Department of Biological Science

Student Organizations

For a full list of all recognized student organizations, please visit: https://nolecentral.dsa.fsu.edu/.

Biology:

Beta Beta Beta (Tri-Beta)

Beta Beta Beta is a national honorary and professional fraternity of undergraduates of any major, dedicated to improving the understanding and appreciation of biological study and extending boundaries of human knowledge through scientific research. Tri-Beta promotes undergraduate research in Biology through publishing its undergraduates-only journal, Bios, holding meetings at which undergraduate research papers are presented in the style of graduate meetings, and awarding competitive research stipends to faculty supervisors who support undergraduate research and publication. Annual awards are given for outstanding student and chapter accomplishment. Members of the local chapter provide services to University, Department, and fellow students. Membership information can be obtained by contacting an advisor.

FSU Chapter of the American Society for Microbiology

FSU Student Chapter of the American Society for Microbiology The American Society for Microbiology is a national society that connects all professionals from undergraduate to senior researchers in the microbiology and microbiology-related fields. Through the national chapter, students have the opportunities to apply for undergraduate scholarships, summer research grants, graduate school positions, and post-doctoral scholar positions. In addition to all of ASM's online resources, there are several regional conferences held per year, with one national conference held annually. In FSU's student chapter of ASM, students have the opportunity explore careers in microbiology and how microbiology is essential to all other medical fields. ASM is an amazing resource for students looking for research on campus, help on their thesis, or to simply open their minds to the endless possibilities that are under the microscope.

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology:

Florida Public Interest Research Group

FPIRG is a campus-wide public interest research group funded directly by the students of FSU. Biological Science majors with an interest in environmental and ecological issues are encouraged to participate in FPIRG activities and research. The FPIRG office is located in 322 Oglesby Union (850-644-2483).

Health Professions and Biomedical Research:

Alpha Epsilon Delta

Alpha Epsilon Delta (AED) is the National Health Preprofessional Honor Society and service organization dedicated to the encouragement and recognition of excellence in preprofessional health scholarship, including medicine, dentistry, veterinary, and others. The Society welcomes ALL students engaged in the pursuit of a professional healthcare career. AED offers opportunities for intellectual and professional development, provides a forum for students with common interests, and extends a program of service to benefit the college/university community.

Florida Rural Health Student Association

Florida Rural Health Student Association (FRHA) promotes healthcare to rural citizens of the state of Florida in both policy and practice. It also gives tudents the opportunity to become affiliated with rural health organizations in Florida, provides knowledge of legislative issues pertaining to rural health, and serves rural communities in health related events.

Fundamentals of Observational Research and Career Experience

Fundamentals of Observational Research and Career Experience (FORCE) Shadowing in Tallahassee is extremely competitive because of the two major Universities, FSU and FAMU, and the smaller community college, TCC. Together, these three schools combined, cover a wide range of health professional graduate and undergraduate programs ranging from the FSU medical School to the TCC surgical technician program. With so many pre-health students in one city, shadowing a health professional can be very difficult, let alone the actual process of finding a health professional to shadow. To solve this issue, FORCE was created.

Hang Tough Club at FSU

Hang Tough Club at FSU (HTC) is a branch of the Hang Tough Foundation, a burgeoning, local non-profit started in Tallahassee, Florida. Hang Tough was established in order to "provide an encompassing approach to taking care of the ENTIRE family that has a child affected by a chronic or life altering illness in the Big Bend Area." For more information about the foundation itself, please visit: http://www.hangtoughfoundation.org/about-us.html As a club at FSU, we hope to spread awareness to the FSU, as well as surrounding community about not only all that the Hang Tough Foundation has to offer families facing childhood illness but also educate those around us about the potentially devastating effects of pediatric illness and the lack of both physical and emotional resources available to families in the surrounding areas.

Health Educated Asian Leaders

Health Educated Asian Leaders (HEAL) is an organization which strives to promote leadership and ambition in pre-health students by giving a variety of opportunities all geared toward developing an individual to be the best health-care professional they expect to be.

Health Occupations of America

Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) is an organization catering to those students interested in a healthcare profession. HOSA at FSU participates in many volunteer opportunities, competitive events, and allows students to meet current healthcare professionals. The mission of HOSA is "to enhance the delivery of compassionate, quality health care by providing opportunities for knowledge, skill and leadership development of all health science technology education students, therefore, helping students to meet the needs of the health care community." To do that, HOSA participates in state and national leadership conferences where students attend workshops and interact with other students from all over the nation. Joining HOSA is a fun and rewarding way to gain knowledge of the healthcare field!

