How to become A Biological Anthropologist

• Physical Anthropologist

What do Biological Anthropologists do?

A Biological Anthropologist would typically need to:

• Understand how humans adapt to diverse environments; how biological and cultural processes work together to shape growth, development, and behavior; what causes disease and early death
• Document and explain the patterning of human biological origins, evolution, and variation; focus on investigating questions related to the evolutionary theory and our place in nature
• Analyze the fossil record (paleoanthropology) to trace the evolution of human lineage through time
• Learn about other primates (primatology) to provide a comparative perspective on human uniqueness in this particular context
• Study prehistoric people (bioarchaeology) and biological factors (health, cognition, hormones, growth, and development) to understand how humans have been influenced by their heredity
• Conduct research on the genetics of living populations to explain sickness and untimely deaths
• Communicate their ideas and research findings to a diverse audience which may include visitors to a museum, government officials, other scholars, or a management group from the corporate or manufacturing world
• Exhibit patience and care while sifting through bushels of earth looking for fossils and artifacts or while sorting data looking for details about a specific area of human culture
• Work as part of a research team when necessary, although they carry out much of their work independently
• Be adaptable and get along with people from cultures that may be very different from their own, in the interest of conducting objective research and securing unbiased data

Biological Anthropologists employed by educational institutions usually spend their time in offices, classrooms, and libraries. Those employed by museums, government agencies or corporate organizations experience a wide variety of working conditions.

Fieldwork plays an intrinsic role in every Biological Anthropologist’s work. It may take them to the Arctic to study the Inuit, to Africa to observe monkeys in their natural habitat, or into a modern city to observe members of a particular ethnic group.

The work hours of Biological Anthropologists in the academic field are flexible but often total more than forty per week.

There are many and varied professional opportunities for Biological Anthropologists.

They work in anthropology, anatomy, biological sciences, human biology, zoology, medical school departments, and combined departments of sociology & anthropology/social sciences at colleges and universities.Those who study primates often work in biology or psychology departments or on the staff of zoos or zoological research institutes.

They may be employed in paleontology, prehistory, or geology departments, or as staff members of natural history museums. Biological Anthropologists who wish to work with living people may find themselves in medical schools, in the departments of physiology, nutrition, genetics, or in physical education and athletics programs.They may choose to do forensic consultation (skeletal identification or DNA fingerprinting) for law enforcement agencies to assist in solving crimes.

Biological Anthropologists are generally employed by:

• Colleges & Universities
• High Schools
• Zoos
• Zoological Research Institutes
• Natural History Museums
• Medical Schools
• Law Enforcement Agencies
• Physical Education Programs
• Athletic Training Programs

The World Anthropological Union (WAU) is an inclusive, cooperative forum that invigorates transnational anthropologies. WAU is the interface that unites the missions of the International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences (IUAES) and the World Council of Anthropological Associations (WCAA), galvanizing person-to-person international dialogues and stimulating cooperative exchange among anthropological associations.

WAU represents the field’s ethical and scientific values as the discipline's primary international organization. The IUAES is a global organization of scientists and institutions working in anthropology, ethnology, archaeology, and linguistics. The WCAA is a network of national, regional, and international associations that aims to promote worldwide communication and cooperation in anthropology.

• High probability of rugged living conditions and strenuous physical exertion during fieldwork
• Work hours extending beyond the norm to meet academic and research deadlines
• Uncertainty over the future of projects dependent on funding

Students pursuing their masters in biological anthropology often have an opportunity to work as research assistants and gain the requisite experience and training in quantitative and qualitative research methods. Openings are sometimes listed in professional publications. Students may also gain research experience through fieldwork or internships with museums, historical societies, or nonprofit organizations while still in school.

Biological anthropology is the combined study of the cultural and biological factors that affect human variations. While few high schools offer courses specifically in biological anthropology, many have courses in general anthropology or cover it in their social studies classes. Some colleges and universities offer programs in biological anthropology at the bachelor’s level.

Most programs are available only at the master’s level; admission requires a bachelor’s degree in biological, physical, or general anthropology. Master’s programs are generally for students who wish to enhance their work with study in a specialized topic, such as forensics, or for working professionals who hold a related bachelor's degree and wish to diversify their career.

