Careers

Research and Development

• Basic
• Applied
• Quality Control
• Administration
• Grant Writing

Employers

• Industry and laboratories: pharmaceutical, healthcare, agriculture production, food processing and safety, environmental
• Private research institutions
• Public health departments
• State and federal government: National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health
• Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Agriculture
• Armed Services, Department of Homeland Security
• State and local governmental laboratories/agencies
• Colleges and universities

Strategies

• Learn to set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, and monitor experiments. Select courses with laboratory components
• Seek research experience with professors. Gain related experience through part-time jobs, internships, or volunteering. Complete a certificate training program, usually one year, to learn specialized laboratory techniques
• Take a course in grant writing. 
• A bachelor's degree in biology qualifies one for laboratory technician or research assistant positions.
• Earn master's degree for better positions, advancement opportunities, more responsibility and higher pay. 
• Obtain Ph.D. to direct research projects and lead research teams. Maintain a high grade point average and secure strong faculty recommendations to gain admittance into graduate school.

Organismal Biology

Some Areas of Specialization:

• Botany and plant sciences
• Ecology and wildlife
• Marine and aquatic
• Systematic (Taxonomy)
• Zoology
• Entomology
• Genetics
• Microbiology:  bacteria, algae, fungi, molds, yeasts, viruses, protozoa

Employers

• Colleges and universities, especially colleges of agriculture and veterinary medicine
• Veterinary hospitals
• State and federal government: Departments of Agriculture, Interior, and Health
• Independent laboratories: food production, textiles, chemical, pharmaceutical, and forestry products
• Zoos and aquariums
• Fish hatcheries
• Wildlife preserves and parks
• Conservation agencies
• Botanical gardens and arboretums
• Museums
• Agricultural experiment stations
• Inspection agencies and control boards
• National and international environmental organizations
• Private recreation organizations

Strategies

• Seek related experience through coursework, part-time jobs, internships or volunteering. 
• Conduct research or assist in research including the collection of information and samples of water, soil, plants, animals, etc. 
• Join student chapters of professional organizations related to your area of interest. 
• Obtain a Ph.D. for teaching and advanced research and management positions.

Biomedical Sciences

Some areas of specialization:

• Biophysics
• Biochemistry
• Cellular and Molecular Biology
• Cytology
• Genetics
• Immunology
• Pathology
• Pharmacology
• Physiology
• Virology

Employers

• Colleges and universities
• Professional schools including colleges of pharmacy, dentistry, medicine, veterinary medicine, and agriculture
• Federal laboratories and regulatory agencies: National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug
• Administration
• State and local public health departments
• Clinics and hospitals
• Private research foundations
• Independent laboratories
• Pharmaceutical companies

Strategies

• Gain laboratory experience through coursework and/or research projects with professors. 
• Learn to set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, and monitor experiments. 
• Seek internships, part-time employment and volunteer opportunities in the bio medical field. 
• Join student chapters of professional organizations related to your area of interest. 
• Take courses in area(s) of specialization and/or consider an advanced degree. 
• Obtain a Ph.D. for teaching and advanced research and management positions.

Bioinformatics

• Algorithm and statistics development
• Data analysis and interpretation
• Information management:  organization and retrieval

Employers

• Colleges and universities
• Private research foundations
• Independent laboratories: organic and agricultural chemicals, drug and pharmaceutical, medical device and equipment, research, testing, and medical
• Federal laboratories and regulatory agencies: National Institutes ofHealth, Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Agriculture
  National Biological Information Infrastructure

Strategies

• Develop multiple areas of specialization through coursework, minors, double-majors in molecular biology, mathematics, statistics, computer science, or machine learning. 
• Develop strong programming and database management skills; fluency in several programming languages is helpful.  Learn biological software systems. 
• Complete an internship inarea of interest. 
• Seek master's degree for increased advancement opportunities.

