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Posted: job opportunities for biology majors

Studying biology at Calvin isn’t just a bridge to the professional world—it’s a grand entrance.


  • Author: Michal Rubingh and Hannah Smith
  • Published: October 2, 2019
  • Author: Michal Rubingh and Hannah Smith
  • Published: October 2, 2019

Lauren Martin is a biology and biochemistry double-major with a pre-med focus. Her job at Spectrum Health hospitals requires her to communicate well, focus under pressure, and multitask—all skills that she’s been practicing at Calvin. Here’s how she got connected with her job while still a student.

What are your professors like? 

They’re one of the most amazing aspects of Calvin. Many of them have been quick to reply when I have questions, supportive when I am struggling in class, and willing to take extra time to connect me to opportunities that may fit my specific interests.

What’s your favorite space on campus?

My favorite space on campus is the Calvin Ecosystem Preserve & Native Gardens. It’s a really peaceful place to take a walk anytime I’m stressed out, and I see something interesting almost every time I visit. I feel really blessed that there is a miniforest within walking distance for me to escape to, and I love watching the preserve change as the seasons pass.

What kinds of facilities and equipment do you have access to as a biology student?

As a biology major, I have been blessed to have access to a wide variety of lab equipment and facilities, ranging from the greenhouse to the ion chromatograph.

An ion chromatograph is a machine that uses the relative charges of different ions to separate them from each other and measure their concentration. It can be handy for analyzing ion composition and concentration in prepared soil samples or other liquid solutions.

I used the greenhouse to incubate and grow soybeans for a research project my research group conducted for our “Research Design and Methodology” class (BIO 250). Given the Michigan climate, it’s a great tool for growing plants. And it’s a pretty spacious area to do so.

How have your professors connected you with opportunities in your field? 

After discussions with my pre-med advisor, she connected me to an opportunity to train to become a medical scribe. And one of my chemistry professors wrote me a reference letter for the opportunity.

Completing that training program led directly to my current job with Helix Scribe Solutions at Spectrum Health hospitals.

What do you do as a medical scribe?  

I work as a personal assistant to physicians. That means I observe and participate in the medical field firsthand. I see how teams of medical providers work together and meet a lot of interesting people.

Working at emergency departments requires me to have skills in communication, teamwork, multitasking, and working under pressure. My professors, classes, and projects at Calvin taught me these skills and equipped me for the job.

What are some of your goals for after college?

After I graduate from Calvin, I intend to become an MD (doctor of medicine). So far, I think that specializing in family medicine appeals to me. It combines my interest in science and medicine with my desire to engage with my patients over a longer period of time.

  • Author: Michal Rubingh and Hannah Smith
  • Published: October 2, 2019

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