Your �� Biology Experience

a group of underwater sea divers on the ocean floor

Nadine Riddle: Ecuador

“Through a marine ecology program in Ecuador, I was immersed in Latin American culture, the wonder of the Amazon rainforest, and the beauty of the Galápagos Islands, all of which revealed a love of field research and fueled my passion for the natural world.”

a young woman with a backpack about to cross a stream

Logan Morris: New Zealand

“My time in New Zealand allowed me to challenge myself in many new ways all while fueling my love for adventure, community, and multifaceted interactions.”

a young woman looking out of a bus window

Tatiana Washington: England

“My time in England was pivotal in broadening my perspective by allowing me to engage in an unfamiliar global community, both in and out of the classroom. I will forever be thankful for the opportunity to grow personally and as a budding biologist.”

Summer Research Program at ��

The College’s ten-week Summer Research Program (SRP) provides a stipend, housing, and research funds to participating students. SRP fellows undertake a rigorous program that includes regular meetings with faculty mentors, a weekly seminar series, peer-to-peer research support groups, research ethics training, training in general laboratory safety and compliance through CITI and in-person training, and social activities. All SRP participants present their projects at a campus-wide capstone research conference drawing around 250 attendees.

Emri Espinoza

Emri examines the mechanisms by which Group A Streptococcus bacteria survive in macrophages, a type of human immune cell that normally "eats" the bacteria in order to destroy the pathogen.

a young woman holding up her laptop and smiling

Milan Coleman

Milan is comparing the drought tolerance of the invasive plant Arundo donax and two native species, mule fat and Arroyo willow. This research is being conducted along the Santa Clara River to highlight water use potential for all three species.

a young woman looking at a computer with data

Kyler Brumfield

Kyler’s 2025 project predicts the distribution and biomass of Alderia sea slugs along the west coast thanks to to their production of a polyketide molecule that deters predation.

Student Athletes

Many of our biology and biochemistry majors are scholar-athletes, excelling on the playing field and in the lab.

a young woman in lacrosse gear next to the same woman in the biology lab

Andie Angelacci ’25: Lacrosse

Andie was goalie on the �� women’s lacrosse team, where she became the first goalie in Occidental history to eclipse the 400 save mark! She not only balanced a biology major and athletics, but also studied abroad in Rome, Italy.

a young man in track and field gear next to the same man in the biology lab

Charlie Service ’27: Track/Field

Charlie is a biochemistry major who is also on the men's track and field team. He likes to keep a full schedule, and always goes the extra mile to finish an experiment. His career goal is to become a medical professional.

a young woman in the biology lab next to the same woman in softball gear

Ava Quezada ’25: Softball

Ava completed a biochemistry major in 2025, literally hitting it out of the park with her research on bacterial pathogens, as a COSMOS scholar, and her time as an outfielder on the �� women's softball team.

Student-led Groups

The Biology Equity and Action Representatives (BEARs) Coalition

The BEARs directly empower underrepresented students (BIPOC, first-gen, low-income, LGBTQIA+, etc.) aspiring to be involved in biology at ��, closing the gaps that obstruct many with these identities from pursuing opportunities in STEM. The BEARs have continued to facilitate community sessions where students can pose questions and voice concerns on various topics.

AMP and Biology Peer mentors

The Academic Mastery Program (AMP) is a crucial support structure for biology majors. AMP offers weekly collaborative workshops that are designed and run by experienced student facilitators. They work closely with faculty to produce challenging worksheets relevant to class material (BIO130 and CHEM 120/220). The program advances the learning goals of students at all skill levels and develops study habits that allow for deeper engagement with the material.

Boundless Brilliance

is a nonprofit group that not only fosters equity and diversity in STEM in the local community, but also creates a diverse and welcoming community to give Occidental students a sense of belonging and develop their confidence in STEM. Students who have participated in Boundless Brilliance develop extensive leadership skills and demonstrate greater confidence in explaining complex scientific concepts to others.

Post-Grad Opportunities

�� biology alumni are regular recipients of Fulbright Awards and NSF Graduate Research Fellowships.

a young woman stands smiling in the jungle

Katie Vhynal ’25: Fulbright Research Fellow in Malaysia

In Malaysia, Katie will conduct an eight-month independent research project in Mulu National Park to explore host specificity of the Ophiocordyceps fungi that parasitizes ants in tropical rainforests. Katie’s proposal seeks to learn more about interaction specificity from the perspective of natural history and molecular genetics, a compelling combination of traditional and contemporary techniques.

a young woman works in a bird lab, examining specimens

Eliza Kirsch ’22: NSF Graduate Fellowship

At the University of Southern California, Eliza is currently investigating anthropogenic impacts on California wildlife from a variety of perspectives, including the genetic consequences of habitat loss in Savannah Sparrows (a saltmarsh bird), the ecotoxicological effects of wildfires on urban predators, and the influence of light pollution on bobcat behavior.

a young man smiles in front of bamboo stalks

JP Flores ’21: NSF Graduate Fellowship

At UNC-Chapel Hill, JP is currently using a novel genomic technique to study the role of 3D chromatin structure in response to environmental stress, a topic that enhances our understanding of human development, cancer progression, and response to invasive pathogens more broadly.

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Study Abroad Opportunities

Summer Research Program at ��

Student Athletes

Student-led Groups