About Life Science Careers

Many people wonder about what types of careers are available in the life sciences. Careers in life science cover a broad range of focus, from science teacher to immunologist, but all focus upon some area of life, whether at the cellular level, the global level, or particular types of plants or animals. While most areas of life science require an advanced degree, not all pay well, so someone wanting a career in life science needs to have a passion for that area of science.

Identification

Careers in life science tend to be very specialized fields, such as working as a botanist or a geneticist. Those entering the field of life science can choose to work with certain groups of organisms, such as birds, mammals or viruses. Others might work with a particular system within an organism, such as cells, tissues, or organs. Another option is to work in a career that focuses on the big picture, such as a career in ecology or oceanography.

Types

There are numerous types of life science careers including agronomist, anatomist, animal scientist, biochemist, biomedical engineer, biophysicist, botanist, developmental biologist, ecologist, epidemiologist, food scientist, forester, geneticist, horticulturalist, immunologist, marine biologist, medical illustrator, medical laboratory technician, microbiologist, mycologist, nutritionist, paleontologist, pathologist, pharmacologist, physiologist, science teacher, science writer and zoologist. As you can see, careers in life science cover a wide variety of topics and require a wide variety of knowledge.

Function

Each career in life science makes its own contribution to the betterment of society. For example, an immunologist develops vaccines to protect society from a deadly outbreak. A nutritionist helps people improve and maintain their health through eating the right foods and taking the best health supplements. A science teacher takes complex scientific information and breaks it down in a way that students can understand and, ideally, sparks the interest in science for the next generation of scientists.

Benefits

The benefits of working in a career in life science are numerous. Those working in a life science career have the ability to make a big difference in the world. Whether it is stopping an outbreak of the bird flu or creating artificial hearts to extend a person's life, the effects of the work done by life scientists is felt worldwide. Sometimes the effects are felt much closer to home, such as the couple who is able to give birth to a healthy baby, thanks to the research by developmental biologists.

Considerations

While many careers in general science do not require an advanced degree, those who want to work in the life sciences must earn an advanced degree in the area of life science in which they want to work. For some life sciences, such as a science teacher, a bachelor degree will suffice. However, most other areas of life science require at least a master's degree and preferably a doctorate. Because not all areas of life science pay well, those who are seeking a career in life science also need to have a passion for the area in which they are hoping to work.

Resources

• Life Science Careers