Healthy Noles

Healthy Noles advocates for health and wellness to all students on and off campus under the auspices of Healthy Campus 2020. Healthy Noles promote an overall healthy lifestyle through education and advocacy for balanced eating; alcohol abuse, tobacco and drug prevention; as well as healthy sexual behaviors and the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STI’s). We aim to reach out to the FSU community, influencing Academics, Athletics, Dining Services, Greek Life, Residence Halls, The Student Union, and other Registered Student Organizations. It is our passion to help others understand that living healthy requires balanced eating, exercising, getting plenty of sleep, managing stress in a positive way, avoiding drugs and tobacco, using alcohol in moderation, if at all, and practicing safe sex. We provide students with healthy physical activity plans, guidelines for proper nutrition, facts and prevention methods for STI’s, tools and resources to stop smoking, ways to minimize/avoid harmful drinking and drug use. We strive to debunk health-related myths, misinformation and unhealthy lifestyles, that are often supported by fad diets; social norm perceptions, high stress levels, and peer pressure. We advocate for an overall healthy body image, mind and self esteem. We warn students of the dangers of disordered eating behaviors, lack of or excessive exercise, binge drinking, smoking, drug use, high stress levels, lack of sleep and exposure to sexually transmitted diseases, all of which can threaten students’ academic and developmental success. Healthy Noles is also involved in community health education efforts at college apartments, secondary schools, local health fairs, and other locations as requested.

Medlife Health

MEDLIFE Health is a secular, volunteer-run global health organization whose mission is to help families achieve greater freedom from the constraints of poverty, empowering them to live healthier lives. Our patients did not choose to be poor, but they do choose to strive for a better life. MEDLIFE stands beside them in this pursuit. We seek to achieve this goal through partnering with motivated individuals from poor communities working to improve their access to MEDs: Medicine, Education and community Development. MEDLIFE believes access to quality healthcare, education and personal development are basic human rights. To this end, we commit all our resources to bring Medicine, Education and Development to Low Income Families Everywhere. MEDLIFE FSU divides into three organizations: Health, Education, and Community Development. Our MEDLIFE Health Chapter focuses on the medical aspect of MEDLIFE. MEDLIFE Health at FSU works with students who are interested in medicine, are interested in pre-health, or simply want to help others.

Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students

Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students (MAPS) enhances the recruitment of culturally diverse students into healthcare fields, and to help members become successful candidates for professional health and medical programs. MAPS develops its members to become successful matriculates into professional schools, as well as qualified healthcare providers in the future. This is accomplished through several academic, clinical, and community service opportunities. Included are: Food and clothing drives, Boggy Creek Camp for terminally ill children, community blood drives, services with elderly care facilities, mentoring with college and precollege students, facilitated tutoring and study groups, academic advising, MCAT/GRE preparation courses, Physician partnership opportunities, a medical assistant program, employment opportunities, and professional enhancement workshops.

Nole-Med

Nole-Med will provide volunteering opportunities, relevant information about the newest research in medicine, networking opportunities with medical professionals, and knowledge of policies that will affect those pursuing a medical career in the future.

Saving Smiles at FSU

Saving Smiles provides pre-dental students with the resources to further their dental knowledge and experience, prior to matriculating into dental school, via serving as volunteers in the dental community. Saving Smiles members are dedicated to improving the oral healthcare at all levels of community; at FSU, in Tallahassee, in the state of Florida, across the United States, and even abroad. In doing so, members are able to have hands-on experience and ensure that they are better prepared for dental school and feel comfortable with their career decision.

Student Academy of Audiology

Student Academy of Audiology is the national student organization of the American Academy of Audiology that serves as a collective voice for students and advances the rights, interests, and welfare of students pursuing careers in audiology. The SAA introduces students to lifelong involvement in activities that promote and advance the profession of audiology, and provides services, information, education, representation and advocacy for the profession and the public we serve.

Student Interest Group in Neurology

Student Interest Group in Neurology (SIGN) is an organization based at the College of Medicine. Our primary focus is to increase student knowledge of both clinical and research applications of neuroscience. This will be be achieved through lectures bringing renowned experts in neurology, psychiatry, and neuroscience research, as well as through outreach programs. SIGN will also facilitate physician shadowing and tours with neurologists, neurosurgeons, psychiatrists, and research laboratories.