Learn About Careers in Life Sciences

Wellesley Career Education logo
Wellesley Career Education

A career in the life sciences can include a broad range of companies, organizations, and foundations concerned with the study of living organisms, including biological sciences, botany, zoology, microbiology, physiology, biochemistry, and a number of related subjects. Employers may include biotechnology & pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, healthcare organizations, foundations, and federal agencies. Most of the information on this page concerns non-patient facing options but there are opportunities to create career paths that merge patient and non-patient settings.

Finance, Accounting, and Insurance

Casey Hurley
Casey Hurley

A career in Finance can mean many different things, depending on what type of work you’re interested in or what specific subsect you want to explore. Within Finance, you can work in the financial department of an organization (governmental, nonprofit or for-profit) or you can work at a company that provides financial services to individuals, groups, institutions and/or organizations.

Business and Operations

Casey Hurley
Casey Hurley

Business is a large sector of the global economy in which goods or services are exchanged, generally, for money and profits. Businesses need customers who purchase their goods or services. Additionally, businesses require some form of investment.

Management and Human Resources

Casey Hurley
Casey Hurley

Management refers to the organization, oversight and coordination of people and activities in a business or organization so that it meets it objectives or vision. Management broadly encompasses creating corporate policy and strategy, and setting objectives, and then organizing, planning, controlling and guiding an organization’s people and resources in the achievement of these objectives or vision. Human Resources is the part of a business that relates to employees, including recruiting, orientation of employees, overseeing benefits, training, and more.

Publishing

Hebert
Hebert Labbate

There are a wide range of opportunities in book publishing. Some departments you may find include: Editorial, Finance, Contracts, Publicity, Art & Design, Production, Information Technology, Marketing/Advertising/Promotions, Subsidiary Rights and Permissions, Sales, Internet Development, Distribution. A rapidly growing trend in the publishing arena is electronic, audio, and new media formats.

Performing Arts

Hebert
Hebert Labbate

Like most art disciplines, careers in theatre span widely from performance and creative roles to technical positions to administrative functions and even educational and therapeutic professions.

Journalism

Hebert
Hebert Labbate

Almost every career in journalism begins with writing experience. While many schools offer specialized degrees in journalism, with courses like Feature Article Writing, Digital Storytelling, Investigative Journalism, etc, students can use skills gained from a liberal arts education to prepare for this career In fact, there are very specialized areas of journalism that are advantaged by a background in science, economics, or other disciplines.

Creative Writing

Hebert
Hebert Labbate

As a practice, creative writing refers to a wide variety of disciplines. Writers who want to publish novels, poetry, short fiction, and creative non-fiction often earn an MFA and support their creative practice by teaching in higher education.

Science Research

Alexis Trench
Alexis Trench

Participating in research experiences as an undergraduate is an excellent way to add depth to your science understanding and actively engage with what you are learning in the classroom. By doing so, you further develop your laboratory, analytical, and problem-solving skills, and you start to build your network with faculty members. Research experiences are valuable components to your resume, and they can make you more competitive for both graduate school and industry opportunities.

"Part of the reason I was able to create this [Notch Partners, LLC] was because I didn’t come from the same background as everybody else, and I don’t see things the same way. Wellesley just equipped me with this idea that you can do anything.”

“Throughout my four years at Wellesley, I have come to understand that a deeper understanding of China’s role in global issues is crucial to foster cooperation globally.”

On-Campus Recruiting Program Policies (Students)

Kate Rettstadt
Kate Rettstadt

Career Education expects all students to abide by the following rules in order to maintain the success and integrity of Wellesley’s recruiting program.

Jun 2, 2024

Prilla Smith Brackett Award Art Prize - deadline

Applicants must identify as female, live in the Greater Boston area, and be at a career stage beyond the first five years of professional practice.

Research/Gradschool, International Student, Undergraduate

The biennial Prilla Smith Brackett Award honors an outstanding female-identifying visual artist based in the Greater Boston area. Funded by Prilla Smith Brackett (Wellesley Class of 1964) and administered by the Davis Museum at Wellesley College. The $15,000 cash award will be given to the artist whose work demonstrates extraordinary artistic vision, talent, and skill.

The 2024 application portal will open on Wednesday, May 1 and close at 11:59pm on Sunday...