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Savannah
Student
Yuba City, California
2
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What job opportunities in marine biology should I pursue?
I want to go into marine biology with a specialty in large marine mammals. I have considered being a mammologist, but I'm not sure what a bunch of the options are. I can't find them online and my counselor doesn't know much about the field. I also have heavily considered being an aquatic vet, but I don't know what goes into it. What should I look into?
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1 answer
Mel Belmonte
Operations
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Jacksonville, Florida
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Mel’s Answer
Marine biology is such an interesting field, and specializing in large marine mammals opens up quite a few career possibilities! There are actually more options than just being a marine biologist or aquatic veterinarian.
If you're particularly interested in whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions, and other large marine mammals, here are some careers I'd encourage you to research:
1. Marine Mammalogist
This sounds closest to what you're describing. Marine mammalogists specialize in studying marine mammals, including their behavior, biology, communication, migration patterns, reproduction, and conservation. Some work in research, while others work in conservation organizations, universities, government agencies, or marine research facilities.
2. Marine Mammal Veterinarian
If you love the medical side of working with animals, this is worth exploring. Marine mammal veterinarians diagnose illnesses, perform medical procedures, help with injuries, oversee animal health, and sometimes participate in rescue and rehabilitation efforts.
This career requires quite a bit of schooling. Typically, you'd:
- Earn a bachelor's degree, often in biology, zoology, or animal science.
- Complete veterinary school and earn a DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine).
- Gain experience with aquatic animals and marine mammals.
- Potentially pursue additional specialized training or residency opportunities.
It's a competitive field, so gaining hands-on experience and making professional connections is important.
3. Marine Mammal Researcher
If you're more interested in understanding how these animals live and interact with their environments, research could be a great fit. Researchers study things like whale migration, dolphin communication, population health, feeding habits, and the effects of climate change and human activity.
4. Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Specialist
These professionals help rescue, rehabilitate, and care for injured, sick, or stranded marine mammals. Depending on the organization, you might assist with animal care, rehabilitation plans, feeding, monitoring, and eventually releasing animals back into the wild.
5. Marine Conservation Biologist
If protecting marine mammals and their habitats interests you, this is another route. Conservation biologists work on protecting endangered species, researching population declines, reducing human impacts, and developing conservation strategies.
6. Marine Animal Behaviorist
This is another interesting specialty, especially if you're fascinated by dolphins and whales. Animal behaviorists study communication, social structures, intelligence, learning, feeding behavior, and interactions between animals.
7. Marine Mammal Field Research Technician
This is a good career to look into if you want to spend time outdoors and on the water. Field technicians assist researchers with tracking animals, collecting samples, monitoring populations, recording observations, and using equipment such as acoustic monitoring devices.
A few things I'd recommend doing now:
- Look into volunteering at marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation organizations.
- Research internships at aquariums and marine research centers.
- Take biology, chemistry, physics, and as much math as you can.
- Learn about animal behavior, ecology, and conservation.
- Consider learning statistics and data analysis. They're surprisingly important in marine research.
One thing I want to mention is that marine biology isn't always as hands-on with animals as people imagine. Depending on your position, you might spend more time collecting data, writing reports, analyzing research, or working in a laboratory than actually interacting with whales and dolphins. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's worth understanding before committing to a particular career.
I'd also recommend exploring these organizations and resources:
- NOAA Fisheries – Marine biology and conservation careers.
- National Marine Mammal Foundation – Careers in marine mammal science.
- The Marine Mammal Center – Veterinary careers and opportunities.
- International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine – Getting into aquatic animal medicine.
Personally, I'd encourage you not to settle on one specific job title just yet. Explore both the research and veterinary sides of marine mammal science. You may discover a specialty you didn't even know existed!
My biggest advice is to find opportunities to get experience early. Even volunteering, shadowing a veterinarian, or helping with wildlife conservation projects can teach you a lot about what you enjoy.
You don't have to have your entire career figured out right now. Start exploring, keep learning, and let your interests guide you. It's a fascinating field, and I wish you the best of luck pursuing it!
If you're particularly interested in whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions, and other large marine mammals, here are some careers I'd encourage you to research:
1. Marine Mammalogist
This sounds closest to what you're describing. Marine mammalogists specialize in studying marine mammals, including their behavior, biology, communication, migration patterns, reproduction, and conservation. Some work in research, while others work in conservation organizations, universities, government agencies, or marine research facilities.
2. Marine Mammal Veterinarian
If you love the medical side of working with animals, this is worth exploring. Marine mammal veterinarians diagnose illnesses, perform medical procedures, help with injuries, oversee animal health, and sometimes participate in rescue and rehabilitation efforts.
This career requires quite a bit of schooling. Typically, you'd:
- Earn a bachelor's degree, often in biology, zoology, or animal science.
- Complete veterinary school and earn a DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine).
- Gain experience with aquatic animals and marine mammals.
- Potentially pursue additional specialized training or residency opportunities.
It's a competitive field, so gaining hands-on experience and making professional connections is important.
3. Marine Mammal Researcher
If you're more interested in understanding how these animals live and interact with their environments, research could be a great fit. Researchers study things like whale migration, dolphin communication, population health, feeding habits, and the effects of climate change and human activity.
4. Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Specialist
These professionals help rescue, rehabilitate, and care for injured, sick, or stranded marine mammals. Depending on the organization, you might assist with animal care, rehabilitation plans, feeding, monitoring, and eventually releasing animals back into the wild.
5. Marine Conservation Biologist
If protecting marine mammals and their habitats interests you, this is another route. Conservation biologists work on protecting endangered species, researching population declines, reducing human impacts, and developing conservation strategies.
6. Marine Animal Behaviorist
This is another interesting specialty, especially if you're fascinated by dolphins and whales. Animal behaviorists study communication, social structures, intelligence, learning, feeding behavior, and interactions between animals.
7. Marine Mammal Field Research Technician
This is a good career to look into if you want to spend time outdoors and on the water. Field technicians assist researchers with tracking animals, collecting samples, monitoring populations, recording observations, and using equipment such as acoustic monitoring devices.
A few things I'd recommend doing now:
- Look into volunteering at marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation organizations.
- Research internships at aquariums and marine research centers.
- Take biology, chemistry, physics, and as much math as you can.
- Learn about animal behavior, ecology, and conservation.
- Consider learning statistics and data analysis. They're surprisingly important in marine research.
One thing I want to mention is that marine biology isn't always as hands-on with animals as people imagine. Depending on your position, you might spend more time collecting data, writing reports, analyzing research, or working in a laboratory than actually interacting with whales and dolphins. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's worth understanding before committing to a particular career.
I'd also recommend exploring these organizations and resources:
- NOAA Fisheries – Marine biology and conservation careers.
- National Marine Mammal Foundation – Careers in marine mammal science.
- The Marine Mammal Center – Veterinary careers and opportunities.
- International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine – Getting into aquatic animal medicine.
Personally, I'd encourage you not to settle on one specific job title just yet. Explore both the research and veterinary sides of marine mammal science. You may discover a specialty you didn't even know existed!
My biggest advice is to find opportunities to get experience early. Even volunteering, shadowing a veterinarian, or helping with wildlife conservation projects can teach you a lot about what you enjoy.
You don't have to have your entire career figured out right now. Start exploring, keep learning, and let your interests guide you. It's a fascinating field, and I wish you the best of luck pursuing it!
Thank you for the advice, Mel.
Savannah