Biology Transfer Pathway A.S. major transferring fall 2026 to BSU to study Aquatic Biology

Jarosh Brunkow, 23, is earning their Biology Transfer Pathway Associate of Science (A.S.) at Inver Hills Community College with plans to transfer to Bemidji State University this coming fall to major in Aquatic Biology with a minor in Geographical Information Systems. Jarosh is looking forward to completing the credit requirements for their A.S. degree at Inver Hills next spring.

Jarosh has centered their career plans on restoring and conserving Minnesota’s waterways and wetlands. During late spring and summer in 2025, they served as an aquatic invasive watercraft inspector intern for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “I checked boats, talked to boat users, and educated them on AIS [aquatic invasive species] laws and the effects of AIS,” they said.

An exceptionally engaged student leader at Inver Hills, Jarosh served as a peer tutor, helping classmates navigate biology and statistics coursework. They also served as a student mentor, assisting the college’s accessibility resources director. Due to their work in the Office of Accessibility Resources (OAR), they were honored with the college’s 2025 Equity and Inclusion Champion Award.

Jarosh’s academic success was recognized during the Phi Theta Kappa and Psi Beta Induction Ceremony at Inver Hills in November 2025. From January to June 2025, they worked as a TRIO/Upward Bound program assistant at Dakota County Technical College.

“My role focused on supervising nine Upward Bound high school students participating in a partnership program between DCTC and the Science Museum of Minnesota,” Jarosh explained. “The program offered opportunities to learn about the geosciences by working with scientists and doing research in paleolimnology. The purpose of the program was to increase diversity in the geosciences by exposing more students to STEM careers and introducing research techniques.”

More about Jarosh…

Originally from Savage, Minnesota, Jarosh graduated from Prior Lake High School, Class of 2021. Their family includes their mom, dad, two older brothers, a nephew, and their cat, Odessa. Along with their immediate family, Jarosh has close relationships with their cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

“I like to play video games, tabletop RPGs, and board games with my friends,” Jarosh responded when asked about their pastimes and hobbies. “I also like to paint Dungeons and Dragons miniatures, do embroidery, and read. I really enjoy watching anthropology and nature documentaries.”

Before arriving at Inver Hills, they worked more than two years as a machinist at Fastenal, the largest fastener distributor in North America. Jarosh resides in Eagan, Minnesota.

Jarosh family, life, college gallery

Jarosh Brunkow: Student Success Speaker

Inver Hills Foundation Board Meeting • November 19, 2025

Below is the inspiring speech Jarosh gave last fall to members of the Inver Hills Foundation Board. 

I grew up in Savage, Minnesota, and went to Prior Lake High School. Even though I struggled with mental health issues and learning disabilities for years when I got to high school, I worked hard to get good grades. However, when COVID hit my junior year, my mental health plummeted, and I no longer cared for school. At that time, I was already accepted into Winona State University’s Nursing program, so believing that I needed to go to college, I went anyway.

In my second semester, I realized that nursing wasn’t for me, and I switched to environmental science because I have always felt connected to nature, but I still wasn’t ready or invested in college, and after my freshman year, I ended up on academic suspension. I dropped out and worked at a manufacturing plant in a town two hours away from my family.

My job at the manufacturing plant consisted mostly of repetitive tasks, so to fill up my time I often dreamt of potential futures where I dedicated my life to helping the Earth that I so dearly love. Still, because of the shame and self-doubt resulting from my time at Winona State, I often pushed aside the thought of going back to college.

It wasn’t until I visited Yosemite and the Monterey Aquarium in summer 2023 that I was inspired to try again. That trip was the happiest I have ever felt in the last two years. Before I could go back, I knew that I needed to get back on track. I planned to take two years to get myself ready and save money. However, almost exactly a year later, I typed into Google “community colleges with environmental science programs” and the first result was Inver hills Community College; it was the only page I looked at.

