Jobs For A Scientific Career In Different Biology Fields

Updated 27 September 2023

Biology has many sub-disciplines that offer various exciting and lucrative career opportunities to experienced professionals and graduates with relevant degrees. The demand for knowledgeable biology graduates in different areas might increase with new developments in the science sector. By understanding the types of careers you can pursue in biology, you can make an informed career decision and find work in your line of interest. In this article, we review different biology fields and list some job titles that you might want to consider pursuing with your biology degree.

Different Biology Fields And Related Careers

If you are considering a career in biology, here are different biology fields that you might want to explore and related careers that you might want to pursue.

Botany

Botany is the study of the plant kingdom, including their structures, varieties, properties, functions, biochemical processes, diseases, environments and ecological interactions. Botany professionals undertake field study, do laboratory research and work in various industries, in the medical field, the agricultural sector or the education sector. Some career paths you can consider:

Horticulturist: A horticulturist cultivates plants, develops new species, stores seeds, investigates plant diseases and pests, assesses soil and climate conditions and determines the use of appropriate fertilisers and pesticides.
Agricultural specialist: An agriculture specialist advises and assists farmers in soil preparation, seed selection, use of modern agricultural tools, fertiliser and pesticide application, crop rotation, crop cultivation, crop harvesting and livestock management.
Forester: A forester surveys forests, collects forest data, implements conservation policies, follows governmental and environmental regulations, carries out ecological restoration, responds to wildlife emergencies, manages forest fires and supervises the harvest of forest trees and products.

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Zoology

Zoology is the study of the animal kingdom and covers individual animal species, animal evolution, animal psychology, animal interactions and animal environments. Zoology professionals may work in nature parks, zoos, research institutes and the veterinary sector. You can consider the following careers in this field:

Animal behaviourist: An animal behaviourist studies animal behaviours, determines the behavioural causes or factors and makes recommendations to resolve problem behaviours.
Animal conservationist: An animal conservationist works to conserve different wild animal species and their natural habitats.
Wildlife biologist: A wildlife biologist studies wild animals, their ecosystems and their interactions with their habitats, other animals and humans.

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Marine biology

Marine biology is the study of the marine environment and marine organisms. Professionals in this field may work in marine research institutes, governmental agencies, aquariums, zoological parks, museums and educational institutions. Here are some careers to consider:

Marine biologist: A marine biologist studies marine environments, gathers marine specimens, does lab work, compiles marine data and writes reports.
Fisheries officer: A fisheries officer is responsible for developing and managing fisheries and providing fish farmers with fish eggs for aquaculture.
Oceanographer: An oceanographer studies the biological, chemical, physical and geological aspects of the ocean, including different species of organisms and their interactions with their habitat.

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Microbiology

Microbiology is the study of minute organisms, including their characteristics, functions and interactions. Microbiologists work in laboratories, hospitals, research institutes, educational institutes and industries. Career options include the following:

Microbiologist: A microbiologist studies algae, fungi, bacteria, viruses and other microbes, their impact on human, animal and plant lives and develops new medicines, pharmaceutical products and enzymes.
Fermentation technologist: A fermentation technologist studies microorganisms that cause the fermentation process and their uses for food and medicinal purposes.
Research laboratory technician: A research laboratory technician collects, labels and analyses microbial samples and writes reports on the findings.

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Ecology

Ecology is the study of different living organisms, their habitats and their mutual interactions. Professionals in this work may do field studies and work in research institutes, educational institutes, businesses and government agencies. Here are some ecology careers:

Environmental scientist: An environmental scientist conducts field studies, monitors environmental conditions, gathers environmental data, determines the impact of human activities on the environment, identifies sources of contamination, develops conservation plans and writes scientific reports on their findings.
Ecologist: An ecologist studies the relationships between organisms and their physical environment, assesses the impact of urbanisation and industrial growth on natural habitats, plans and implements conservation policies and publishes environmental reports.
Natural resource technician: A natural resource technician manages natural resources, analyses environmental problems, develops plans for bio-energy deployment, gathers biological data, stocks fish in lakes and rivers and maintains facilities.

