When most people envision a biologist or someone working in the field of biology , more often than not they see a person in a white lab coat peering into a microscope in a room filled with beakers and glass slides.
Spending time in laboratories conducting research and using a microscope to closely examine various specimens is a very real outcome for many professional fields that are directly linked to the study of biology.
Michael R. These main branches of biology include:. It would be misleading to suggest that in order to succeed in the field of biology, a person must have a defined set of personal characteristics or traits. That being said, there are personal skills and characteristics that do contribute to a person being drawn to biology and thriving in any of the professions to which a degree can ultimately lead.
At NU, Dr. Primary duties: Content writers research and explain complex material understandably and engagingly. You can submit your work as a freelance writer to magazines and publications, or you can choose to work in-house for an organization.
Educational requirements: A bachelor's degree is often required for full-time positions, while freelance opportunities can be available to those with a high school diploma and strong writing skills. Primary duties: Health educators use their knowledge of exercise, nutrition, disease and more to educate communities about wellness and health. Health educators are often responsible for collecting and studying data on a variety of health concerns and creating informational materials and actionable training programs.
Health educators often apply their communication and leadership skills to explain complex information in settings such as community centers, educational institutions, public health institutions and even private businesses.
Education requirements: A bachelor's degree is a minimum requirement for health educators. Primary duties: High school teachers educate students on the fundamentals of biology. High school teachers teach students in grades and typically possess strong communication, organization and time-management skills. Daily responsibilities for high school teachers often include creating lesson plans, lecturing, answering questions, assigning homework and grading examination material.
Education requirements: High school biology teachers are required to have a bachelor's degree with most public schools requiring state-issued certification or licensure, as well. Companies with this position: Local school districts, charter schools, online schools.
Primary duties: Physician liaisons act as intermediaries between medical staff and a hospital or other health organization such as a nursing home. A primary aim of a physician liaison is to strengthen the relationship between the two groups.
Education requirements: A Bachelor's Degree in Biology or similar science is required for physician liaisons. Experience or a minor in sales can also be helpful. Primary duties: Food scientists create food additives that improve storage methods and safety. Food scientists often conduct laboratory tests and analyze products to ensure quality. These scientists frequently work with government agencies, food manufacturers and research institutes.
Education requirements: Food scientists are often required to have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Many pursue advanced degrees to enable specialization and career growth. Primary duties: An environmental scientist develops technology that protects ecosystems or the global environment. An environmental scientist could also act as an advisor for policy recommendations that pertain to the climate or environment. Education requirements: A Bachelor's Degree in Biology can qualify you for entry-level work in the field of environmental science.
Many professionals, however, choose to pursue graduate-level work in environmental science to advance progress more quickly in their career. Companies with this position: Ecology and Environment, Inc.
Primary duties: Forensic scientists assist in criminal investigations by collecting and analyzing biological evidence related to a case. Generally, forensic scientists specialize in either laboratory analysis or crime scene investigation. Primary duties: Biologists conduct experiments and analysis on organic matter or organisms. A wide range of field specializations include marine biology, genetic biology, developmental biology and evolutionary biology.
The emphasis of this career is research. Though their duties depend on their specific role, environmental consultants primarily predict and evaluate environmental impact caused by human endeavors. They also assist with remediation and sustainability efforts. Senior officials work in leadership roles, managing teams and coordinating research projects. Associate directors oversee research teams and projects. If they work in an academic setting, they also manage the biology department's faculty training and grant acquisitions.
If they work with private companies, they apply their research findings for commercialization. Associate directors must possess exceptional administrative and financial skills. Due to the significant investment of time and money, few students pursue a doctoral degree in biology as a sequential part of their academic training. Furthermore, many doctoral programs only accept applicants with ample work and research experience.
Biologists typically earn doctoral degrees so they can advance their mid-level careers, qualifying for positions as tenured professors, head research scientists, and senior consultants. Doctoral biology programs center on self-motivated work. Students spend their first years taking specialized coursework, writing proposals, and gathering funding for research.
They spend the remainder of their time in the program conducting tests; analyzing data; and preparing for a dissertation defense, publication, and oral examination. Doctoral students can also access fellowships, through which they gain paid experience as lecturers and undergraduate coordinators.
Specializations are available in areas like computational biology, molecular biology, and conservation ecology. Biotechnology roles can be found in academia, engineering, and manufacturing. Senior research scientists can work as educators and consultants, helping audiences understand theoretical and technical concepts in their field.
They may also pursue industrial development careers, creating new products for distribution. As leaders of research teams, principal scientists oversee project design, laboratory testing, and data analysis and application. In addition to a firm grasp of scientific inquiry, these scientists must possess strong communication skills to motivate employees and present findings.