The campus was close to my home and class started in two weeks, so I impulsively signed up for classes, turned in my notice, and moved into my aunt’s basement. I wish I could say that I spent hours researching the right college for me, but it only took one Google search. Thankfully, I feel like coming to Inver Hills was one of the best decisions I have made.

I am currently in the Biology Transfer Pathway program, and I will be transferring to the Bemidji State in fall 2026 to study Aquatic Biology with a minor in Geographical Information Systems. In spring 2027, I should meet the credit requirements to graduate from Inver Hills with an A.S. in Biology.

I am lucky enough to have spent my summers at Leech Lake. I have always been fascinated by the lake and its creatures. When I was younger, I would often daydream that I was a little fish in a small stream or a leech gliding through water. As I got older, I noticed the decline of many organisms in Leech Lake, and the increase in invasive species. As recently as 2021, an invasive species, starry stonewort, a macro-alga that causes recreational, economic, and ecological damage, has been found in Leech Lake. Because I want to help restore and protect our water, I chose to study Aquatic Biology.

The Inver Hills Foundation scholarships I’ve received have given me many opportunities to excel at Inver Hills and give back to its community. I am currently a peer mentor at the Office of Accessibly Resources and a peer tutor for Statistics, Principles of Biology 1, and Exploring Biology.

The scholarships have given me room to focus on my academics and earn high grades. Because of that, I am an active member of Phi Theta Kappa, and I am qualified to work as a tutor.

While working at Office of Accessibility Resources (OAR), I developed a discord server called “Study Buddies” for students enrolled in Chemistry, Biology, and Spanish. The goal of the server is to create an accessible online space to encourage academic collaboration between peers across classes in the same area of study. Because of my work at OAR, I received the IHCC Equity and Inclusion Champion Award.

During spring semester 2025, I worked as the program assistant for the DCTC Upward Bound partnership with the Science Museum of Minnesota (SMM) to offer Upward Bound students the opportunity to learn about geosciences by working with scientists and doing research in paleolimnology, the study of past freshwater environments though the analysis of sedimentary records.

My job consisted of supervising nine TRIO/Upward Bound students at Burnsville High School on Saturday field trips and a full work week in the summer at the SMM research station near Marine on St. Croix. With the help of Inver Hills administration and the Biology department, we created an independent study to qualify as a candidate for an internship at the DNR.

Because of that, I got a summer internship at the DNR as an aquatic invasive species (AIS) watercraft inspector. I spent my summer connecting with and educating the public about the importance of preventing the spread of AIS, making connections within the DNR, and conducting my own research that asks the question: “Are recreational watercraft users on lakes more at risk of spreading AIS compared to ones on rivers?”I will be presenting on the topic at the Inver Hills Annual Research Conference this spring.

Between my work as a peer mentor, tutor, program assistant, and working with the DNR, I have begun to see how fostering a healthy Earth must include restoring our environment and ensuring that everyone has a place in it. Not only have these experiences expanded my technical knowledge and improved my interpersonal communication skills, but they have also given me insight into the intersection of humans and the environment.

Without the support of the Inver Hills Foundation, I would never have been able to achieve everything that I have.

Jarosh Brunkow • Q & A

What motivated you to attend Inver Hills?

I have a calling—and Inver Hills is helping me achieve it.

What do you like best about helping students as a biology and statistics peer tutor and as a student mentor in the Office of Accessibility Resources?

I want to help people the same way people have helped me.

Three words that describe you as a college student:
DRIVEN. CURIOUS. REFLECTIVE.

What is your favorite memory from your experience working as a TRIO Upward Bound GEOPaths program assistant?

My favorite memory is the week working at the Science Museum of Minnesota’s Watershed Research Lab on the St. Croix. The people I met and the students I chaperoned had a profound impact on me.

What are you looking forward to most as an Aquatics Biology major at Bemidji State?

Definitely having classes on a pontoon and getting a drone pilot license.

Three words that describe you as peer tutor and student mentor:
PROACTIVE. ATTENTIVE. SUPPORTIVE.

