Biology is the study of complicated things that have the appearance of having been designed with a purpose. Biologists are magicians who unburden the collective consciousness to unify the universe. Continue Reading
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Explore Career What are the typical responsibilities of a Biologist?
A Biologist would typically need to:
Most Biologists spend at least part of their time in laboratories, which are usually clean, well-lit, and well equipped. They may spend some time in offices and classrooms. Depending on their area of specialization, Biologists are also likely to do some fieldwork. For example, they may travel to Africa to observe monkeys in their natural environment. They may collect moss specimens near the Arctic Circle. Biologists may also work in greenhouses or fields behind their laboratories.
Most Biologists work with teams of laboratory assistants, biological technicians, and other researchers. They should be able to use standard office equipment and software in addition to laboratory equipment (microscopes, slides, dyes) and bioinformatics software (Bioclipse, Anduril).
Biologists’ dress code will depend on whether they are working in a lab, in the field, in an office, or in an academic setting.
Although their basic workweek is often forty hours long, hours are sometimes flexible. Biologists usually spend extra hours completing research projects, writing up their findings, and reading to keep up with the many new developments.
Biologists get to choose jobs in diverse fields such as business, finance, civil service, marketing, sales, forensics, biomedical research, environmental protection, agriculture, medicine, science journalism, and life-science illustration. College instructors and placement offices, professional journals, newspaper classifieds and job banks can point you in the right direction. You can also apply directly to corporations, colleges and universities, scientific and medical research centers, and government agencies. Biologists must sometimes pass a civil service examination to get a government job.
Biologists are generally employed by:
Professional associations and organizations are a crucial resource for those interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more looks excellent on your Resume to bolster your credentials and qualifications.
Many Biologists have to possess a high level of expertise in their field by the time they are ready to embark on a professional career. They complete several years of field or lab work within larger research organizations. There are few opportunities for on-the-job training in this role.
In addition to internships and work placements, prospective Biologists may find voluntary or part-time work helps gain experience. Look for opportunities with organizations such as: conservation facilities, natural history or science museums, pharmaceutical companies, research and clinical laboratories, schools, zoos, or veterinary practices.
In a competitive job market, relevant experience shows your commitment to the career, develops your practical skills, and allows you to make professional contacts. If you're unsure which area of Biology you want to move into, work experience can provide you with a useful insight into the field.
Depending on the specific field in which a Biologist works, educational requirements can vary. While it is possible to become a biological technician or a research assistant with only a bachelor’s degree, most Biologists complete a PhD program in their field to expand employment opportunities and expertise.
It generally takes four years to earn a bachelor's degree and another one or two years for a master's degree. You need to spend an additional two to four years to receive a doctoral degree. Some Biology courses have an integrated master’s, allowing you to complete a master’s degree during an additional year.
Other Biology degree courses incorporate a year-long industrial placement, and you may be eligible to receive a bursary or grant to support your placement. Some also offer work placements.
Certifications for Biologists generally fall into one of two classifications. There is an overall certification of competence which demonstrates competency in skills, typically through work experience, training, the passage of an examination, or some combination of the three.
The other type of certification is a credential given for a skill related to the profession. Marine Biologists, for example, may need to become certified in scuba diving. Clinical Genetic Molecular Biologists, who specialize in diagnostic testing for diseases like cancer or genetic disorders, may require a license.
You could start your career as a laboratory technician and train as a Biologist by studying for a relevant qualification.
There are many possibilities for advancement in Biology, especially for those who have a doctoral degree. Some experienced Biologists become Directors of research teams. Others become Managers or Administrators. Those employed by colleges and universities can be promoted to the rank of full Professors, who often write scientific articles and books.
Many Biologists advance by becoming experts in their special fields or making important discoveries in their research. Some Biologists develop laboratory devices, disease-resistant plants, or new drugs. Others move into scientific journalism.
Opportunities for those with bachelor's or master's degrees in Biology are expected to be better than those with doctoral degrees.
Postgraduate study is a popular choice for Biology graduates. You may find having a higher qualification puts you at an advantage in a competitive job market as it will enhance your research skills, specialist knowledge, and communication skills. However, it is important you research courses carefully to make sure the course you choose matches your career aims.
Biologists usually need a doctoral degree to land administrative positions, head a research team, or teach and research at a university. Biologists in fields such as pathology and pharmacology have a doctor of medicine (M.D.) degree instead of or in addition to a doctoral degree (PhD). To keep up with new developments in the life sciences, Biologists must continue to study throughout their careers.
The Basic Premise and the Areas of Specialization
Biologists study the origin, development, structure, and function of plant and animal life. The word biology comes from the Greek word bios, which means "mode of life." Biologists usually specialize in one area and are recognized and named by that specialty. This role encompasses a large number of subfields and specializations, from Microbiology to Biochemistry to Wildlife Biology.
Wildlife Biologists concentrate on the traits and habitats of wild animals. Plant Biologists, or Botanists, study how plants function and evolve. Scientists who specialize in Human Biology help people lead healthier lives. As Molecular Biologists, they research medical drugs and create strategies for environmental protection. Biologists also develop public health campaigns to raise awareness of and prevent deadly diseases.
Bacteriologists and Virologists research bacteria and viruses that affect people, while Clinical Microbiologists discover microorganisms that can cure human disease. Immunologists specialize in the immune system defenses of the human body. In many cases, Biologists are recognized according to the kind of organism that they study. For example, Biologists who study animals are often known as Zoologists. Biologists who specialize in plants are called Botanists. Those who work with microscopic forms of plant and animal life, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, are known as Microbiologists.
Anatomists study the structure of living things, ranging from single-celled plants and animals to human beings and redwood trees. Physiologists specialize in the study of the life functions of plants and animals. These functions include growth, respiration, and reproduction. Geneticists study heredity and how traits, or inherited characteristics, vary in all forms of life. Pathologists concentrate on the effects of diseases on the cells, tissues, and organs of plants and animals.
Nutritionists study how food is used and changed into energy. They examine how living tissue is built and repaired by its use of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and other nutrients. Pharmacologists study the effects of drugs and other substances, such as poisons and dusts, on living organisms.
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Some scientists work in areas that combine other sciences with Biology. For example, Biochemists specialize in the chemistry of living things. Biophysicists concentrate on the atomic structure and the electrical and mechanical energy of cells and organisms. Ecologists are life scientists who study the relationship of plants and animals to their environment. Other life scientists specialize in the organisms in one kind of environment. Marine Biologists, for example, study organisms that live in the ocean.
One Specialism - Varied Avenues of Employment
Some Geneticists are hired to develop new breeds of animals, such as chickens, that can provide better food for people. Other Geneticists teach Biology and genetics to college students. They may also work for hospitals where they counsel people to help them understand how likely they are to pass on hereditary diseases.
Biology is now deemed bigger than physics, as measured by the size of budgets, by the size of the workforce, or by the output of significant discoveries. Biology is likely to remain the biggest part of science through the 21st century. As such, Biologists are obligated not to perform research that simply reproduced somebody else’s results. They should do something new and unique.
In the long history of humankind and animal kind too, those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.
Fingers prune underwater not because they absorb the water or lose natural oils, but because an evolutionary trait caused by the brain enhances the grip of your fingers underwater.
What do Biologists do?
A Biologist would typically need to:
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