Biologists

Career Description: Research or study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and functions.

Industry: Life, Physical, and Social Science

Other Job Titles for Biologists:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Develop and maintain liaisons and effective working relations with groups and individuals, agencies, and the public to encourage cooperative management strategies or to develop information and interpret findings.
• Program and use computers to store, process and analyze data.
• Collect and analyze biological data about relationships among and between organisms and their environment.
• Study aquatic plants and animals and environmental conditions affecting them such as radioactivity or pollution.
• Communicate test results to state and federal representatives and general public.
• Identify, classify, and study structure, behavior, ecology, physiology, nutrition, culture, and distribution of plant and animal species.
• Prepare environmental impact reports for industry, government, or publication.
• Represent employer in a technical capacity at conferences.
• Plan and administer biological research programs for government, research firms, medical industries, or manufacturing firms.
• Research environmental effects of present and potential uses of land and water areas, determining methods of improving environmental conditions or such outputs as crop yields.
• Review reports such as those relating to land use classifications and recreational development for accuracy and adequacy.
• Measure salinity, acidity, light, oxygen content, and other physical conditions of water to determine their relationship to aquatic life.
• Teach, supervise students and perform research at universities and colleges.
• Supervise biological technicians and technologists and other scientists.
• Study basic principles of plant and animal life such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and function.
• Study and manage wild animal populations.
• Prepare requests for proposals or statements of work.
• Cultivate, breed, and grow aquatic life such as lobsters, clams, or fish.
• Prepare plans for management of renewable resources.
• Develop methods and apparatus for securing representative plant, animal, aquatic, or soil samples.
• Study reactions of plants, animals, and marine species to parasites.
• Develop pest management and control measures, and conduct risk assessments related to pest exclusion using scientific methods.
• Design and build laboratory equipment needed for special research projects.
• Observe the production, distribution, and consumption of food to identify and mitigate threats to food security.
• Analyze and characterize user experiences and institutional settings to assist consumer product developers, technology developers, and software engineers with the design of innovative products and services.
• Build geographic information systems (GIS) to record, analyze, and cartographically represent the distribution of languages, cultural and natural resources, land use, and settlement patterns of specific populations.
• Observe and measure bodily variations and physical attributes of different human groups.

Emerging Tasks

• Prepare technical and research reports, such as environmental impact reports, and communicate the results to individuals in industry, government, and the general public.
• Review reports and proposals, such as those relating to land use classifications and recreational development, for accuracy, adequacy, and adherence to policies, regulations, and scientific standards.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• adhere to safety procedures
• advise clients or customers
• advise governmental or industrial personnel
• analyze biological research, test, or analysis data
• analyze chemical experimental, test, or analysis data or findings
• analyze ecosystem data
• analyze scientific research data or investigative findings
• breed animals to propagate stock or to develop new types
• classify plants, animals, or other natural phenomena
• collect academic research data
• collect scientific or technical data
• collect statistical data
• communicate technical information
• compile numerical or statistical data
• conduct analyses or tests of biological material samples
• conduct analyses or tests of organic compounds
• conduct field research or investigative studies
• conduct laboratory research or experiments
• conduct standardized qualitative laboratory analyses
• conduct standardized quantitative laboratory analyses
• confer with engineering, technical or manufacturing personnel
• confer with research personnel
• confer with scientists
• develop new products based on scientific research results
• develop or maintain databases
• develop plans for programs or projects
• develop policies, procedures, methods, or standards
• develop scientific or mathematical hypotheses, theories, or laws
• develop tables depicting data
• direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
• direct and coordinate scientific research or investigative studies
• direct implementation of new procedures, policies, or programs
• examine biological or other material specimens under microscope
• explain complex mathematical information
• explain genetic data
• follow infectious materials procedures
• follow microbiology procedures
• follow safe waste disposal procedures
• forecast or predict phenomena based upon research data
• identify animal species
• identify crop characteristics
• identify insect characteristics
• identify plant characteristics
• isolate and identify micro-organisms
• maintain records, reports, or files
• make decisions
• make presentations
• oversee execution of organizational or program policies
• perform statistical analysis
• plan scientific research or investigative studies
• plant, cultivate, or harvest crops, including aquaculture
• prepare biological specimens for examination
• prepare environmental impact or related environmental reports
• prepare reports
• prepare sample for laboratory testing, analysis, or microscopy
• prepare technical reports or related documentation
• prepare vaccines, biologicals, or serums
• recognize disease or parasites in animals
• recognize plant diseases
• recognize tree or forest plant species
• recommend further study or action based on research data
• record test results, test procedures, or inspection data
• research human or animal disease
• resolve engineering or science problems
• select animals to be bred
• study development of plants, animals, or microscopic organisms
• teach college level courses
• use biological research techniques
• use biological testing instruments
• use chemical testing or analysis procedures
• use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
• use hazardous materials information
• use knowledge of investigation techniques
• use knowledge of vivisection
• use laboratory equipment
• use library or online Internet research techniques
• use mathematical or statistical methods to identify or analyze problems
• use microscope
• use nutrition research techniques
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use plant disease control techniques
• use pollution control techniques
• use project management techniques
• use quantitative research methods
• use relational database software
• use scientific research methodology
• use spreadsheet software
• use teaching techniques
• use word processing or desktop publishing software
• write business project or bid proposals
• write research or project grant proposals
• write scholarly or technical research papers

Overall Experience
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Job Training
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Education
A bachelor's degree is the minimum formal education required for these occupations. However, many also require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Examples
These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include librarians, lawyers, aerospace engineers, physicists, school psychologists, and surgeons.

• n/a

• Projected growth (2006-2016): 9.18%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 7,954
• Employment (2006): 86,646

• Biochemists and Biophysicists
• Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
• Microbiologists
• Soil and Plant Scientists
• Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
• Soil and Water Conservationists
• Veterinarians
• Soil and Plant Scientists
• Soil and Water Conservationists