Biologists
O*NET files this work under Biologists: people who research or study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and functions. The skills rated most useful are science, writing, and reading comprehension. A regular part of the work is to program and use computers to store, process, and analyze data. The strongest interest signal is Investigative (7.0 of 7), then Conventional (4.5) and Realistic, which gives it the code ICR. Getting in usually takes graduate school and often five years or more of related experience, a level O*NET calls extensive preparation. If you want research, analysis and working through hard problems, keep it on your list. If you need creative work with room for original expression, it may feel thin.
What they do
Research or study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and functions.
Main tasks
- Program and use computers to store, process, and analyze data.
- Prepare technical and research reports, such as environmental impact reports, and communicate the results to individuals in industry, government, or the general public.
- Supervise biological technicians and technologists and other scientists.
- 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.
- Identify, classify, and study structure, behavior, ecology, physiology, nutrition, culture, and distribution of plant and animal species.
- Study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and function.
Skills
- Science
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
Who this career fits
May suit you if
- You enjoy working out why something happens, not just what happened.
- You like clear rules and getting the details right.
- You are prepared for graduate-level study and a long training path.
- You are comfortable relying on science and writing.
May not suit you if
- You lose interest when a job asks for long stretches of analysis.
- You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic rates 2.4 out of 7 here.
- You want to be working in the field within the next few years.
Interest profile
O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code ICR takes the three highest, and Investigative comes first here.
Preparation
Extensive preparation. Many jobs here need graduate study, and people often spend five years or more building specialist experience.
Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Master's Degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.
Also called
- Aquatic Biologist
- Biological Scientist
- Biologist
- Botanist
- Fisheries and Wildlife Biologist
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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.