Career Options for Biology Degree Graduates

Here are some of the most common career possibilities for students who have at least a bachelor's degree in Biology. Research biologists dedicate themselves to understanding how living systems work. Their goals are to increase our scientific knowledge and find practical solutions to biological problems that may involve animals, plants, the environment, health care, agriculture, and many other topics in the biological sciences. While many research biologists work in laboratories, some also do fieldwork to gather data and conduct their studies.

Biologists who specialize in health care can work to control the spread of diseases by developing or administering vaccines and treatments. These biologists may also be involved in organizing public health campaigns to help people understand how to protect themselves against illness and what to do if they get sick.

Environmental management and conservation biologists are dedicated to preserving nature and resolving environmental issues. These biologists often work with the public and special interest groups (like landowners, local governments, and businesses) to develop and implement effective plans and programs to preserve the natural world. Types of environmental management biologists include park rangers, who protect state and national parks, and zoo biologists who organize endangered species recovery programs.

Biology educators work in classrooms, research labs, museums, or out in the field to teach others more about the biological sciences. Depending on their interests and qualifications, these biologists may teach at every academic level from elementary school through postgraduate studies. And biological educators may teach, lead tours and nature hikes, and design exhibits and educational programs for science museums, zoos, aquariums, parks, and nature centers.

Biotechnology biologists focus on the use of living organisms and bioprocesses to develop and improve products and tools in the areas of health care (medical), crop production (agricultural), non food uses of crops and other natural products such as biodegradable plastics and biofuels (industrial), and environmental concerns. The concept of biotechnology includes a wide range of procedures to modify living organisms to better serve human needs, including selective breeding, hybridization, and now even cloning.

Forensic biologists often work in a laboratory, studying evidence, writing reports and testifying in court as expert witnesses. While forensic scientists may also visit crime or other incident scenes to help reconstruct the crime or collect or preserve evidence, usually this work is done by specially trained crime scene examiners. Forensic scientists usually work for government agencies, forensic laboratories, police departments, hospitals, and universities.

Biologists can also serve as science advisors who work with lawmakers to create new legislation on biological issues such as biomedical research, environmental protection, and genetically-modified organisms. Their specialized knowledge can help educate lawmakers and the general public and help ensure that policy decisions are made which are backed by proven scientific evidence and research.

Business and industry biologists work with pharmaceutical companies and scientific supply companies to research and test new products. They may also use their specialized biological knowledge in sales, marketing, and public relations positions to help educate their fellow biologists and the general public about new products that are being developed.

Economic biologists work with larger entities like governments, businesses, and Native American tribes to study and address the economic impacts of widespread biological issues including species extinctions, acid rain, renewable forests, brownfields, and environmental pollution.

Mathematical biologists work in fields like bioinformatics and computational biology where they can apply mathematical techniques like modeling ecosystem processes and gene sequencing to solve biological problems.

Biological journalists and writers with a science background use their communications skills to keep the general public informed about important biological issues on a wide range of medical, environmental, industrial and agricultural topics. These biologists form an important link that translates specialized, highly technical scientific research into concepts that non-scientists can easily understand.

Finally, biological artists use their biological knowledge to provide accurate and detailed illustrations and drawings for science textbooks, as well as newspaper, magazine and online science articles.

Related Articles - biology degree, biology major, biology courses,

Email this Article to a Friend! Receive Articles like this one direct to your email box! Subscribe for free today!