Biological Scientist
A Biological Scientist, often referred to as a biologist, is a professional who studies living organisms, including plants, animals, and microorganisms, and their interactions with the environment. This field encompasses both basic research, aimed at expanding knowledge, and applied research, which focuses on solving specific issues such as disease treatment or food safety. Biologists typically specialize in sub-disciplines such as microbiology, zoology, marine biology, or botany, and their work can take place in laboratories or in the field.
Employment opportunities for biological scientists exist in educational institutions, government agencies, and private industries, with median earnings around $91,100 annually. Their daily responsibilities may include conducting experiments, analyzing biological samples, and writing reports based on their findings. The profession often requires a minimum of a bachelor's degree in biological sciences, with many advancing to master's or doctoral levels for higher research positions. Additionally, biologists may collaborate with a variety of professionals and utilize advanced technologies in their research endeavors. Overall, the role of a biological scientist is vital in addressing contemporary challenges related to health, environmental sustainability, and agricultural productivity.
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Subject Terms
Biological Scientist
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources, Health Science, Manufacturing, Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
Interests: Biological sciences, laboratory research, mathematics
Earnings (Yearly Median): $91,100 annual $43.80 hourly
Employment & Outlook: 2% to 4% (Average)
Overview
Sphere of Work. Biological scientists, commonly called biologists, study plants, animals, bacteria, protozoa, and fungi and the relationships between these living organisms and their natural environments. Biologists perform basic and applied research in the field and in the laboratory. Basic research aims to acquire greater knowledge, while applied research studies are done to solve a specific problem. Biologists typically specialize in a sub-field of biological science, such as zoology, marine biology, microbiology, or botany.
Work Environment. Biological scientists are employed as basic researchers by educational institutions, corporations, and government agencies. Applied research positions are more prevalent in private industry. Biologists spend a great deal of time in the laboratory, conducting experiments and studying live organisms and tissue samples. Laboratories are usually clean, brightly lit, well-ventilated, and highly organized. Outside the laboratory, many biologists spend long periods conducting research in the field, which often requires travel to isolated areas for prolonged periods. In these environments, they may endure rough terrain or seas, extreme weather conditions, and the risk of physical injury. Office or classroom work is also common among biological scientists.
Occupation Interest. Biologists experience and study nature firsthand. Some applied biological researchers work to discover new treatments for diseases or develop safeguards for food supplies. Other biologists seek alternative energy sources, such as biofuels, in an effort to reduce greenhouse gases. The field of biological science is extremely broad, providing countless disciplines in which biologists may specialize.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. The daily responsibilities and duties of biological scientists vary based on the specialty field in which they work. For example, marine biologists may spend a great deal of time at sea, studying and tracking animal behavior, while botanists often work in botanical gardens and greenhouses. Their activities also depend on the type of research being conducted. Basic research may entail observational practices, such as monitoring a species in its natural environment and carefully logging its activities and behavior; applied research, on the other hand, often involves taking a sample of a species (such as a leaf, insect venom, or blood) and conducting experiments to gauge its reaction to certain chemicals, stimuli, or environmental conditions.
At the center of every biological scientist’s job is research. They collect and analyze samples and biological data in order to study the origins, anatomy, basic functions, and physical development of the organisms in question. Such research may involve conducting population surveys, tracking selected animals, dissecting carcasses, and analyzing waste. Biologists also study the organisms’ environments, breaking down soil and water samples, assessing radioactivity and pollution levels, and measuring rainfall and other climate conditions. They use the data collected in the laboratory and the field to write technical reports, scholarly papers, and articles, which they present to the organizations for which they work, or at public events and scientific conferences.
Physiologists (041.061-078). Physiologists study life functions of plants and animals under normal and abnormal conditions.
Biophysicists (041.061-034).Biophysicists conduct research to learn how living cells and organisms see and hear, transmit electrical impulses along nerves and muscles, react to x-rays and nuclear particles, and carry forward characteristics from one generation to the next.
Animal Breeders (041.061-014). Animal Breeders develop systems of breeding desirable characteristics, such as improvement in strength, maturity rate, disease resistance, and meat quality of animals.
Entomologists (041.061-046).Entomologists study insects and their relation to plant and animal life.
Geneticists (041.061-050).Geneticists perform experiments to determine how and why we inherit the traits that we have.
Histopathologists (041.061-054).Histopathologists study human and animal tissue to determine how diseases that impair body functions are caused and how they progress.
Pharmacologists (041.061-074).Pharmacologists study the effects of drugs, gases, dust and other materials on tissue and physiological processes of animals and human beings.
Plant Breeders (041.061-082). Plant Breeders plan and carry out breeding studies to develop and improve varieties of crops in the way of yield, size, quality, maturity, and resistance to frost, drought, disease, and insect pests in plants.
Plant Pathologists (041.061-086). Plant Pathologists do research in the nature, cause, and control of plant diseases and decay of plant products.
Environmental Epidemiologists (041.167-010). Environmental Epidemiologists plan, direct, and conduct studies concerned with the occurrence of disease in industrial settings and the effects of industrial chemicals on health.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. Biological scientists work predominantly in laboratories, which are highly organized and very clean. Some laboratory work may require the use of safety equipment to prevent exposure to toxins or biohazards. Most biologists perform some research in the field, in remote or heavily forested locations, or at sea. When writing reports and other documents, they work in offices at government agencies, universities, corporations, research centers, and nonprofit organizations.
Human Environment. Depending on their areas of specialty, biological scientists interact and collaborate with a wide range of individuals. Their colleagues may include government officials, engineers, university professors, research assistants, business executives, and other scientists. In some cases, they may also oversee laboratory assistants and technicians. Some may have contact with farmers or other members of the public while gathering data or explaining findings.
Technological Environment. Biological scientists work with a wide array of technologies in the field, in the lab, and at the office. With spectrometers and photometers, they gauge conditions in which organisms live. They use nets to collect aquatic specimens and microtomes to remove extremely thin slices of material, which they then examine under many types of microscopes, such as electron microscopes and dissecting microscopes. In the office, they must use a wide range of databases, scientific and analytical software systems, and photo imaging programs, as well as office suites to prepare technical reports, articles, papers, and grant proposals.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School. High school students should study biology, chemistry, and physics. In addition, more specialized subjects such as anatomy, physiology, zoology, and environmental sciences can help students understand the relationship between humanity and the natural world. Mathematics, including algebra, calculus, and geometry, are also highly useful, as are computer science courses. Students should hone their writing and public speaking skills through English and communications classes.
Postsecondary. Biologists must have at least a bachelor’s degree in the biological or natural sciences. This training will help them pursue their master’s degree, which is often also essential for biologists. At the graduate level, biologists may obtain specialized training in such fields as horticulture, zoology, microbiology, and botany. A bachelor’s or master’s degree may be sufficient for applied research positions in the private sector; however, a doctorate is mandatory for biologists seeking to become senior researchers and university professors. Most biologists choose to obtain a doctorate in their specialized area, pursuing independent research and publishing their findings in academic journals. One- or two-year postdoctoral fellowship positions are common.
Related Occupations
− Botanist
− Environmental Science Technician
− Forester and Conservation Scientist
− Water and Wastewater Engineer
Bibliography
"Biologists." O*NET OnLine. National Center for O*NET Development, US Dept. of Labor, 9 Aug. 2024, www.onetonline.org/link/summary/19-1029.04. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.
"Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023 19-1029 Biological Scientists, All Other." US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 3 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes191029.htm. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.