Home ยป Career Opportunities for Majors in Biological Sciences Career Opportunities for Majors in Biological Sciences
IntroductionBiological sciences is the study of living organisms and their relationship to the environment. The major in Biological Sceinces, administered through the Division of Life Sciences Office of Undergraduate Instruction, is intended to provide a broad and comprehensive training in modern biology. Topics of study may include biochemistry, botany, bacteriology, cell biology, ecology and evolution, endocrinology, immunology, molecular biology, nuerobiology, and physiology. The major in Biological Sciences is recommended for those who wish to study biology as part of their liberal arts education, preparing them for a career in one of the health professions, graduate studies in biology, a teaching career in secondary schools (courses in education are also required), as well as employment in various areas of the life sciences. If a student wishes to concentrate his/her studies in a specific area of biology, he/she should consider a major offered by one of the departments in the Division of Life Sciences or in Cook College. Some scientists conduct basic research to increase the knowledge of living organisms, while those in applied research use this knowledge to develop new medicines, increase crop yields and improve the environment. Work is generally performed in a laboratory or outdoor field setting. Other biological science graduates work in management or administration, planning programs for food and drug testing or managing a botanical garden. Some work as consultants to business firms, sell chemicals or laboratory instruments, or write for technical publications. While most graduates work in a related occupation and eventually obtain an advanced degree, others choose another direction. Many careers do not require a specific major but rather a wide range of demonstrated skills and accomplishments. Regardless of your career choices, increase your marketability to employers through internships, responsible work experience, good grades and involvement in college activities. A bachelor's degree is sufficient for advanced technician jobs in the medical field, lab/research assistant positions, or testing and inspection jobs. An advanced degree is required for most other positions in the scientific field.
A Sample of Related Occupations| Agronomist | Biochemist | Botanist | | Biostatistician | Biotechnologist | Ecologist | | Crop Physiologist | Dentist | Environ. Health Educator | | Embryologist | Entomologist | Flavor Chemist | | Environ. Impact Analyst | Fisheries Biologist | Geneticist | | Food & Drug Inspector | Forester | Industrial Hygienist | | Horticulturist | Hospital Administrator | Medical Doctor | | Laboratory Technician | Marine Biologist | Medical Social Worker | | Medical Illustrator | Medical Record Technician | Mycologist | | Medical Technician | Microbiologist | Parasitologist | | Natural Resources Manager | Pathologist | Pest Control Inspector | | Patent Specialist | Pharmacologist | Physical Therapist | | Pharmaceutical Sales Rep. | Plant Geneticist | Plant Quarantine Specialist | | Physician Assistant | Quality Control Specialist | Research Assistant | | Public Health Assistant | Technical Writer | Toxicologist | | Scientific Librarian | Wildlife Biologist | Zoologist | | Veterinarian | Biophysicist | |
Types of Employers| Private & Nonprofit Organizations | | Chemical Manufacturers | Food Manufacturers | Research Foundations | | Clinics | Health Care Producers | Scientific Journals | | Educational Institutions | Hospitals | Soap/Cosmetics Companies | | Environmental Consulting Firms | Pharmaceutical Companies | Testing Labs | | Fisheries | Public Utilities | Tobacco Industry |
| Government Agencies | | Air Pollution Control | Fish & Wildlife Service | NJ State Department of Health | | Center for Disease Control | Food & Drug Administration | OSHA | | Dept. of Agriculture | Land Use Planning Comm. | Peace Corps | | Dept. of Environ. Protection | National Institutes of Health | U.S. Forest Service | | Environ. Protection Agency | National Park Service | Water Resource Council |