What advice would you give students thinking about participating in Phi Theta Kappa?

Just do it. If you want to succeed in college, get as much help as you can, and PTK will help you.

What person has influenced your life the most and why?

My mom. I have been struggling with mental health issues for more than half my life, and she spent so much time helping me and getting me the support I needed. Without her help, I wouldn’t be able to achieve what I have today.

If you could make one thing happen on Earth right now, what would it be?

I would make a world where greed is replaced with compassion and understanding.

One word that best describes your experience at Inver Hills:

SUPPORTED

Jarosh Brunkow • 12 Answers

1. Favorite sport or physical activity: Ice skating
2. Place you would most like to visit: Chauvet Cave in France and see one of the oldest cave paintings
3. Most exciting thing you’ve ever done: I spent a week in the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness; it is truly an amazing place to ground yourself in nature, observe wildlife, and self-reflect.
4. Three things you would do if you won a $1 billion lottery: 1) I would donate to foundations and charities that provide aid to issues that affect my community 2) Pay off my student loans 3) Buy a cabin on the North Shore
5. Best book or movie you’ve read or seen lately: I recently finished reading The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and I really enjoyed the themes of hope and friendship; I would encourage everyone should either read the books or watch the movies
6. Time period you would explore if you could time travel: I want to see what Minnesota looked like before colonization
7. One thing you most want to accomplish in life: I want to live a happy life with healthy relationships and continuously become a better person
8. Your national bird if you were your own country: Black-capped chickadee
9. Dream occupation: Wetland restoration
10. Person you would most like to meet: I would like to meet the individual who created the cave paintings in Chauvet Cave; there is something so intriguing to see how they lived and interacted with each other
11. Skill you would most like to learn and master: I would like to get into carpentry and whittling
12. Most important issue or problem facing humankind: The exploitation of nature and people; there is a huge intersect between the degradation of our environment and the quality of life for people; unsustainable extraction and use of natural resources destroys the land where people live, puts human health at risk, creates food and water scarcity, and relies on slave labor

Learn more about Biology at Inver Hills by contacting:

Admissions Team
admissions@inverhills.edu
651-450-3902
866-576-0689
College Center

• Want more information? Fill out an inquiry form.
• Ready to apply? Fill out an application.
• Want to virtually visit campus? Check out our upcoming visit opportunities.
• Can’t make it to campus? Take our virtual tour.

Want to connect with an advisor? Check out our virtual drop-in hours or email admissions@inverhills.edu to request a campus-based or phone appointment.

Learn more about the Inver Hills Foundation by contacting:

Kimberly Shaff
Executive Director of Foundations and Community Relations
Inver Hills Community College and Dakota County Technical College
kshaff@inverhills.edu
651-450-3512

Amy Countryman
Development Director
Inver Hills Foundation
Inver Hills Community College
amy.countryman@inverhills.edu
651-450-3407

Solina Hammerschmidt
Foundation Administrative Specialist
Inver Hills Community College and Dakota County Technical College
solina.hammerschmidt@inverhills.edu
651-450-3645

Learn more about TRIO/Upward Bound at DCTC by contacting:

Caitlin Siefkes
Director of TRIO/Upward Bound
Dakota County Technical College
caitlin.siefkes@dctc.edu
651-423-8463

More about Biology at Inver Hills…

Biology is the natural science of life and living organisms. The field is immensely diverse with numerous branches from paleontology, the study of prehistoric life, to biochemistry, the study of life at the chemical level, to astrobiology, the study of life beyond Earth.

Why Study Biology at Inver Hills?

Acquire a profound understanding of the natural world.
Studying biology teaches you how to relate to the nearly 9 million other lifeforms that share the Earth with human beings. You’ll develop a strong awareness of diverse ecosystems and how they interconnect and adapt to a changing climate.