Though individuals with a bachelor's or master's degree sometimes qualify for research or administrative positions in government or private firms, employers normally prefer a doctoral degree in biological anthropology.

With its strong emphasis on the theoretical background, discipline-specific knowledge, and advanced, quantitative research methods, a master’s degree is the ideal foundation for a wide range of professional careers or doctoral research. Master’s and doctoral programs focus on research, both independent and under the supervision of faculty members.

It usually takes at least eight years of full-time study beyond high school to get a PhD degree in biological anthropology. Students specializing in biological anthropology should also take advanced statistics and one or more biological sciences.

Voluntary certification from an objective and reputed organization demonstrates competence in a set of skills, typically through work experience, training, the passage of an examination, or some combination of the three. It can help you gain professional credibility, build your expertise in a specific area, and stay up-to-date on technology.

Career progression is driven by performance, experience, and acquisition of professional qualifications. Biological Anthropologists are highly trained specialists who usually advance by improving their skills and becoming experts in their chosen fields. They often write books and articles about their findings.

Many feel that the best form of advancement is winning the recognition of other anthropologists and scholars in other fields. Biological Anthropologists can also supervise teams researching archaeological sites. They can advance to the rank of Full Professor in a college or university or become Administrators.

Prospective Biological Anthropologists will likely face intense competition for jobs because of the small number of positions relative to applicants. Job prospects will be best for candidates with a PhD or an applied master’s degree, extensive anthropological fieldwork experience, and experience in quantitative and qualitative research.

Continuing professional development is the holistic commitment of Biological Anthropologists towards enhancing personal skills and proficiency throughout their active careers through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning. There are a whole host of CPD courses, seminars, and workshops to help professionals in the field.

CPD allows individuals to upskill continually, regardless of their age, job, or level of knowledge. It prevents practical and academic qualifications from becoming outdated. It enables Biological Anthropologists to identify any knowledge gaps and progress to a new specialism.

Biological anthropology, also known as physical anthropology, is a subdiscipline of anthropology. Its techniques include both the analysis of fossils as well as of the behavior, morphology, and genetics of living humans. Within the field of biological anthropology, there are many different areas of focus.

Diverse Areas of Expertise

Paleoanthropology studies the evolution of primates and hominids from fossil records and what can be determined through comparative anatomy and studies of social structure and behavior from our closest living relatives. Archaeological techniques help uncover the skeletal remains of our ancestors from eras gone by.

Primatologists study prosimians, monkeys, and apes, using this work to understand the features that make each group distinct while linking them together.

Skeletal biology concentrates on studying anatomically modern humans, primarily from archaeological sites; it aims to understand the diseases and conditions these people experienced before dying.

Forensic anthropologists use the study of skeletal biology to assist in the identification and analysis of more recently deceased individuals. Such cases often involve complex legal considerations.

Human biologists concentrate on contemporary humans, examining their anatomy, physiology, reproduction, and the effects of social status and other factors on their growth and development.

A Dream Career

“Stimulating, satisfying, enriching, and exciting” - these are just a few ways Biological Anthropologists describe their work experiences. Scientific research answers some questions but poses countless more, translating into a legion of unique discoveries waiting to be unearthed.

Writing and communicating the findings of your research to diverse audiences adds to the sense of accomplishment. Passing on the torch to the next generations of Biological Anthropologists comes with its own set of immeasurable fulfillment.

Research in the field, outside of the conventional laboratory, brings its own adventures and thrills. It could occur in relatively exotic places or in hospitals and zoological parks - wherever an interesting biological problem is identified. The "field" stretches across the whole wide world. Most Biological Anthropologists affirm that the challenge of making discoveries more than compensates for any lack of physical comfort on field trips.

Nearly one in five red-haired patients require a more significant anesthetic dose than the general population because of genetic differences.

Biological anthropology is the subject of constant debate and discussion between the social and the biological - virtually the same processes. Understanding and helping us understand that complicated entanglement is the challenge Biological Anthropologists take on.

Anthropology is separated from mass reading, and that always bothered Margaret Mead. She always said that she wrote everything for her grandmother, in a way that her grandmother could understand.