Career Planning
Why study Genetics?
Students with the B.S. degree find employment in the biotechnology, healthcare, or food industries or in academic research laboratories. Many students pursue graduate school in genetic counseling, biomedical research, plant sciences research or professional healthcare programs such as medicine. Recent graduates moving directly into employment work as technologists and project managers for biotechnology companies such as Monsanto, Corteva Biosciences (formerly DuPont Pioneer), Neogen Genomics, Integrated DNA Technologies, NewLink Genetics, Calyxt, and Orion Genomics, and in chemistry, biology, cytogenetics, and genotyping labs in hospitals and universities. While some students find employment directly after their baccalaureate training, many will continue their education in one of the many excellent graduate programs in genetics.
Our alumni have a great record of success after leaving ISU and moving forward in their careers. Many alumni continue to partner with the program, participating in informational interviews and graduate and career panels.
Depending on your college, the CALS Career Services and LAS Career Services assist you with resumes, cover letters, and references; offer tools to provide feedback on formatting and content; and lead mock interviews to prepare you for upcoming interviews.
What can I do with a B.S. in Genetics from Iowa State?
Students with the B.S. degree find employment in the biotechnology, healthcare, or food industries or in academic research laboratories. Many students pursue graduate school in genetic counseling, biomedical research, plant sciences research or professional healthcare programs such as medicine. Recent graduates moving directly into employment, work as technologists and project managers for biotechnology companies such as Monsanto, Corteva Biosciences (formerly DuPont Pioneer), Neogen Genomics, Integrated DNA Technologies, NewLink Genetics, Calyxt, and Orion Genomics and in chemistry, biology, cytogenetics, and genotyping labs in hospitals and universities.
Completion of the B.S. in Genetics also fulfills the coursework requirements for entry into almost any health-related professional program (M.D., D.O., D.V.M., M.P.H., O.D., etc.) as well as into graduate programs leading to an M.S. or Ph.D. degree in biological sciences disciplines.
ASHG Careers in Human Genetics Flowchart
Alumni Careers
Below are some of the careers our alumni have pursued. Click on each category to view more information. Keep in mind that while some categories are well defined (e.g., dentist, physician), research careers are more fluid, with individuals moving from positions in academia to ones in industry, and vice versa. Also, some pursue career paths that could be classified in more than one category. Many graduates choose to work in various "lab tech" positions during a gap year or years before entering graduate or professional programs. Each person's path is unique.
These pages are being written and updated as alumni respond to requests for information. Check back for updates.
Career Preparation and Alumni Outcomes
Genetics Job Boards
The B.S. degree in Genetics is designed to qualify graduates for careers in biological science disciplines of the future, which all include the specialty of genetics. These include human and veterinary medicine, agricultural biotechnology, genetic counseling, biological engineering, pharmaceuticals, and many other fields that will contribute advances and solutions to the global challenges we expect to arise in the coming decades.