A biology major can get you a lot of different jobs in many different sectors. It all depends on what kind of job you want, what specialization you have, and how good you really are at science.
A degree in biology can lead to a variety of different careers. For example, you may be interested in becoming a physician, an environmental scientist, or a zoologist.
The following are some of the most common jobs for biology majors:
Physician Assistant: A physician assistant (PA) is a healthcare professional who works under the supervision of a physician. PAs help patients by performing routine examinations, diagnosing illness and injury, developing treatment plans, and providing education on disease prevention. They also perform administrative tasks such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing insurance companies and patients for services rendered by their supervising physicians.
Environmental Scientist: Environmental scientists study how people affect the environment and how their actions impact the environment. They look at how humans impact water quality, air quality, wildlife species diversity and population dynamics, land use practices such as urban sprawl development projects (e.g., shopping centers), recycling programs etc.), chemicals used for manufacturing products like plastics etc.), pesticides used for growing food crops etc.). They also investigate methods to help mitigate negative impacts on these areas so that we can live sustainably with nature instead of harming it from our actions over time (i
What jobs can you get with a biology major
Introduction
Biology majors can get a variety of jobs in the private and public sectors. They can use their knowledge and understanding of biological processes to conduct biological research, diagnose disease and illness, or protect the environment.
Biologist
If you’re interested in working in the medical field, biology majors can get jobs as biologists. Biologists are useful to have around because they study and record information about plants, animals, and humans. They might work in laboratories or outdoors; their job will depend on what type of biologist they become.
Some biologists specialize in research and development (R&D) for pharmaceutical companies or other businesses that use chemicals and other natural resources to make products that help people stay healthy. Other types of biologists may focus on conservation—they study how we can protect certain species from extinction while still using them for food or other purposes.
Laboratory Technicians
As a laboratory technician, you will be responsible for conducting tests and analyses in laboratories. You will work in hospitals, government agencies, and scientific research facilities. You are highly trained to use the scientific methods and techniques needed to perform your job duties.
Laboratory technicians need to be able to follow instructions and pay attention to detail as they perform their tasks.
Biochemist and biophysicist
Biochemists and biophysicists study the chemical processes of living things. They use a variety of experimental techniques, including electron microscopy, spectrometry and chromatography. Biochemists and biophysicists may work in research, education or business.
Biochemists and biophysicists may find jobs in the pharmaceutical industry or food industry where they test new products for safety and quality control purposes. Biochemists often work as researchers who develop new drugs to treat illnesses such as cancer or AIDS, while other biochemists perform more basic research involving DNA sequencing or protein structure analysis.
Medical Scientists
Medical scientists are scientists who work to develop new drugs, treatments and diagnostics. They may work in a lab, researching possible treatments for diseases like cancer or heart disease.
You might also find medical scientists working at hospitals and clinical research centers where they test out the effectiveness of drugs on people in order to determine whether or not they’re safe for use on humans.
Examples of products that may be tested by medical scientists include:
- Antibiotics (like penicillin)
- Antivirals (for HIV/AIDS)
- Diabetes treatments
- Cancer medicines
Environmental Scientist and Specialists
Environmental scientists and specialists study the environment, its interaction with humans, and how to improve both. They can work in government agencies, non-profit organizations, or private companies around the world. The types of jobs available for environmental scientists vary depending on their area of expertise.
Examples include:
- Biomedical scientist – Conducts research on the development of vaccines and medications for diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS.
- Environmental Health & Safety Specialist – Works in a variety of industries to ensure that employees’ health is protected from contaminants caused by manufacturing processes or other hazards at work sites.
- Fish & Wildlife Biologist – Collects data on different species of fish or wildlife so they can be protected in both natural environments and parks when necessary
Veterinary technologists and technicians
As a veterinary technician, you can expect to see a wide variety of duties. You may be responsible for everything from food preparation and cleaning to diagnosing illnesses and performing surgery on animals.
Veterinarians need their assistants to help with the day-to-day care of animal patients, as well as various administrative tasks. In order to become a veterinary technician or technologist, you’ll need an associate’s degree in veterinary technology. This will give you the technical knowledge needed for your job as well as practical experience working with medical equipment like x-ray machines and ultrasound equipment.”
Forensic science technicians
Forensic science technicians are responsible for collecting, preserving, and analyzing biological evidence from crime scenes. They also may be called upon to testify in court about their findings as an expert witness.
- What do forensic science technicians do?
- Forensic science technicians generally work in laboratories or at crime scenes. They examine biological evidence such as blood samples and body fluids to determine if they belong to a particular person or were present at the scene of an alleged crime. These professionals might also collect DNA samples from suspects and compare them with those obtained from victims or other sources of evidence.
- What are the requirements to become a forensic science technician?
- Most jobs require a bachelor’s degree; however, some employers may accept training/education certificates earned through post-secondary programs like associate degrees (two years). Additional coursework in biology or chemistry would be beneficial but isn’t required for many positions.* How much money can I make as a forensic science technician? The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that median annual wages were $56,640 in 2018—which means half earned more than this amount while half earned less.* Where can I learn more about what it takes to become one: [link]
Epidemiologists
You might be interested in a career as an epidemiologist. An epidemiologist is a public health professional who studies the patterns, causes, and effects of disease and injury in a community. Epidemiologists work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, community health centers, and research institutions where they are often called upon to examine and evaluate diseases that affect both children and adults.
Epidemiologists may also conduct surveys about people’s habits or behaviors related to health issues such as smoking or drinking alcohol; this information helps them understand how these habits can affect their communities’ health over time. Additionally, epidemiologists must be able to communicate effectively with colleagues from other departments within their organization so that they can collaborate on projects related to healthcare policymaking (e.g., legislative changes).
There is a wide variety of jobs that you can get with a biology major.
You can get jobs in many different fields with a biology major. For example, you can work in the biotech industry, pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology industry and more. You could also work with hospitals or health clinics as a medical assistant or technician. In addition to these options, there are many other industries where biology majors can find employment:
- Education – teaching at schools and universities
- Research – studying animals/plants/microbes/the environment
Biology majors also have a variety of job opportunities outside of academic research and teaching positions. Biology majors may choose to pursue careers in government agencies (e.g., USDA Forest Service) or non-profits (e.g., Nature Conservancy).
Conclusion
We’ve discussed a few examples of the kinds of jobs that you can get with a biology major, but there are many more. You should explore opportunities in your area and research which jobs would be a good fit for you. The best way to do this is by asking people who work in these fields—try your teachers, or set up informational interviews with professionals who have the kind of job that interests you. This will help you get an idea what it takes to work in those fields and whether they are right for you!
