The Department of Biological Sciences is the largest department in the Life Sciences disciplines at Purdue University. As part of the College of Science, the department fulfills the teaching and research mission of the university in areas of biological systems ranging from the molecular through ecosystem levels. The Department offers baccalaureate degrees in 10 major areas of study and supports graduate student research across 6 research topic concentrations. As a widely recognized leader in scientific discovery, the Department’s research contributions inform both fundamental questions and complex problems across diverse areas of interest from cancer models to host-pathogen interactions to behavioral ecology.

Careers in Health and Disease

Approximately 25% of biology students proceed directly to graduate school in biology or biology-related fields.  About 45% go on to schools of medicine, veterinary medicine, or dentistry.  Still others go directly to work in a broad variety of fields. These include research or applied science positions in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries. Some become high school teachers, go into sales, or work for governmental regulatory agencies, zoos, or parks.