Biologist Job Description: Overview, Education & Training Requirements, Job Outlook and Salary
Submitted by: Gypsy Santiago
Job Overview: Biologists are scientists who study the origin, function, structure and development of animal and plant life. They are also called life scientists or biological scientists and usually specialize in a particular area, such as pathology (disease on animals and plant cells), botany (plants), zoology (animals), microbiology (microscopic animals and plants), genetics (heredity of life forms), physiology (life function of animals and plants), and pharmacology (drugs and poisons), among others.
Some scientists combine biology with other sciences and work as biochemists (chemistry of living things), ecologists (relationship of animals or plants to environment), biophysicists (atomic structure of cells and organisms) or other specializations
Education, Training and Knowledge Requirements: If you’re interested in this field, you should complete a bachelor’s degree in biology. A master’s degree in biological sciences can land you a job with teaching positions in high school and applied research. To teach at universities or work as an administrator, a doctoral degree is needed. Some specializations such as pharmacology and pathology would require a doctor of medicine (M.D.) degree.
Skills & Abilities: Knowledge of mathematical/scientific rules and methods; excellent critical thinking, reading comprehension, active listening and complex problem solving skills; effective written and verbal communication skills; sound judgment and decision making skills; exceptional research, time-management and teaching skills, among others.
Duties: Tasks of a biologist may vary widely depending on specialization. In general, they research projects for different industries and agencies and present technical information on conferences; identifying, classifying and studying animals and plants; measuring oxygen, salinity and acidity of water; reviewing reports related to land use classifications or recreational development; breeding and cultivation of aquatic animals; managing wild populations; supervising the preservation of plant, animal, aquatic samples or soil; as well as conducting tests for the control and management of pests using processes and tested products.
Other biologists teach university students, supervise research work and perform various research-related tasks for the university.
They may also guide technicians, technologists and other professions while working on research studies.
Earnings & Job Outlook: The employment growth in biology is expected to grow as fast as average through 2014. Research positions that require a doctorate degree are highly competitive, so those with a bachelor’s or master’s degrees receive better opportunities. Earnings for biologists vary largely, depending on the location and type of job, experience and education. In 2005, general biological professionals receive up to $70,000 per year.
Gypsy Santiago is a professional resume writer and career search strategy/career branding coach with years of experience in assisting job seekers prepare for the job market. She helps create career-targeted resumes, provides useful tips about career transition, offers future career ideas and guide jobseekers about effective job search techniques.
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Word Count: 432 Date: Mon, 6 Sep 2010 Time: 1:12 AM
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