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NATURAL SCIENCES

Majors / Concentration:
Biology
Biotechnology and Molecular Biology
Chemistry
Environmental Science

Number of 2006 Graduates 42

Through majors in Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Science, the Department of Natural Sciences teaches students how to investigate and appreciate the unity of function that underlies the diversity of life forms and how to understand the fundamental principles governing the structure of matter.

Summer research opportunities available for upperclassmen to work with faculty.
85% acceptance rate to medical schools.
Since 2002, 42 students applied for graduate programs in the medical field (other than medical school) and 35 of them were accepted (83% acceptance rate).
AC Chemistry majors tend to do graduate work (MS or PhD) more often than most AC majors.
AC students can participate in joint seven-year programs with three other universities, leading to the Doctor of Optometry (New England School of Optometry), Doctor of Physical Therapy (Simmons College), or Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (Barry University)

Faculty Areas of Interest

David Crowley--DNA Repair
Heather Wilkins--Colin cancer and estrogen
Jim Hauri--Wastewater treatment (exploring options to make it cleaner)
Georgi Georgiev - Working with a mathematical model in order to explain the increase of the energy rate density in different structures through the history of the Universe
Brian Niece--Receptor proteins (cells)
John Beauregard-Atmospheric/computational chemistry (how surfaces interact with the atmosphere)
Ed Dix - Research involves development of the Fluorosomes Technique as a method for measurement of membrane water partition coefficiencts.
Paul Mahon-Biochemistry/Virus research at UMASS
Owen Sholes--Forestology in Central Massachusetts
Elissa Kraus - Research involves patients with hemophilia who develop inhibitor antibodies; second study involves the potential use of gene therapy to treat hemophilia.
Stuart I. Cromarty-Neural Basis of Behavior. Current research involves the use of extracellular and intracellular electrophysiological studies of coding of steroid compound by the peripheral and central olfactory systems of the American lobster, Homarus americanus.

Recent Internship Sites

UMASS Medical School
Local biotechnology companies

Recent Graduate Schools

Boston University
Brown University
Duke University
NE College of Osteopathic Medicine
Northeastern University
Tufts University
University of Connecticut
University of Florida
UMASS Medical School
University of New Hampshire
University of Rhode Island
University of West Virginia
Yale University

Recent Employers

American Airlines
Aventis Pharmaceuticals
Biogen Idec, Inc.
Eli Lilly and Company
Hasbro Children's Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital
Mosaic Technologies
Pfizer, Inc.
Waters Corporation

Did you Know?

85% of Assumption College students who apply to medical school are accepted on their first try.