Careers
Related Skills
- Good team and independent worker
- Problem solving skills
- Good mathematical background including knowledge of statistics
- Knowledge of operating scientific equipment and posses good technical skills
- Application of biological theories into practice
- Communication skills
- Creativity
- Strong work ethic and professional behavior
- Flexibility in thought and adaptive to new ideas
- Understanding of laboratory procedures and familiarity with equipment
Being Successful in the Field
- A Bachelor's degree will qualify one for work as a laboratory assistant, technician, technologist, or research assistant in education, industry, government, museums, parks, and gardens.
- An undergraduate degree can also be used for nontechnical work in writing, illustration, sales, photography, and legislation.
- Master's degrees allow for more opportunities in research and administration. Some community colleges will hire Master's level teachers.
- Doctoral degrees are necessary for advanced research and administrative positions, university teaching, and independent research.
- An advanced degree provides the opportunity to specialize in fields of interest.
- Obtain summer, part-time, volunteer, co-op, or internship experience to test the fields of interest and gain valuable experience. Take independent research classes if possible.
- Participate in summer research institutes. Submit research to local poster competitions or research symposiums.
- Become familiar with the specific entrance exam for graduate or professional schools in your area of interest.
- Consider completing a post-doctoral experience after graduate school.
- Learn federal, state, and local government job application process.The federal government is the largest employer of biologists.
- Secure strong relationships and personal recommendations from professors and/or employers.
- Maintain a high grade point average to improve chances of graduate and professional school admission.
- Gain experience with grant writing and fundraising techniques. Often research must be funded in this manner.
- Read scientific journals related to your area ofinterest.
- Join professional associations and community organizations to stay a breast of current issues in the field and to develop networking contacts.
Related Fields
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, especiallycolleges 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 of Health, 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
- Largecorporations
Strategies
- Develop excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Maintaincurrent 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 advancedpositions.
- 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
Career Industry Liaison
| Name | Office | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sakhawat Tanim | 223 Bone Student Center | stanim@ilstu.edu | (309) 438-2200 |