Links to related Web Sites are listed at the bottom of this page.
| AREAS |
EMPLOYERS |
STRATEGIES |
BIOTECHNOLOGY
Research and Development
Laboratory Testing
Education |
- Colleges and universities
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Agricultural industry including fertilizer
manufacturers and animal and plant breeding and production
- Federal and state government laboratories and agencies
- Industry, particularly biotechnology firms
|
Become proficient using laboratory equipment and computers.
Acquire a Ph.D. for college and university teaching and advanced positions in research, development, and management.
Take additional courses in chemistry, physics,
mathematics.
Complete an undergraduate lab research project with a professor. |
| |
GENETICS
Research and Development related to:
Animals
Plants
Humans
Genetic Counseling
Education |
- Colleges and universities
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Large producers of seed, livestock, and poultry
Government laboratories such as:
- Department of Agriculture
- Fish and Wildlife Service
- National Institutes of Health
- Biotechnology industry
- Hospitals and medical centers
|
Acquire a broad background in sciences, mathematics, and computer technology.
Obtain a Ph.D. for teaching and advanced positions in
research and management.
Earn a master's degree from an accredited program for genetic counseling.
Complete an undergraduate research project with a
professor.
Find a related internship with an organization in the area of your interest. |
| |
MICROBIOLOGY
Research and Development
Education
Quality Control
|
- Colleges and universities
- Private research foundations
- Government research laboratories and service
agencies
- Hospitals and public health facilities
- Agricultural experiment stations
- Food, chemical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic companies
- Industry including wood products, paper, textiles, optical equipment, leather, and electrical equipment
- Environmental and pollution control agencies
|
Obtain a Ph.D. for teaching and advanced research and management positions.
Develop additional competencies in chemistry, mathematics, and physics.
Take courses related to your field of interest or
consider an advanced degree to specialize.
Find a related internship with an organization in the
area of your interest.
Complete an undergraduate research project with a professor.
Develop strong skills using laboratory equipment and
computers. |
| |
BOTANY
Education
Research and Development
Conservation
Production
Quality Control
Administration
|
- Colleges and universities
- Medical and private research laboratories
- Pharmaceutical industry
- Industries and laboratories involved in production
of food, textiles, chemical, and forestry products
- State and federal government, especially the
Departments of Agriculture, Interior, and Health
Botanical gardens and arboretums
- National and international environmental
organizations
|
Conduct undergraduate research with professors.
Join related professional organizations.
Take courses in this specialized area or consider an advanced degree for more opportunities.
Take courses in organic chemistry, biochemistry,
and physics.
Obtain a Ph.D. for teaching and advanced positions in research and management.
Complete a related internship with an organization in the area of your interest. |
| |
SYSTEMATIC BIOLOGY
Education
Research and Development
Taxonomy
Conservation
Consulting
Administration
|
- Colleges, universities, and agricultural colleges
- Federal agencies including Departments of Agriculture and Interior
- State and local agencies
- Private research foundations
- Museums
- Botanical gardens and arboretums
- Zoos and aquariums
- Public health laboratories
- Hospitals
- National and international environmental
organizations
|
Earn a Ph.D. for college and university teaching and
advanced research and management positions.
Develop excellent laboratory and computer skills.
Get involved with undergraduate research with
professors.
Join related professional organizations.
Complete a related internship with an organization in the area of your interest. |
| |
ENTOMOLOGY
Education
Research and Development
Toxicology
Conservation
Quality Control
|
- Colleges and universities, especially colleges of
agriculture and veterinary medicine
- Industry including food producers and processors,
chemicals for insect control, and lumber and pulp
- Chemical companies
- Pest control companies
- Federal and state government
- Health agencies
- Agricultural experiment stations
- Inspection agencies and control boards
- Conservation agencies
|
Acquire a Ph.D. for college and university teaching
and advanced research and management positions.
Conduct undergraduate research with professors.
Join related professional organizations.
Take courses in this specialized area or consider an advanced degree for more opportunities.
Complete a related internship with an organization in the area of your interest. |
| |
MARINE AND AQUATIC BIOLOGY
Research and Development
Education
Administration
Production
Quality Control
Conservation
|
- Federal, state, and local government
- Inspection organizations
- Private recreation organizations
- Research laboratories
- Colleges and universities
- Zoos and aquariums
- Fish hatcheries
- National and international environmental agencies
|
Develop a good foundation in mathematics, physics,
computer science, statistics, and chemistry.
Acquire a Ph.D. for college and university teaching
and advanced research and management positions.
Obtain experience related to fishing and boating.
Complete a related internship with an organization in the area of your interest.
Take specialized courses in this area or consider an
advanced degree for more opportunities. |
| |
ZOOLOGY
Animal Care/Training
Research and Development
Conservation
Administration
Education
|
- Wildlife preserves and parks
- Zoos, aquariums, and other collections of animals
- Museums
- Research organizations
- Pharmaceutical, chemical, and agricultural
service industries
- Federal, state, and local government
- Colleges and universities
- Veterinary hospitals
- Clinics and hospitals
|
Obtain experience working with animals and various related laboratory equipment.
