Biology Careers Outlook
The outlook for biologists with doctoral degrees who want to teach at a college or university is competitive for basic research positions. The increase in the number of advanced degrees, together with budget tightening for many areas of research and development, has slowed the number of grants awarded, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Positions will continue to open up, though, as tenured faculty retire.
Employment for biologists is expected to have average growth through 2014, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The opportunities are better for biologists with bachelor’s or master’s degrees who seek sales, marketing, and research management positions that do not require a Ph.D.
The outlook for jobs in private industry is better than for independent research positions, as companies respond to public concern for protecting the environment and human health. Ecologists, whose work examines environmental effects, will be needed to continue work on global warming issues and disappearing rainforests. An increase in the amount of research dedicated to health issues, such as AIDS, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease, should also result in an increase of job opportunities.
Genetics and biotechnology are two of the most promising employment areas for biologists. The American Institute of Biological Sciences says that plant geneticists, for example, will be needed to develop better methods of engineering crops. Researchers studying human biology will be hired in hopes of discovering ways to slow the aging process, cure genetic diseases, and reverse paralyzed nerve cells. Applications arising from new knowledge about recombinant DNA, or genetic engineering, promise to open up job opportunities, especially in the health care and pharmaceutical fields.
Biology Careers List:
- Agricultural Scientists
- Animal Breeders and Technicians
- Aquarists
- Biochemists
- Biologists
- Biomedical Engineers
- Biotechnology Patent Lawyers
- Botanists
- Cytotechnologists
- Ecologists
- Ethnoscientists
- Fish and Game Wardens
- Genetic Scientists
- Horticultural Technicians
- Marine Biologists
- Microbiologists
- Naturalists
- Oceanographers
- Park Rangers
- Pathologists
- Physicians
- Range Managers
- Toxicologists
- Veterinarians
- Zoologist Career