If you are interested in making a career in biology, then the options are plenty and diverse. Biology students either go for research or enter the corporate sector. Apart from the core subjects botany and zoology, this stream has been diversified and merged with technical science, giving rise to newer subjects like biotechnology, bioinformatics, statistical science, that have very bright prospects.
With a degree in biology and combination of physics, chemistry, and mathematics, you can channelize your growth in many directions, depending upon your interest. Students take short-term projects and research works that help them gain expertise. You can visit research institutes and companies to get further information about such projects. After completion of your degree, you should go for higher education. It always fetches good results in the long run. The following sectors offer positions post completion of your degree.
- Academic Institutions (schools, colleges, universities)
- Healthcare Industries
- Research Institutes/ Labs
- Environment Preservation Sector
- Forensic Science Department
- Writing Industry
The Opportunities
Core Jobs
Biology is a vast discipline and the job opportunities will depend on your area of specialization. With a basic degree in biotechnology, you can enter the pharmaceutical industry. Marketing and quality analysis sectors have openings for fresh pass outs. The specialized fields of biology like biochemistry, biophysics, biochemical engineering, biostatistics, molecular biology, cell biology, microbiology, molecular medicine, clinical research, nanotechnology, etc., have experienced tremendous growth and development. However, you should find out good universities and colleges offering such courses with the best facilities.
Research and Academics
A career in the field of research can be most rewarding. Research offers vast opportunities for building a high profile career. You can achieve a top level position, if you have successfully completed your PhD in any branch of biology. The choice is yours whether you want to enter the corporate sector or academics. For the post of dean, head of the department, lecturer, professor, and other high level positions, people with PhD are preferred. Growth in academic area is always on the positive side. Today, many students are combining biology with a management degree. This combination works great for those, who are inclined towards the corporate world. Young minds enthusiastic about starting their own venture can have an MBA degree to boost up entrepreneurial skills.
Forensics, Environment, and Intellectual Property
One of the most interesting fields is the forensic science. This involves analyzing the genetic and other crucial information of an individual. Another option to consider is the 'intellectual property rights' which covers the regulatory, patents, and copyright issues of a company and its products. A combination of biology with economics, statistics, and mathematics can give you more success. One can also consider environmental science, which is an ever demanding discipline. Specializing in this discipline will give you opportunities to work on various kinds of nature and biodiversity preservation projects.
Scientific Writing and Editing
Scientific writing is a great field that recruits freshers and students, who have an avid interest in writing. You have the opportunity to work with scientific magazines. Students having a thorough knowledge in biology as well as language love this job. One can also make a career in scientific editing. Editing journals, books, and research papers written by authors and scientists is also interesting. The following are some more options you can consider.
- Drug Tester
- Quality Control Analyst (e.g in breweries, pharmacies, etc.)
- Conservation Scientist
- Marketing Executive
- Research Scientist
- Pharmaceutical Jobs
- Statistician
- Agricultural Scientist
- Wildlife Biologist
- Nanotechnologist
- Medical Physicist
- Bioinformatician
- Marine Biologist
- Beer/Wine Maker
- Academic Teacher
- Forensic Investigator
- Medical Illustrator
- Medical Writer
- Medical Transcriptionist
- Marine Biologist
- Medical Coder
- Forest Ranger
- Biochemist
- Environmental Scientist
- Epidemiologist
- Taxonomist
- Botanist
- Zoologist
- Clinical Research Scientist
- Scientific Writer
- Medical Representative