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Anatomy

Anatomy is the study of the anatomical features of humans and other living organisms. Professionals with anatomy degrees may work in hospitals, laboratories, research institutes, police agencies, government agencies and educational institutions. Here are some anatomy jobs to consider:

Forensic scientist: A forensic scientist investigates forensic evidence gathered from crime scenes, archaeology sites and other places, analyses the results, prepares reports on their findings and helps law enforcement agencies with drug screening and DNA profiling.
Forensic anthropologist: A forensic anthropologist assists police or other personnel with the recovery of skeletal remains, cleans and examines bones, determines their biological profile and types of injuries, estimates time of death, writes reports and testifies in court.
Massage therapist: A massage therapist examines clients and massages their joints and muscles using oil and lotions to provide general wellness and relief from bodily aches.

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Biochemistry

Biochemistry is the study of the chemical processes that occur in living creatures. Professionals in the biochemistry field work in laboratories, research institutes, consulting firms, educational institutions, biochemical companies and pharmaceutical companies. You can consider jobs like the following with a degree in biochemistry:

Analytical chemist: An analytical chemist conducts analyses of chemical substances, develops analysis processes, prepares chemical samples and writes research reports.
Pharmacologist: A pharmacologist researches, tests, analyses and develops medicines and drugs, determines their effects on biological systems and ensures they are safe and effective for human and animal use.
Toxicologist: A toxicologist examines, tests and analyses chemical substances, determines if they are toxic and investigates if their toxic levels can harm living organisms and their habitats.

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Biotechnology

Biotechnology involves using advanced technologies to grow cellular cultures, manipulate living cells and use them to create products for medical, food, agricultural, marine, industrial and environmental purposes. Professionals in the biotechnology field work in laboratories, research institutes, pharmaceutical companies, biotech companies, distilleries, manufacturing companies, government agencies and educational institutions. Here are some job options in the field:

Biofuel technician: A biofuel technician measures, mixes and processes cellulosic feedstock biofuel plants, monitors chemical reactions and fermentation and refines the resulting products to create biofuels like biodiesel and bioethanol.
Cell culture technician: A cell culture technician cultivates, monitors and maintains plant and animal cells in various kinds of containers in controlled environments to help researchers understand how cellular processes work.
Biochemist: A biochemist conducts experiments, examines and writes reports about the biological and chemical processes in living organisms that cause the development of cells and hereditary characteristics.

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Genetics

The genetics field is concerned with the study of genes, how genes vary and how they pass on hereditary traits. Professionals with qualifications in genetics work in laboratories, hospitals, research institutes, educational institutes, government agencies, cryogenic companies, beauty product companies and pharmaceutical companies. Here are some careers to consider:

Genetic scientist: A genetic scientist researches how living organisms inherit traits, evaluates how these transmit at the cellular and population levels and determines possible treatments for genetic disorders.
Genetic counsellor: A genetic counsellor advises patients with genetic disorders and their families on their health conditions and treatment options, studies family genetic inheritance patterns and identifies genetic risk factors.
Biotech patent analyst: A biotech patent analyst analyses patents in biotech domains, conducts database searches to ensure the originality of the patents and gathers data on the commercial value of the patents.

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Neuroscience

The neuroscience field is concerned with the study of the cognitive functions of the brain and how these affect the behaviours of living organisms. Professionals in the neuroscience field can pursue careers in the research, medicine, psychology and pharmaceutical domains. Here are some career options to explore:

Clinical psychologist: A clinical psychologist examines patients with serious behavioural and mental issues, identifies their conditions, determines possible causes and develops recovery plans.
Speech and language therapist: A speech and language therapist treats people with speech or swallowing impediments due to physical or psychological causes and helps them to improve or manage their conditions.
MRI technician: An MRI technician uses magnetic resonance imaging technology to scan patients and records images of their bodies to help physicians make accurate medical diagnoses.