Science Careers

Marine BiologyA marine biologist is someone who works in some way in studying, observing, protecting, or managing marine organisms. Marine Biology is a main title for many other jobs in the same field. These include oceanographer, marine mammalogist, ichthyologist, fishery biologist, physicist, hydrologist, mathematician, biological technician, microbiologist, or even systems analyst.

A marine biologist is someone who works in some way in studying, observing, protecting, or managing marine organisms. Marine Biology is a main title for many other jobs in the same field. These include oceanographer, marine mammalogist, ichthyologist, fishery biologist, physicist, hydrologist, mathematician, biological technician, microbiologist, or even systems analyst.

Marine Biology

You have to be willing to obtain your masters degree to actually become a marine biologist. The classes you have to take are biology, chemistry, some form of language, earth science, physics, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, statistics - and computer courses. You also have to be able to speak and write exceptionally well. A good idea when you're a junior or a senior in college is to get a summer job at a marine lab.

Job Requirements

Job Tasks and Duties•Study animals in their natural habitats, assessing effects of environment and industry on animals, interpreting findings and recommending alternative operating conditions for industry. •Inventory or estimate plant and wildlife populations.•Analyze characteristics of animals to identify and classify them.•Raise specimens for study and observation or for use in experiments.•Prepare collections of preserved specimens or microscopic slides for species identification and study of development or disease.•Oversee the care and distribution of zoo/aquarium animals, working with curators and zoo/aquarium directors to determine the best way to contain animals, maintain their habitats and manage facilities.•Study characteristics of animals such as origin, interrelationships, classification, life histories and diseases, development, genetics, and distribution.

Salary

Median Salary by Year of Experience

Job Outlook

Employment of biological scientists is projected to grow 9 percent over the 2006-16 decade