Develop a broad background in biology and other related subjects such as chemistry, physics,
mathematics, and statistics.
Obtain a Ph.D. for teaching and advanced research and management positions.
Complete a related internship with an organization in the area of your interest.
A zoological background is good preparation for a
career in veterinary science or medicine, but an advanced degree is also required to practice. |
| |
BIOMEDICAL
Physiology
Biophysics
Biochemistry
Pharmacology
Immunology
Pathology
Research and Development
Education
Quality Control
|
- Colleges and universities
- Professional schools including colleges of pharmacy, dentistry, medicine, veterinary medicine, and
agriculture
- Clinics and hospitals
- Private research foundations
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Federal laboratories and regulatory agencies
- Independent testing laboratories
- Public health departments
- Agricultural experiment stations
- Industrial laboratories including chemical, petroleum,
food processing, drug, and cosmetic manufacturers
|
Obtain a Ph.D. for college and university teaching
and advanced research positions.
Acquire a background in physics, organic and
physical chemistry, mathematics, and anatomy.
Take courses in area(s) of specialization and/or
consider an advanced degrees; some may require an M.D.
Complete a related internship with an organization in the area of your interest. |
| |
| TECHNICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL SALES |
Manufacturing firms including:
- Pharmaceuticals
- Animal pharmaceuticals
- Laboratory equipment
- Medical supplies and prostheses
|
Develop excellent communication and
interpersonal skills.
Take courses in anatomy, pharmacology, and
chemistry.
Obtain sales experience and/or a business minor.
Hold leadership positions in campus organizations.
Join the student American Marketing Association. |
| |
LEGISLATION/LAW
Lobbying
Regulatory Affairs
Science Policy
Patent Law
Environmental Law
|
- Federal and state government
- Law firms
- Large corporations
|
Acquire internships in federal or state government.
Develop excellent communication and
interpersonal skills.
Acquire a Ph.D for advanced positions.
Take courses in history, political science and/or
legal studies.
Earn a J.D. degree to practice law. |
| |
| BIOLOGICAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
- Major medical, dental, and veterinary schools
- Research centers
- Federal government
- Museums
- Zoological and environmental societies
- Publishing houses
- Free-lance
|
Acquire thorough knowledge of photographic procedures and technology.
Become skilled with medical and scientific instruments including microscopes.
Take specific courses in biological, medical, and
ophthalmic photography; courses in illustration and printing are also helpful. |
| |
TECHNICAL WRITING
Writing
Editing
Ilustration
|
- Newspapers
- Publishing companies including scientific magazines, professional journals, periodicals, textbooks, and online publishers
- Medical and veterinary colleges
|
Take advanced courses in technical writing or
journalism classes or consider a minor in either.
Develop strong writing skills and command of the
English language.
Obtain an advanced degree in scientific journalism. |
| |
| ILLUSTRATION |
- Publishing companies including scientific
magazines, professional journals, periodicals,
textbooks, and online publishers
- Educational and scientific software companies
- Medical and veterinary colleges
|
Double major or minor in graphic illustration.
Acquire word processing and desktop publishing
skills.
Find a part-time, summer, co-op or internship position with a publisher or newspaper. |
| |
GENERAL INFORMATION
• A Bachelor's degree will qualify one for work as a laboratory assistant, technician, technologist, or research assistant in education, industry, government,
museums, parks, and gardens.
• An undergraduate degree can also be used for nontechnical work in writing, illustration, sales, photography, and legislation.
• Master's degrees allow for more opportunities in research and administration. Some community colleges will hire Master's level teachers.
• Doctoral degrees are necessary for advanced research and administrative positions, university teaching, and independent research.
• An advanced degree provides the opportunity to specialize under the different areas of the biological sciences.
• The biological sciences are good preparation for a career in healthcare such as medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science, but professional degrees and
licenses are also necessary to practice in these fields.
• Learn laboratory procedures and become familiar with equipment.
• Obtain summer, part-time, volunteer, co-op, or internship experience to test the fields of interest and gain valuable experience.
• Develop strong computer, mathematics, and verbal and written communications skills.
• Join professional associations and community organizations to stay abreast of current issues in the field and to develop networking contacts.
• Read scientific journals related to your area of interest.
• Maintain a high grade point average to improve chances of graduate and professional school admission.
• Become familiar with the specific entrance exam for graduate or professional schools in your area of interest.
• Secure strong relationships and personal recommendations from professors and/or employers.
• Consider completing a post doctoral experience after graduate school.
• Learn federal, state, and local government job application process. The federal government is the largest employer of biologists.
• Gain experience with grant writing and fundraising techniques. Often research must be funded in this manner. |
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