Biologist Job Description, Key Duties and Responsibilities

This post provides exhaustive information on the biologist job description and career, as well as the steps you can take to become a biologist and advance your career.

It highlights the key duties, tasks, and responsibilities that commonly make up the biologist work description.

You will also discover the major requirements that you may be expected to meet to be hired for the biologist position, as well as the expected salary for the role.

What Does a Biologist Do?

The biologist job description entails developing new and innovative products and methods of analysis.

It also involves responsibilities for scientific advancement in their laboratory, especially in the area of research in which they work.

The biologist role includes measuring the effectiveness of experimental treatments on organism (i.e., their treatment efficiency).

They perform their work at the department level through publications, teaching, and collaboration with other scientists across their campus or institution and with professionals working outside of it.

Biologists make sure that all activities within their laboratory are conducted in accordance with university standards and with approval by those within their unit.

It is the duty of the biologist to carry out care and treatment of laboratory animals involved in research.

Another duty of the biologist is advising his/her students about their academic performance and ensuring that their academic endeavors are not affected by ethical issues in scientific research, i.e., compliance with animal experimentation guidelines.

Imparting scientific knowledge to their students through lectures, exercises, and demonstrations is an important aspect of the biologist’s tasks.

Biologists train other scientists and post-doctoral fellows on the application of methodology or procedures within their laboratory, as well as in related fields of interest such as ethics, animal welfare, laboratory safety, etc.

More on Biologist Job Description

A biologist is responsible for the care and custody of laboratory animals, as well as their handling and management.

They are to attend meetings with fellow professionals and present their research findings to peers through professional conferences.

Development of new methods for analysis in all areas of life science and instrumentation that facilitates this analysis is another duty of biologists.

Furthermore, it is the duty of the biologist to carry out review and revision of the technical literature.

They are in charge of the preparation of manuscripts for publication in scientific journals, correspondence concerning research with other scientists, and presentations at scientific conferences.

Biologist Job Description Sample/Example/Template

The biologist job description involves the following duties, tasks, and responsibilities:

• Develops and manages the scientific programs and philosophy of the wildlife management agency
• Provides administrative and technical support to biologists engaged in research projects and wildlife management activities
• Communicates scientific information to the public and governmental agencies
• Evaluates new techniques and technologies that might be used in wildlife management programs and evaluates their potential for application to problems with wildlife populations
• Plays a fundamental role in all programs by incorporating approaches from other disciplines that can improve conservation practices
• Serves as advisor to other staff on matters concerning wildlife habitat, species, and population growth and distribution. Other areas include food habits, physiology, diseases, mating habits, and life span of animals
• Specifies habitat areas in which wildlife populations can be adequately supported
• Helps determine the numbers of animals that should be harvested in a given season
• Prepares biological data and reports used to make sound decisions concerning wildlife management and regulations
• Prepares budgets and recommends funding priorities based on needs and available resources
• Conducts studies to determine the causes of mortality, diseases, food habits, mating habits, life span of animals, etc.
• Investigates complaints from the public about wildlife problems such as nuisance animals and assists in resolving them (e.g., wild animal trapped in house)
• Recommends the use of different methods for controlling population growths or increasing species survival rates (e.g. birth control for overpopulated species)

More Biologist Job Description

• Identifies the effects of human intrusion into wildlife habitats and establishes measures to preserve the delicate balance between humans and animals
• Uses scientific methods to determine the age of young animals and provides advice on population control
• Prepares reports on trends in wildlife populations, food habits, mating habits, life span of animals, etc.
• Keeps records on local wildlife populations and data results from field research studies
• Organizes field trips for students or guests to study or view wild animals in their natural habitats or zoos

Biologist Job Description for Resume

If you have worked before as a biologist or are presently working in that role and are writing a resume or CV for a new position, you can create a great Professional Experience section for the resume by applying the duties and responsibilities in the above biologist  job description sample.

By applying the duties and responsibilities from the above biologist job description example in the Professional Experience section of your resume, you will be showing to recruiters/employers that you have been successful performing the biologist functions.

This could significantly influence the recruiter/employer to give you an interview, especially if the new job that you are seeking requires having some biologist work experience.

Biologist Job Requirements: Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities for Career Success

Here are major requirements you might be expected to meet to be hired for the biologist’s job:

• Bachelor’s degree in the Life Science field with a minimum of a three-year course requirement or equivalent combination of experience, education and training
• At least five years in the field of study related to the position, or at least three years of experience in related disciplines. Other qualifications are, at least five years as a professional biologist (i.e., engaged as an employee that is paid by an employer) on occupations needing far more training and skill than an undergraduate degree from any college accredited by the Department of Education
• Proven success or potential in planning and directing research projects or participating on team research projects related to the position
• Demonstrated ability to render expert advice concerning environmental issues concerning wildlife populations
• Proven ability to interpret, analyze, and evaluate data
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate techniques, procedures and management programs in wildlife management
• Ability to properly interact with the broader audience.

Biologist Salary

The average annual salary for a biologist in the U.S. is $87,890 per year.

Some of the highest paying cities are Cambridge, MA, $102,845; West Point, PA, $98,738; San Diego, CA, $94,404; Atlanta, GA, $92,545; and Olympia, WA, $89,454 per year.

There are currently around 33,218 biologists working in the United States.

Women make up 48.6% of all biologists, while men make up 51.4%.

An employed biologist is 41 years old on average.

White (76.4%) is the most frequent ethnicity among biologists, followed by Asian (11.6%), Hispanic or Latino (6.4%), and Unknown (2.9%).

Conclusion

This post is helpful to individuals interested in the biologist career; they will learn all they need to know about what biologists do, and be able to decide if they really want to become a biologist.

It is also useful to recruiters/employers looking to make a detailed job description for the biologist role in their organizations.

See: Biologist Career Advancement.