Biology is a versatile degree that can lead to jobs and careers in many different areas. Visit the department website, watch the videos below, or scroll down and select an option under Related Career Fields to see more information about potential careers you can pursue.
Biology
Related Career Fields
Select a career field below to see some of the various areas it encompasses, types of employers, and some sample occupations.
Research and Development
Career Areas
- 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 government laboratories/agencies
- Colleges and universities
Sample Occupations
Organismal Biology
Career Areas
- Some Areas of Specialization:
- Botany and Plant Sciences
- Ecology and Wildlife
- Marine and Aquatic
- Systematic (Taxonomy)
- Zoology
- Entomology
- Genetics
- Microbiology
- Microbiology Specializations:
- 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
- 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
Sample Occupations
Biomedical Sciences
Career Areas
- 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
Sample Occupations
Healthcare
Career Areas
- 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
Sample Occupations
Bioinformatics
Career Areas
- 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, medical
- Federal laboratories and regulatory agencies:
- National Institutes of Health
- Food and Drug Administration
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Department of Agriculture
- National Biological Information Infrastructure
Sample Occupations
Education
Career Areas
- 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
Sample Occupations
- Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
- Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
- Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
Communication
Career Areas
- Technical Writing
- Editing
- Illustrating
- Photography
Employers
- Publishing companies including:
- Scientific magazines
- Professional journals
- Periodicals
- Textbooks
- 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
Legislation and Law
Career Areas
- Lobbying
- Regulatory Affairs
- Science Policy
- Patent Law
- Environmental Law
Employers
- Federal and state government
- Law firms
- Large corporations
Sample Occupations
Business and Industry
Career Areas
- Technical and Pharmaceutical Sales
- Management
- Consulting
- Marketing
Employers
- Manufacturing companies including:
- Pharmaceuticals
- Animal pharmaceuticals
- Laboratory equipment
- Medical supplies and prostheses
- Marketing firms
- Consulting firms
Sample Occupations
Join Organizations
Being active in both student and professional organizations can help boost your career. You'll have the opportunity to network with and learn from peers, mentors, and professionals. Working within these groups helps build leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. You'll gain hands-on experience, showing employers your proactive attitude and commitment to growth, making you a stronger job candidate.
Student Organizations
Check out the organizations listed below, search Laker Life, or talk with a Career Coach to find others.
Search for Employers
General Guidelines and Strategies
- 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.
- The biological sciences are good preparation for a career in healthcare such as medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science, but professional degrees and licenses are also necessary to practice in these fields.
- Learn laboratory procedures and become familiar with equipment.
- 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.
- Develop strong analytical, computer, mathematics, and communications skills.
- Join professional associations and community organizations to stay abreast of current issues in the field and to develop networking contacts.
- Read scientific journals related to your area of interest.
- Become familiar with the specific entrance exam for graduate or professional schools in your area of interest.
- Secure strong relationships and personal recommendations from professors and/or employers.
- Consider completing a postdoctoral experience after graduate school.
- Learn federal, state, and local government job application processes. The federal government is the largest employer of biologists.
- Gain experience with grant writing and fundraising techniques. Often research must be funded in this manner.
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