• Marine biologists study all live organisms living in water. They encounter a wide variety of work environments and due to the focus of their study on marine life are mostly working from water craft or near shorelines and are usually expert divers.
• Biochemists study the chemical makeup of living organisms and analyze the chemical reactions taking place during growth, metabolism, reproduction, and other bodily processes. Biochemists are mostly involved in biotechnology.
• Biophysicists study how physics affects living organisms. Most are employed in research and development services and pharmaceutical companies. A few found work in schools, architecture, and engineering services.
• Botanists and Zoologists are the two basic biological sciences. They are the study of plants and animals, respectively and their effect on the world around them. They usually work outdoors in forests or jungles trying to find rare plants and study them.
• Microbiologists study microbes; these can be bacteria, viruses, protozoa or fungi. They try to find out what effect, if any, do these microbes have on their surroundings. There are many branches of microbiology, namely Bacteriology, virology, immunology, epidemiology, Immunology, Protozoology, mycology, food, industrial, environmental and medical microbiologists.
• Physiologists study all functions of all living organisms - physical, mechanical and biochemical functions. Physiologists focus on the level of organs and systems. Physiology is closely related to Anatomy and knowledge obtained from physiological research has been utilized in physical therapy.
• Ecologists study the connection, distribution and abundance of organisms and how they interact with their surroundings. They study both plant and animal life. Research done by ecologists can also delve into the subjects of behavior, genetics, and evolution.
Biological scientists usually conduct research and development in specialized laboratories using various special equipment and tools to simulate natural environments. Some types of research though can only be done outdoors. Most biological scientists specialize in studying certain types of organisms but recently these traditional classifications are blurred especially in the field of biotechnology, which lately have been the catalyst in producing new discoveries involving genetic material.
In biology careers, to qualify for basic research positions, a Ph.D. is usually the minimum requirement. A master’s or bachelor’s degree will qualify a person for managerial, inspector, instructor, or technician jobs in research and development. Biological researchers mostly work for government agencies or private industry laboratories. There is much competition for research positions in academic institutions. To obtain funding for projects, biological scientists must submit proposals to government agencies, academic institutions, or private foundations who support scientists whose ideas hold great promise to produce technological advancements.
Outlook for biology employment is predicted to rise by around 21 percent from 2008 to 2018. Research and development in biotechnology is the driving force behind this as well as brand new knowledge gained recently from basic biological research, including the discovery and utilization of genetic technology. Biology is the branch of science which is in line to take this knowledge to its next level of understanding. The agriculture and pharmaceutical sectors now utilize knowledge gained thru biotechnology and therefore will need to hire more biological scientists.
Average annual salaries for various biology careers are as follows:
• Marine Biologists - $72,000.00
• Biochemists - $83,000.00
• Botanists - $73,000.00
• Microbiologists - $65,000.00
• Physiologists - $110,000.00
• Biophysicists - $83,000.00
• Zoologists - $117,000.00
• Ecologists - $85,000.00
If you want to apply for biology jobs you need a bachelor’s degree in biology and you can choose to work in healthcare, ecology, conservation, or even DNA forensics. You can also teach biology and a bachelor’s degree in biological science is required but if you want a lecturer position in biology then a master’s degree will be required.
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