2 answers
Samantha
Student
Tampa, Florida
3
Questions
Asked
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What is it like being a biologist or marine biologist ?
I have no idea what I want to do in life. I am only a freshman but it is good to get ideas. So how did you accomplish getting a job as a biologist or marine biologist and what are some frequently asked questions you can answer? How many years of college did you do? What is the best college to go to? What courses should I attend?
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2 answers
Alex ☺
Technical Coach
7
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Alex’s Answer
In my previous life in the lab working with bacteria, I would perform experiments and report results weekly, and tweaking parameters in the procedures to increase chances of reaching my desired results.
Second company I grew stem cells in the lab to treat injuries or freeze(banking) them, so it was mainly clean room type of work. Then I checked if the cells were viable by the time they were ready to be used for treatment.
I had previous experience in school working with both of these types of organisms (volunteering for professors to do things I considered interesting) so I had a fair idea how it would turn out in the field. A 4 year bachelors in anything related to biology was enough for those jobs. Learning how to work with bioreactors and later in a clean room was during the job.
Dive into the world of online job postings in your preferred field. Keep in mind that there's likely to be competition, so gauge the demand for such a role.
Set your sights on a solid mid-level position and familiarize yourself with its prerequisites
Take a good look at the salary and perks on offer. i.e. bonus pay, health insurance, vacation time, opportunities for growth, and so on.
Begin by mapping out the roles that could serve as stepping stones to your dream job.
Alternatively, you could connect with professionals on LinkedIn who are already in the role you aspire to, and seek their guidance or a brief conversation.
Second company I grew stem cells in the lab to treat injuries or freeze(banking) them, so it was mainly clean room type of work. Then I checked if the cells were viable by the time they were ready to be used for treatment.
I had previous experience in school working with both of these types of organisms (volunteering for professors to do things I considered interesting) so I had a fair idea how it would turn out in the field. A 4 year bachelors in anything related to biology was enough for those jobs. Learning how to work with bioreactors and later in a clean room was during the job.
Alex recommends the following next steps:
Thank you, this is really helpful.
Samantha
Anwen Eslinger
Analyst used to be a researcher
5
Answers
Mound, Minnesota
Updated
Anwen’s Answer
BS/BA is enough to become a researcher. You of course can do more with more education.
Honestly, where you go is less important than the internships you do on the way and the skills and techniques you acquired on the way. So my first piece of advice is check out colleges, Universities and government offices with labs ( pathology, water treatment, environmental agencies, etc) and apply for internships, ask to shadow, whatever just get in there and learn.
I got my start learning tissue culture in a genetics lab on an nci internship.
That got me skills that got me hired at my uni post graduation in a research lab that just needed that skill. Then I learned more skills by always offering to help anyone when I was done with my tasks.
Day to day work is usually setting up, carrying out, cleaning up and analyzing experiments or assays.
You'll be doing lots of cleaning. Autoclaving, taking out waste, etc. Doing inventory, fixing equipment.
The experiments depend on the lab. I've done extractions one day, binding assays another, microscopy the next and then sitting reading paper after paper.
Courses should focus on those with real wet lab work and statistics and programming. Those 3 skills ( good lab habits, learning how to record data, learning how to see the math in the analysis and writing a program to do the math for you) are the most crucial. I'll add database architecture and ethics and writing in there too.
You have to be able to communicate findings in an effective manor.
Honestly, where you go is less important than the internships you do on the way and the skills and techniques you acquired on the way. So my first piece of advice is check out colleges, Universities and government offices with labs ( pathology, water treatment, environmental agencies, etc) and apply for internships, ask to shadow, whatever just get in there and learn.
I got my start learning tissue culture in a genetics lab on an nci internship.
That got me skills that got me hired at my uni post graduation in a research lab that just needed that skill. Then I learned more skills by always offering to help anyone when I was done with my tasks.
Day to day work is usually setting up, carrying out, cleaning up and analyzing experiments or assays.
You'll be doing lots of cleaning. Autoclaving, taking out waste, etc. Doing inventory, fixing equipment.
The experiments depend on the lab. I've done extractions one day, binding assays another, microscopy the next and then sitting reading paper after paper.
Courses should focus on those with real wet lab work and statistics and programming. Those 3 skills ( good lab habits, learning how to record data, learning how to see the math in the analysis and writing a program to do the math for you) are the most crucial. I'll add database architecture and ethics and writing in there too.
You have to be able to communicate findings in an effective manor.
Thanks, can't wait to put this advice into action!
Samantha