College professors teach students through lectures, seminars, and laboratory sessions. Biology professors cultivate expertise through their own research and publication. These professionals can also work for organizations as field experts, research leads, and consultants. Because much of a biology student's training consists of project design, laboratory testing, and data analysis, research science seems like the obvious career choice.
However, biology majors can also pursue other professional opportunities, including the five careers presented in the following section. Fitness trainers help their clients lose weight, gain strength, and rehabilitate from illness and injury.
They assess each client's condition, including their general measurements and biochemical compositions. In addition to assisting clients through workout routines, personal trainers provide meal plans and other consultations. These professionals help clients develop healthy eating behaviors to lose weight and manage medical conditions. Nutritionists and dieticians can also find employment with schools, hospitals, and government agencies. In these settings, they develop meal plans and health programs to improve the lives of communities.
Using their knowledge of physiology and genetics, scientific illustrators visualize anatomy, molecular structures, and environmental processes. They often work in academia, providing illustrations for textbooks and other educational materials. They can also pursue careers in forensic imaging and graphic design. Possible employers include hospitals, specialty publishers, and film studios. Depending on their specific position, medical writers create training materials, user manuals, and educational literature.
Because most of their work involves research and presentation, these professionals need strong communication skills and in-depth knowledge of biology and medicine. Writers can find work with health organizations, pharmaceutical companies, and equipment manufacturers.
Dental hygienists assess patient conditions, looking for signs of oral disease. They also perform general procedures, including cleaning stains and removing plaque buildup. Additionally, dental hygienists fill educational roles, providing consultations on preventative and post-surgery care. Minimum requirements include professional accreditation and state licensure. Continuing your education, which may include earning an advanced degree or taking free online courses, also boosts your resume.
Additionally, joining professional organizations, attending conferences, and engaging in networking opportunities can prove invaluable to your career. The following section takes a closer look at certifications and licensure, continuing education opportunities, and additional steps biologists can take to advance their careers. Whether or not biology professionals need to earn certifications or licenses depends largely on their focus area.
Individuals who go on to teach biology at a public secondary school, for example, must earn state licensure. Medical biology careers often require state licensure. For example, to work as a clinical genetic molecular biologist in California, professionals must earn a license.
While licensure is not required to be a marine biologist, maritime certifications can open the door to additional career opportunities. Professional biology organizations offer many different types of certification. For example, the Building Biology Institute provides credentials to professionals with experience in certain subfields. The Wildlife Society offers a professional development program, while the CDC provides online training for public health and clinical laboratory professionals.
Expanding your skills often coincides with professional growth. Durham Technical College's biotechnology courses, for example, allow students hone lab skills and prepare for state certification exams.
Beyond individual courses, pursuing an advanced degree is often a great investment. Biologists who hold a master's or doctoral degree may qualify for a wider variety of jobs and higher salaries. Earning professional credentials and engaging in continuing education are excellent ways to stay abreast of the latest findings and technologies related to biology.
Networking opportunities — often provided through professional organizations — also help keep biologists engaged in the field.
Individuals can build and maintain relationships with other professionals, which may lead to collaboration opportunities and job offers. Switching your career to biology may require going back to school to advance your education. Entry-level laboratory work may only require an associate degree, but more advanced biology work typically requires an undergraduate or more advanced degree.
Career changers with an undergraduate degree in a science field may have an easier time transitioning into a biology program. Students with a STEM-based undergraduate degree can also apply to biology graduate programs, as long as they have completed required undergraduate biology coursework.
This industry offers opportunities in higher education, where biologists can work as researchers and professors.
Professionals can also work in public health and community engagement roles, helping promote disease prevention and sustainability initiatives. Biotechnology provides the tools needed to improve human and environmental health. Biologists can work in areas like sustainable agriculture, medicine, and food science. They can also pursue industrial careers as designers and engineers. This industry centers on developing and evaluating medications and related products.
Biologists in this area generally work as pharmaceutical researchers or take on compliance roles. With a degree in bioinformatics or a related field, graduates can pursue careers in the IT industry.
In IT, biologists apply their communication, data analytics, and database management skills to organize and protect their organization's information. Biologists in this industry work as researchers, engineers, project coordinators, and managers.
A botanist studies plant life, especially the molecular level and the interaction between plants and their environments.
You can find other positions within universities and governments. You'll need at least a bachelor's degree, but to be competitive, a master's degree is usually preferable.
If you opt for a forest service career or a conservation scientist position, you'll be managing and researching forests and their relationship with land quality.
