Professional Associations are a great source of information about internships, career pathways, conferences, scholarships, opportunities to meet people in your field, and a whole host of career-related topics. Usually associations will provide a discounted membership rate for students enrolled in college.

Here are few organzations that may help you advance your career development…

General

• American Academy of Forensic Sciences
• American Association for the Advancement of Science
• American Institute of Biological Sciences
• The American Physiological Society
• The American Phytopathological Society
• American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors
• American Society for Human Genetics
• American Society for Microbiology
• Association for Women in Science
• Botanical Society of America
• Ecological Society Association
• Federation of American Scientists
• The International Association for Science, Technology and Society
• National Academy of Science
• The National Association of Biology Teachers
• Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology
• Society for the Advancement of Chicanos & Native Americans in Science
• Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
• Society for Neuroscience

Education

• National Association for Biology Teachers
• American Chemical Society
• Association of Science-Technology Centers
• Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
• The Association for Science Teacher Education
• Journal of Chemical Education
• National Science Teachers Association
• National Association for Research in Science Teaching
• School Science and Mathematics Association

Ecology

• Advancing the Science of Limnology and Oceanography
• American Water Works Association
• Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
• Coastal & Estuarine Research Federation
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Ecological Society of America
• Local Government Environmental Assistance Network
• Marine & Biodiversity professional associations
• National Environmental Health Association
• North American Association for Environmental Educators
• National Association of Environmental Professionals
• The Oceanography Society
• Society for Conservation Biology
• The Student Conservation Association

Medical/Health

• American Academy of Anesthesiologists’ Assistants
• American Academy of Physician Assistants
• American Association for Respiratory Care
• American Association for Clinical Chemists
• American Chiropractic Association
• American College of Healthcare Executives
• American Dental Association
• The American Dental Hygienists’ Association
• American Dietetic Association
• American Health Information Management
• American Medical Association
• American Medical Writers Association
• American Nurses Association
• The American Occupational Therapy Association
• American Optometric Association
• American Orthoptic Council
• American Osteopathic Association
• American Physical Therapy Association
• American Podiatric Medical Association
• American Public Health Association
• The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science
• American Society for Clinical Pathology
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
• Association of Genetic Technologists
• The Association of Medical Illustrators
• American Veterinary Medical Association
• National Society of Genetic Counselors
• Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Another great resource or first step is looking at organzations based on What Can I Do With This Major? which features 100 major profiles with information on common career paths, types of employers that hire in the field, and a list of organzations by academic subject area.