Jobs Obtained by Rutgers Graduates| First Jobs of Recent Graduates | | Administrative Assistant, Nature Conservancy | Lab Technician, UMDNJ | | Analytical Chemist, Jacobus Pharmaceutical | Lab Supervisor, Rutgers University | | Assistant Scientist, Hoffmann-La Roche | Microbiological Lab Tech, Powder Masters | | Assistant Scientist, Schering-Plough | Patient Services Rep., Carrier Foundation | | Biologist, Merck & Co. | Park Ranger, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area | | Chemical Sales Assistant, Spex Industries | Quality Control Lab Technician, Castrol | | Clinical Laboratory Tech., Medical Diagnostic Laboratories | R&D Technician, Firmenich Inc. | | Clinical Research Associate, BioPharm | Research Assistant, Carter-Wallace | | Consumer Safety Officer, USFDA | Research Assistant, Robert Wood Johnson | | Cytologist Technician, Englewood Hospital | Teacher, BHPR School District | | Health Physicist, Merck & Co. | Teacher, Peace Corps | | Investigator, USFDA Lab Technician, UMDNJ | Technical Editor, Xenobiotic Labs | | Lab Technician, Johnson & Johnson Company | Veterinary Technician, Princeton Animal Hospital |
| Jobs of Experienced Alumni | | Account Manager, Agilent Technologies | Health Scientist Administrator, National Institute of Mental Health (PhD Neuroscience) | | Animal Scientist, USDA (MS Animal Science) | Int'l. Regulatory Affairs, J&J/Ortho | | Assistant Manager, Regulatory Affairs, Bristol-Myers Squibb (MBA) | Investigator, US Food & Drug Administration | | Assistant Professor, Life Sciences, University of California | Mgr., Microbiology Lab, Barr Labs (MS Bacteriology) | | Assistant Professor, Psychiatry, GWU (MD) | Manager, Quality Assurance, Ecogen (PhD Biology) | | Asst. Prof., SUNY Health Sciences Ctr. (PhD Cell Bio.) | Manager, Sales Training, Pfizer Labs | | Asst. Scientist, Institute of Ecosystem Studies (PhD Ecology) | Medical Writer, MediTech Media | | Associate Clinical Scientist, Bristol-Myers Squibb (MS Biotechnology) | Natural Resource Specialist, Federal Government | | Assoc. Dir., Toxicology, Bio/dynamics (Board certified) | Nuclear Medical Technologist, Radiology Group (MBA) | | Associate Scientist, Schering-Plough (MS Microbiology) | Pediatric Nurse, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (MSN) | | Biochemist, Merck Sharp & Dohme (MS Microbiology) | Physician, Camcare Health Corp. (MD) | | Business Director, Rhone Poulenc (MBA Chem. Mrktg.) | Project Manager, Research, New Jersey Hospital Association | | Chiropractor, Chatham Chiropractic Center (DC) | Research Associate, ICI Pharmaceuticals (MS Biology) | | Dentist (DMD) | Research Associate, Syracuse University (PhD Biology) | | Deputy Agricultural Commissioner, San Mateo County | Sales Representative, Curtin Matheson Scientific | | Dir., Hlth. Educ., Memorial Hosp. (PhD Comm. Hlth.) | Science Teacher, Philadelphia School Dist. (M Education) | | Dir., Marketing Res., Winthrop Pharmaceuticals (MBA) | Sr. Medical Copywriter, Roche Laboratories | | Director, Therapy Services, Lewisville Therapeutic Center (MS Physical Therapy) | Sr. Scientist, Direct Access Diagnostics | | Environmental Consultant, Self-Employed (PhD Land Res.) | Sr. Technical Trainer, Corning Besselaar (MA Genetics) | | Genetic Counselor, Cooper Health Sys. (MS Gen. Couns.) | |
Graduate Schools Attended| Albert Einstein College of Medicine, PhD, Biomedical Sciences | Mount Sinai School of Medicine, MD | | Arcadia University, MS, Genetic Counseling | New York College of Podiatric Medicine, DPM | | Boston College, MA, Psychology | Rutgers University, MS, Animal Sciences | | Boston University, School of Medicine, MD | Rutgers University, MA, Science Education | | City University of New York, PhD, Educ. Admin. | Rutgers University, PhD, Pharmacology/Toxicology | | Colorado State University, DVM, Veterinary Medicine | Univ. of California-Berkeley, PhD, Ecology | | Colorado State Univ. Vet. School, DVM | UMDNJ - NJ Dental School, DMD, Dentistry | | Columbia University, MS, Biotechnology | UMDNJ - RWJ Medical School, MD, Medicine | | Drexel University Medical School, MD | UMDNJ - School of Osteopathic Medicine, MD/PhD, Psychiatry | | Fairleigh Dickinson University, M.Ed, Education | University of Pennsylvania, MSN | | Illinois College of Optometry, OD | |
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