 |
||
|
|
 .
|
Job Report Biological Scientists
Nature of the Work
Biological scientists study living organisms and their relationship to their
environment. Most specialize in some area such as ornithology (the study of birds) or
microbiology (the study of microscopic organisms).
About two-fifths of all biological scientists work in research and development. Some
conduct basic research to increase knowledge of living organisms. Others, in applied
research, use knowledge provided by basic research to develop new medicines, increase
crop yields, and improve the environment. Biological scientists may work in laboratories
and use laboratory animals or greenhouse plants, electron microscopes, computers,
electronic instruments, or a wide variety of other equipment to conduct their research. A
good deal of research, however, is performed outside of laboratories. For example, a
botanists may do research in the volcanic valleys of Alaska to see what plants grow there,
or an ecologist may study how a forest area recovers after a fire.
Other biological scientists work in management or administration. They may plan
and administer programs for testing foods and drugs, for example, or direct activities at
zoos or botanical gardens. Some work as consultants to business firms or to government,
while others test and inspect foods, drugs, and other products or write for technical
publications. some work in sales and service jobs for companies manufacturing chemicals
or other technical products.
Advances in basic biological knowledge, especially at the genetic level, have
resulted in a new technology called biotechnology. Biologists using this rapidly developing
technology recombine the genetic material of animals or plants, making organisms more
productive or disease resistant. The first application of this technology has been in the
medical and pharmaceutical area. The human gene that codes for the production of insulin
has been inserted into bacteria, causing them to produce human insulin. This insulin, used
by diabetics, is much purer than insulin from animals, the only previous source. Many other
substances not previously available in large quantities are starting to be produced by
biotechnological means; some may be useful in treating cancer and other diseases.
Advances in biotechnology have opened up research opportunities in almost all areas of
biology, including commercial applications in agriculture and the food and chemical
industries.
Most biological scientists who come under the broad category of biologist (D.O.T. 041.061-
030) are further classified by the type of organism they study or by the specific activity they
perform, although recent advances in the understanding of basic life processes at the
molecular and cellular level have blurred some traditional classifications.
Aquatic biologists (D.O.T. 041.061-022) study plants and animals living in water.
Marine biologists study salt water organisms and Limnologists study fresh water organisms.
Marine biologists are sometimes called oceanographers, but oceanography usually refers
to the study of the physical characteristics of oceans and the ocean floor. (See Career
Reports on geologists and geophysicists.)
Biochemists (D.O.T. 041.061-026) study the chemical composition of living things.
They try to understand the complex combinations and reactions involved in metabolism,
reproduction, growth, and heredity. Much of the work in biotechnology is done by
biochemists because this technology involves understanding the complex chemistry of life.
Botanists (D.O.T. 041.061-038) study plants and their environment. Some study all
aspects of plant life. While others specialize in areas such as identification and
classification of plants, the structure and function of plant parts, the biochemistry of plant
processes, or the causes and cures of plant diseases.
Microbiologists (D.O.T. 041.061-058) investigate the growth and characteristics of
microscope organisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Medical biologists study the
relationship between organisms and disease or the effect of antibiotics on microorganisms.
Other microbiologists may specialize in environmental, food, agricultural, or industrial
microbiology, virology (the study of viruses), or immunology (the study of mechanisms that
fight infections). Many microbiologists are using biotechnology to advance knowledge of
cell reproduction and human disease.
Physiologists (D.O.T. 041.061-078) study life functions of plants and animals, both
in the whole organism and at the cellular or molecular level, under normal and abnormal
conditions. Physiologists may specialize in functions such as growth, reproduction,
photosynthesis, respiration, or movement, or in the physiology of a certain area or system
of the body.
Zoologists (D.O.T. 041.061-090) study animals -- their origin, behavior, diseases,
and life processes. Some experiments are with live animals in controlled or natural
surroundings while others involve dissecting dead animals to study their structure.
Zoologists are usually identified by the animal group studied -- ornithologists (birds),
mamalogists (mammals), herpetologists (reptiles), and ichthyologists (fish).
Ecologists study the relationship among organisms and between organisms and their
environments and the effects of influences such as pollutants, rainfall, temperature, and
altitude on organisms.
Working Conditions
Biological scientists generally work regular hours in offices, laboratories, or
classrooms and usually are not exposed to unsafe or unhealthy conditions. However, some
work with dangerous organisms or toxic substances in the laboratory. They could be
exposed if safety procedures are not followed. Many biological scientists such as botanists,
ecological, and zoologists take field trips which involve strenuous physical activity and
primitive living conditions.
Employment
Biological scientists held about 59,000 jobs in 1990. In addition, about 50,000 held
biology faculty positions in colleges and universities.
