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Introduction
Biological sciences, the study of living organisms and their relationship to the environment, provides a foundation for a variety of careers. 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 & Non-profit 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 | Microbiological Lab Tech, Powder Masters |
| Assistant Scientist, Hoffmann-La Roche | Patient Services Rep., Carrier Foundation |
| Assistant Scientist, Schering-Plough | Park Ranger, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area |
| Biologist, Merck & Co. | Quality Control Lab Technician, Castrol |
| Chemical Sales Assistant, Spex Industries | 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 |
| Veterinary Technician, Princeton Animal Hospital | |
| Jobs of Experienced Alumni | |
| Animal Scientist, USDA (MS Animal Science) | Genetic Counselor, Cooper Health Sys. (MS Gen. Couns.) |
| Asst. Manager, Regulatory Affairs, Bristol-Myers Squibb (MBA) | Health Scientist Administrator, Nat'l. Inst. of Mental Health (PhD Neuroscience) |
| Assistant Professor, Psychiatry, GWU (MD) | Mgr., Microbiology Lab, Barr Labs (MS Bacteriology) |
| Asst. Prof., SUNY Health Sciences Ctr. (PhD Cell Bio.) | Int'l. Regulatory Affairs, J&J/Ortho |
| Asst. Scientist, Institute of Ecosystem Studies (PhD Ecology) | Investigator, US Food & Drug Administration |
| Associate Clinical Scientist, Bristol-Myers Squibb (MS Biotechnology) | Manager, Quality Assurance, Ecogen (PhD Biology) |
| Assoc. Dir., Toxicology, Bio/dynamics (Board certified) | Manager, Sales Training, Pfizer Labs |
| Associate Scientist, Schering-Plough (MS Microbiology) | Natural Resource Specialist, Federal Government |
| Biochemist, Merck Sharp & Dohme (MS Microbiology) | Nuclear Medical Technologist, Radiology Group (MBA) |
| Business Director, Rhone Poulenc (MBA Chem. Mrktg.) | Physician, Camcare Health Corp. (MD) |
| 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) |
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 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 Univ. Vet. School, DVM | Univ. of California-Berkeley, PhD, Ecology |
| Columbia University, MS, Biotechnology | UMDNJ - NJ Dental School, DMD, Dentistry |
| Drexel University Medical School, MD | UMDNJ - RWJ Medical School, MD, Medicine |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University, M.Ed, Education | UMDNJ - School of Osteopathic Medicine, MD/PhD, Psychiatry |
| Illinois College of Optometry, OD |
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Last Updated: 04/28/2009