Business/Industry

• Technical and pharmaceutical sales
• Management
• Consulting
• Marketing

Employers

• Manufacturing companies including: pharmaceuticals, animal pharmaceuticals, laboratory equipment, medical supplies and prostheses
• Marketing firms
• Consulting firms

Strategies

• Develop excellent communication and interpersonal skills. 
• Demonstrate a high energy level. 
• Take courses in anatomy, pharmacology, and chemistry. 
• Obtain sales experience and/or a business minor. 
• Join related student associations and hold leadership positions. 
• Consider an MBA or Professional Science Master's for advanced management and consulting opportunities.

Healthcare

• Medicine
• Dentistry
• Optometry
• Podiatry
• Pharmacy
• Veterinary medicine
• Allied Health: occupational therapy, physical therapy
• Medical technology
• Nuclear medicine

Employers

• Hospitals
• Medical centers and clinics
• Nursing homes
• Private practice
• Armed services
• Government agencies

Strategies

• Plan on attending medical school or other related graduate program. 
• Maintain an outstanding grade point average, particularly in the sciences. 
• Secure strong faculty recommendations. 
• Meet with apre-health advisor periodically. 
• Join related student organizations and demonstrate leadership abilities. 
• Seek experiences in hospital or healthcare settings through volunteering, shadowing, part-time positions, or internships. 
• Develop a back up plan in case medical/graduate school admission is denied. 
• Consider alternative but related careers such as physician assistants.
• Research all of the various fields within medicine to determine career goals.

Education

• Teaching: elementary, secondary, post-secondary
• Non-classroom Education

Employers

• Universities and colleges
• Medical and other professional schools
• Public and private schools, K-12
• Museums
• Zoos
• Nature centers and parks

Strategies

• Gain experience working with students through tutoring, part-time employment, interning, or volunteering. 
• Learn to work well with all types of people. 
• Develop excellent interpersonal and public speaking skills. 
• Certification is required for K-12 schoolteachers and varies by state. 
• Master's degrees may be sufficient for teaching at community or two-year institutions. 
• Ph.D. is needed for teaching opportunities at colleges and universities.

Communication

• Technical Writing
• Editing
• Illustrating
• Photography

Employers

• Publishing companies including scientific magazines, professional journals, periodicals, textbooks, and online publishers
• Newspapers
• Educational and scientific software companies
• Zoological and environmental societies
• Medical, dental and veterinary colleges
• Research centers
• Federal government agencies
• Related nonprofit organizations
• Museums

Strategies

• Acquire thorough knowledge of photographic procedures and technology. 
• Take specific courses in biological, medical, and ophthalmic photography; courses in illustration and printing are also helpful. 
• Develop strong writing skills and command of the English language. 
• Take advanced courses in technical writing or journalism classes orconsider a minor in either.
• Join professional associations like the National Association of Science Writers. 
• Seek related volunteer or paid experiences with student/local publications to increase marketability.
• Obtain an advanced degree in scientific journalism.

Legislation/Law

• Lobbying
• Regulatory Affairs
• Science Policy
• Patent Law
• Environmental Law

Employers

• Federal and state government
• Law firms
• Large corporations

Strategies

• Develop excellent communication and interpersonal skills. 
• Maintain current knowledge of industry-specific laws and policies. 
• Acquire internships in federal or state government. 
• Take courses in history, political science and/or legal studies. 
• Acquire a Ph.D. for advanced positions.
• Earn a J.D. degree to practice law.

Other Professions

• Anesthesiologist
• Bacteriologist
• Biochemist
• Bio Technologist
• Conservation Educator
• Cytologist
• Drug Inspector
• Ecologist
• Fisheries Biologist
• Florist
• Forester
• Geologist
• Hospital Administrator
• Hydrologist
• Lab Technician
• Medical Marketing
• Medical Research Assistant
• Medical Researcher
• Medical Sciences Librarian
• Microbiologist
• Mortician
• Naturalist
• Optometrist
• Patent Attorney
• Physician
• Podiatrist
• Science Librarian
• Teacher
• Professor
• Veterinarian