About 40 percent of nonfaculty biological scientists were employed by Federal, State,
and local governments. Federal biological scientists worked mainly in the Department of
Agriculture, Interior, and Defense, and in the National Institutes of Health. Most of the rest
worked in the pharmaceutical industry, hospitals, or commercial or nonprofit research and
development laboratories. A few were self-employed.
Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement
The Ph.D. degree generally is required for college teaching, independent research,
and for advancement to administrative positions. A master's degree is sufficient for some
jobs in applied research and for jobs in management, inspection, sales, and services. The
bachelor's degree is adequate for some nonresearch jobs. Some graduates with a
bachelor's degree start as biological scientists in testing and inspection, or get jobs related
to biological science such as technical sales or service representatives. Others become
biological technicians, medical laboratory technologists or, with courses in education, high
school biology teachers. (See Career Reports on clinical laboratory technologists and
technicians, science technicians, and secondary school teachers). Many with a bachelor's
degree in biology enter medical, dental, veterinary, or other health profession schools.
Some enter a wade range of occupations with little or no connection to biology.
Most colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in biological science and
many offer advanced degrees. Curriculums for advanced degrees often emphasize a
subfield such as microbiology or botany but not all universities offer all curriculums.
However, specialization on one life form is being deemphasized in favor of study of basic
biochemical and genetic life processes. Advanced degree programs include classroom and
field work, laboratory research, and a thesis or dissertation. Biological scientists who have
advanced degrees usually begin in research or teaching. With experience, they may
become managers or administrators within biology; others leave biology for nontechnical
managerial, administrative, and sales jobs.
Biological scientists should be able to work independently or as part of a team and
be able to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Those doing field
research in remote areas must have physical stamina.
Job Outlook
Employment of biological scientists is expected to increase faster than the average
for all occupations through the year 2000. Most growth will be in private industry. Many
more biological scientists will conduct genetic and biotechnical research and help develop
and produce products developed by new biological methods. In addition, efforts to clean
up and preserve the environment will continue to add to growth. More biological scientists
will be needed to determine the environmental impacts of industry and government actions
and to correct past environmental problems. Anticipated increases in health-related
research should also result in growth. Employment of biologists is expected to grow slowly
in government. In addition to jobs arising from growth in demand for biologists, openings
will occur as biological scientists transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force.
Many persons with a bachelor's degree in biological science find jobs as science or
engineering technicians or health technologists and technicians. Some become high school
biology teachers. However, they are usually regarded as teachers rather than biologists.
Those with a doctorate in biological science may become college and university faculty.
(See Career Reports on science and engineering technicians, High school teachers.)
Biological scientists are less likely to lose their jobs during recessions than those in
many other occupations since most are employed on long-term research projects or in
agricultural research, activities which are not much affected by economic fluctuations.
Earnings
According to the College Placement Council, beginning salary offers in private
industry in 1990, averaged about $21,600 a year for bachelor's degree recipients in
biological science.
In the Federal Government in 1990, biological scientists having a bachelor's degree
could begin at $16,700 or $20,660 a year, depending on their college records. Those
having the master's degree could start at $20,700 or $25,300, depending on their academic
records or work experience; those having the Ph.D. degree could begin at $30,053 or
$36,570 a year. Biological scientists in the Federal Government averaged $41,000 a year
in 1990.
Related Occupations
Many other occupations deal with living organisms. These include he conservation
occupation of forestry technician, range manager, and soil conservationist, as well as
agricultural scientist, soil scientist, and life science technician. The wide array of health
occupations are all related to those in the biological sciences, as are occupations dealing
with raising plants and animals such as farmer and farm manager, animal breeder,
landscape contractor, florist, nursery manager, and greenskeeper.
Sources of Additional Information
General information on careers in biological science is available from:
American Institute of Biological Sciences, Office of Career Service, 730 11th
St. NW., Washington, D.C. 20001-4584.
American Society of Zoologists, 104 Sirius Circle, Thousand Oaks, CA
91360.
For information on careers in physiology, contact:
American Physiology Society, Membership Services Dept., 9650 Rockville
Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814.
For information on careers in biochemistry, contact:
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 9650 Rockville
Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814.
For information on careers in botany, contact:
Dr. Gregory Anderson, Secretary, Botanical Society of America, Dept. of
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, U-43, 75 North Eagleville Rd., Storrs, CT
06269-3043.
For information on careers in microbiology, contact:
American Society for Microbiology, Office of Education and Professional
Recognition, 1913 I St. NW., Washington, D.C. 20006.
Information on Federal job opportunities is available form local offices of State
employment services or offices of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, located in
major metropolitan areas.
work at home - work at home jobs
Copyright 2002 Work-at-Home.org
|