You may choose to work in a state or national park or range lands. Other positions include working for lumber harvesting companies, government agencies or even a conservation organization. You'll need a bachelor's degree while some positions require a master's degree. Depending on the type of research you wish to pursue, you may need a PhD. A soil scientist analyzes the soil composition and its relationship to plants, especially agricultural crops. You'll be concerned with the soil properties, such as chemical, morphology, and distribution.
There are many career options within agricultural industries. Positions within various government agencies concerned with wetlands, watersheds, crops, farming, etc. A Bachelor of Science degree is required. If you go into a specialized field, additional training, Master's degree or PhD degree may be required.
A horticulturist works with the processes of plant life that include plant growth, production and various aspects of working with plants, such as landscaping, nursery plant production, and even research positions for developing new hybrid plants. Many horticulturists operate their own nurseries, greenhouses or landscaping business. You may decide to go into research for developing new plant breeds for food or ornamental plants.
A bachelor's degree with an emphasis in horticulture is required. If you decide to go into research, you'll need a master's degree and if you decide to specialize in a specific research, other educational requirements may be needed. An undergraduate degree in biology offers you many career options and provides a solid base for building a more advanced career. You can explore these and other biology related careers offered in the public and private sectors.
Most Popular Biology Career Field The list of potential biology careers includes several career fields to explore. What Career Is Right for Me?
Medical Field Humans are naturally part of the study of biological life. Physician or Surgeon A physician examines, diagnoses and treats patients' illnesses and injuries. Education, Licenses, and Median Salary You will need a bachelor's degree, a four-year degree from a medical school and a minimum of one-year internship to take the medical board exam and receive your license to practice medicine.
Physician Assistant A physician assistant is a team member along with physicians, surgeons and various healthcare professionals. Education and Median Salary You will need a master's degree in general practice or chosen area of medicine. Nurses There are several types of nursing positions you can explore. Chiropractor A chiropractor treats the neuromusculoskeletal systems of patients through various manipulation techniques.
Podiatrist A podiatrist specializes in medical care for feet, as well as ankles and lower leg ailments, diseases and injuries that includes surgery. Exercise Physiologist As an exercise physiologist, you'll be responsible for developing fitness and exercise programs for patients suffering from illnesses and injuries.
Education, Licenses and Salary This career requires a bachelor's degree and a focus in various health and medical courses, especially biology. Nutritionist or Dietitian A nutritionist and dietitian work with patients to devise a healthy lifestyle approach to eating. Education, Licenses and Salary You'll need to complete a bachelor's degree that include a training period through an internship. Pharmacist A pharmacist is trained to dispense various prescription medicines while offering drug and medicine expert advice about the medicines.
Lab Technologist or Technician Lab technicians and technologists collect samples of body fluids, tissues and other types of substances. Education, Licenses and Salary As a lab technologist you'll need a bachelor's degree. Coroner Coroners are typically elected county government officials. Education, Licenses and Salary The requirements for the coroner's position can be different from one county to another. Forensic Science Technicians A forensic science technician works with criminal investigators or as part of the team.
Education, Licenses and Salary A bachelor's degree is required along with on-the-job training for both crime scene forensic science technicians working in labs and at crime scenes. Pathologist A medical pathologist is typically referred to as a pathologist. Education, Licenses and Salary A typical education of a physician is required with a bachelor's degree in biology or chemistry, a four-year medical degree from an accredited college and three or more years in a residency program.
Animal Science Like the medical field, careers in animal science require an understanding of biology with a keen focus on the animal kingdom. Veterinarian A veterinarian provides medical care for all types of animals, including surgery when needed. Education, Licenses and Salary You'll need a Bachelor's degree to attend an accredited veterinary college for a four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. Veterinary Assistant A veterinarian assistant helps the veterinarian in caring for animals.
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists A zoologist and wildlife biologists study and interact with ecosystems to understand current conditions and threats to wildlife. Education, Licenses and Salary You'll need a bachelor's degree.
Marine Biologist A marine biologist studies and researches the ecosystems, biology and interaction of animals and plants in saltwater environments, such as oceans, coastal lands, wetlands and marshes.
Education, Licenses and Salary A bachelor's degree is required for some positions, while a PhD is needed for many research careers. Animal Trainer or Animal Care Service Worker An animal trainer or animal care service worker attends to the welfare and health of animals. Biology Careers in Education If you love biology class, including reading slides, dissecting animals, talking about plants, evolution and more, then you may want a career that lets you have a broad focus on the science of biology.
Biology Careers in Research Humans continue to learn new things about how life forms interact, develop and degrade. Biology Careers in Plant Life Sciences In addition to human and animal life, biologists may also investigate plant life.
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