Careers in Biology
Animals
Biological Illustrator
If any career melds science and art, it is biological illustration. Despite advances in photography, we still rely on vivid illustrations to help us learn about nature in a visual way. A biological illustrator produces detailed illustrations of everything...
Conservation Biologist
A conservation biologist focuses on sustaining populations and protecting natural habitats, with the overall goal of preserving Earth’s biodiversity. Conservation biologists can work in all fields of biology, specializing in subjects as diverse as coral reefs, cheetahs of the...
Ecologist
An ecologist studies the interactions among the organisms and environmental conditions of an ecosystem. Ecology is a science that requires gathering a huge amount of data from a lot of sources. An ecologist must do this while at the...
Ecotourism Guide
Ecotourism encourages visits to natural areas and preserves. The goal is to do little or no harm to the environment, while supporting local culture and encouraging conservation of the area. Ecotourism guides can find work all over the world...
Ethologist
An ethologist studies animal behavior, from the tiniest insects to the largest whales. The focus of ethology is not only how animals behave, but also why they behave as they do. For this reason, ethology often involves the study...
Evolutionary Biologist
An evolutionary biologist studies the origins and evolution of life and the relationships among Earth’s diverse organisms. Because evolution and evolutionary theory affects every aspect of biology, evolutionary biologists can focus their research on subjects as diverse as living bacteria,...
Farm Manager
A farm manager oversees all of the activities of a farm. There are farms that grow crops, farms that raise livestock, and also farms that raise fish, shrimp, and other aquatic life. Whatever the organism may be, a farm...
Fish and Wildlife Manager
A fish or wildlife manager manages populations of wild animals to ensure that the size of a given population of animals is sustainable. In some cases, the wildlife will be made available to humans for recreational hunting or fishing,...
Forensic Scientist
A forensic scientist is any scientist that analyzes evidence for a criminal investigation and may give expert testimony during court proceedings. One example of a forensic scientist is a geneticist who testifies on the probability of a DNA sample...
Immunologist
An immunologist studies the immune system and its responses to viruses and other pathogens and allergens. Many immunologists work on developing vaccines for diseases such as HIV. Vaccines for polio, diptheria, tetanus, and other diseases have already saved millions...
Marine Biologist
Marine biologists study life in the seas. Subjects of research include fisheries biology, marine mammals, marine plants and algae, coral reefs, deep-sea communities, zooplankton, and many more. This field is vast and growing, but it is also one of...
Nature Photographer
Capturing an image of a leaping great white shark or a falcon soaring over a mountain range can require a great deal of luck and a lot of waiting, but it also requires skill and experience. You don’t need...
Neuroscientist
Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system of humans or other animals. Neuroscientists study the physical and chemical processes of the brain and their relationships to the behavior and health of organisms. Many neuroscientists are physicians who study...
Oceanographer
An oceanographer studies the physical processes that occur in the sea. Oceanography includes marine chemistry, marine geology, physics, and biology. Physical oceanography is the study of the sea’s interactions with the atmosphere and Earth, including tides, weather, and climate....
Paleontologist
Paleontologists study the fossil record to better understand evolution, the biology of long-extinct species, and what life on Earth was like in the past. Paleontology is a broad field of science, and requires knowledge in all major sciences: physics,...
Research Engineer
An engineer who works with drugs, medical devices, and genetically-modified (GM) foods for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tests these products and reviews data to make sure they are safe and effective. For example, a food engineer might...
Science Editor
Science editors assign, review, and edit science writing. They work in the news media, book publishing, television production, healthcare, documentary filmmaking, and many other fields. A science editor must have a strong background in science as well as a...
Science Writer
The job of a science writer is to put science in a language that a general audience can understand and enjoy. Science writers’ works appear in general interest magazines, newspapers, textbooks, websites, radio programs, television shows, and much more....
Ultrasound Technician
An ultrasound technician, also known as a diagnostic sonographer, uses ultrasound technology to create images or video of the soft tissues inside a patient, allowing a physician to diagnose medical conditions. Sonographers can specialize in certain areas or systems...
X-Ray Technician
An X-ray technician, also known as a radiologic technologist, uses X-rays and other types of radiation to take pictures of a patient’s internal anatomy, usually under the guidance of a radiologist. They may also use other diagnostic technologies, such...
Zoo Keeper
A zookeeper feeds and monitors animals living in zoological parks. A keeper must oversee the diet, behavior, and overall health of the animals, and may also be involved in the design and maintenance of cages, aviaries, pens, and other...
Zoologist
A zoologist is not necessarily someone who works at a zoo. Zoology is the study of animals, so a zoologist is simply a scientist whose work focuses on the animal kingdom. Zoologists work in marine biology, herpetology (reptiles), ichthyology...