designed to offer you the opportunity to obtain hands-on experience and to link your classroom studies with the world of work. UCD students have participated in internships in forensics, dentistry, cancer research, and botany with a host of employers, such as:

  • ABR-Affinity BioReagents
  • Alameda Veterinary Clinic
  • See how Carrie Toews' internship launched her career (pdf)Bluff Lake Nature Center
  • Colorado Wildlife Federation
  • Denver Botanic Gardens
  • Denver Health Medical Center
  • Denver Office of the Medical Examiner
  • Denver Police Crime Laboratory Bureau
  • Denver Zoo College Internship Program
  • Exempla Lutheran Medical Center
  • Kids in Need of Dentistry (KIND)

Internships = Better Jobs, Bigger Salaries

According to a survey done by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, in 2005 employers reported that:

  • 88.5% of new hires had internship or co-op experience
  • Candidates with internship experience were offered 6.5% higher salaries
  • 63% of employers attending the UCD Career Expo would prefer to hire students with internship experience than students without
  • Overall, U.S. employers reported plans to increase their intern hires by 9.8%

Whether you are looking for a job or applying to professional school after graduation, internships are the best way to add to your marketability or viability.  An internship can complement your resume or personal statement and add substance to your answers in interviews.  Participating in an internship can also help you clarify and define your career goals.  “Trying on” an internship can assist you in determining if you are on the right career path. 

How to Find an Internship

The Career Center at UCD has numerous internships available. Their web site details the process and provides a host of resources. Listed below are some of the employers who have recruited UCD interns.

• 7News/KMGH-TV
• Adams Community Mental Health Center
• Alameda Veterinary Clinic
• All American Seasonings, Inc.
• Amber Homes
• American Heart Association
• Aurora Public Schools
• BentLight Media
• Center for Health Services Research (CHSR)
• City and County of Denver - Public Works - Engineering Division
• City and County of Denver - Mayor's Office of Economic Development
• Colorado Council on the Arts
• Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)
• Colorado Historical Society
• Congressman Joel Hefley
• Denver Center Theatre Company
• Denver City Attorney's Office - Domestic Violence Unit
• Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG)
• Disney
• El Seminario
• EPA
• HDR Engineering, Inc
• Integrated Properties
• KUSA Channel 9
• Merrick & Company
• Mi Casa Resource Center for Women, Inc.
• Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
• MTV
• National Conference of State Legislature NCSL
• National Jewish Medical and Research Center
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
• PBS&J Engineering Consultants
• Quest Capital Partnership
• RTD
• Schneider Securities
• Scream Advertising & PR
• State of Colorado Office of Innovation & Technology
• The Bug Theatre Company
• U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service
• U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Geological Survey, Water Resources Division
• UCD - Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes
• UCD - Dept. of Preventive Medicine & Biometrics - DAISY
• UCD - The Children's Eating Lab / Center for Human Nutrition
• WESTAF (Western States Arts Federation)
• World Trade Center Denver

the internship process

To maximize your learning experience (and ensure that community organizations value UCD biology interns), we've developed guidelines for earning and applying internship credits. Be sure to review the "Internship Guidelines for Biology Majors" to learn how the process works in detail.