Key into your individual biology in the context of human civilization.
Biology gives you insights into your own health and wellness while showing where you fit in the grand scheme of living things. You’ll discover how to make more informed decisions about your diet, habits, and healthcare. You’ll also better comprehend biological issues in society and nature such as genetically modified organism (GMOs), vaccines and antibiotics, invasive species, bioscience ethics, and more.

Fight to preserve our one and only planet.
As a biology student, you’ll have opportunities to examine leading-edge, eco-conservation efforts. You will get a handle on the most pressing environmental issues and learn how to combat exploitation linked to corporate farming, mining, energy production and consumption, deforestation, desertification, and more. Species extinction, ozone depletion, and extreme weather are just a few ecological problems that need your attention.

Explore a cornucopia of career options.
Most biologists pursue careers in seven main areas: forensic biology, microbiology, marine biology, wildlife biology, ecology, biological engineering, and biostatistics. Within those areas are myriad specialty occupations. Here are just a few: agronomist, biochemist, environmental analyst, fisheries scientist, forestry technician, genetics technician, plant pathologist, secondary school science teacher, zoologist, and the list goes on.

Transferable skills are the name of the game.
Biology majors need a really big toolbox for the skill set they’ll assemble during their biological studies. Included in that set are investigative, analytical, research, and communication skills obtained from identifying problems, cataloging information, designing experiments, conducting studies, reasoning logically, making data projections, writing research proposals, composing reports, and so much more.

Work in the wildest places.
Biological scientists working in the branches of botany, ecology, entomology, ornithology, and zoology frequently conduct fields studies in exotic locations, ranging from Arctic iceshelfs to temperate rainforests to coastal deserts to alpine belts to flooded savannas to oceanic midnight zones. If you like doing important, adventurous work while living in primitive conditions, biology could be your calling.

Discover solutions to the greatest challenges of your generation.
When you major in biology with the goal to earn an advanced degree, you will encounter opportunities to participate in world-class scientific research. Unanswered questions linked to biology are focused on biodiversity, the origins of life, brain mapping, virus evolution, sustainable agriculture, synthetic life, fatal diseases, DNA sequencing, and more.
Stamp your passport to the scientific universe of biology.

Biology Career Paths

Biology is the study of life

Careers in biology are almost as varied as life itself. The field has branches and subdisciplines as prominent as ornithology, the study of birds, or the more obscure myrmecology, the study of ants. As a biology major, you will develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential for rewarding careers in scientific research and healthcare.

Biology is defined as the study of life. Career options for biology majors are as almost as varied and amazing as life itself. Earning your associate degree in biology at Inver Hills open doors to innumerable occupations, from park ranger to forensic scientist to biology professor to genetic counselor to nurse practitioner to biomedical engineer to biochemist.

LEARN MORE…

Biologists

Research or study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and functions.

Reported job titles

• Aquatic Biologist
• Aquatic Scientist
• Biological Scientist
• Biologist
• Botanist
• Horticulturist
• Marine Biologist
• Research Biologist
• Research Scientist
• Scientist

WAGES

Minnesota (annual)

Wage data for Biological Scientists, All Other.

Workers on average earn $77,650.
10 percent of workers earn $41,820 or less.
10 percent of workers earn $125,760 or more.

United States (annual)

Wage data for Biological Scientists, All Other.

Workers on average earn $93,330.
10 percent of workers earn $54,500 or less.
10 percent of workers earn $159,780 or more.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024 wage data

Occupational Trends: Minnesota

Employment data for Biological Scientists, All Other.

Employment(2022): 740 employees employees
Projected employment (2032): 7900 employees
Projected growth (2022–2032): 7 percent
Projected annual job openings (2020–2030): 60

Occupational Trends: United States

Employment data for Biological Scientists, All Other.

Employment (2024): 63,700 employees
Projected employment (2034): 64,500 employees
Projected growth (2024–2034): 1 percent: Slower than average
Projected annual job openings (2024–2034): 4,800

Visit O*NET OnLine for comprehensive information about the occupation: Biologists

SOURCE: O*NET OnLine: Biologists