Biologist Job Information | National Careers Service

Job profiles

Biologist

Hours

30-40 per week
Starting salary

£20,000 + per year

If you are interested in the natural world then being this type of scientist could be an ideal job for you. Biology is the study of living things like animals or plants and the world in which they live.

To become a biologist you will need to have an enquiring mind and good problem solving skills. You will also need to be accurate and have attention to detail.

Most employers will expect you to have a relevant degree and a Masters qualification. Some employers might also want you to be working towards a PhD.

The work

Biologists study living things like animals or plants, and the world around them, to increase our knowledge and understanding of areas such as the environment, genetics, and animal or plant biology.

As a biologist, you could use your skills in a variety of ways, for example:

in agriculture, developing organic plants to be used for food
to tackle environmental issues, such as ways of cleaning polluted rivers so that fish can thrive
in conservation, supporting a variety of plants and animals in their natural environment
in medicine, developing new methods to diagnose, monitor and treat illness or disease
in industry, preventing food contamination or creating ways to dispose of waste safely.

You could also specialise in related fields such as:

ecology
marine biology
biotechnology
immunology
molecular biology
microbiology.

Your work would include designing and carrying out experiments, making observations, writing reports and publishing scientific papers based on your research. It could also be used commercially, such as for improving productivity in agricultural livestock or crops.

You would often work in a team with other scientists and technicians, and you may supervise support staff and carry out administration work. If you were based at a university or teaching hospital, you would also teach and mentor students.

Hours

You will usually work 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, but with occasional evening and weekend shifts.

Depending on your specialist area of work, you could be based in a laboratory, a classroom, in industry or by the ocean.

Fieldwork can sometimes take place in challenging conditions.

Income

Starting salaries for research biologists can be around £20,000 a year.

University lecturers can earn around £40,000 a year, and professors may earn up to £60,000 a year.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

To work in biology, most employers will expect you to have a relevant degree and a Masters qualification. A growing number of employers will also want you to have experience in your area of interest and be working towards a PhD.

Degree and postgraduate courses are available in a variety of subjects such as:

biology or applied biology
biological science
plant biology
microbiology
conservation biology
ecology
marine biology.

Before choosing a course, it is important to check with providers that the subject you want to study will prepare you for the type of work you want to do. You will also need to check entry requirements with course providers.

You could contact the Society of Biology or visit their website for further advice, careers information and details of student support initiatives.

Society of Biology

If you have at least four GCSEs (A-C) including science, English and maths, you may be able to start work in biology as a technician. However, many employers are now asking for A levels, a BTEC National, BTEC HNC/HND or degree in a science subject for this role.

Training and development

Once you are working as a biologist you will usually receive training from your employer on relevant health and safety issues. You will also need to keep up to date with new developments in your specialist area, and contribute to research and advances in your field.

If you do not have a postgraduate qualification, many employers will encourage you to study at this level and work towards membership of a professional body, such as the Society of Biology. The Society of Biology has a continuing professional development (CPD) scheme, which will help you increase your knowledge, skills and expertise. Through the CPD scheme, you could eventually gain Chartered Biologist status, which gives you recognition as having achieved standards of excellence.

Society of Biology

If you are mainly based in a laboratory or working at technician level, there are various part-time and work-based qualifications that may help you progress in your career, such as:

Work-based diplomas Levels 2 to 4 in Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities
Work-based diploma Level 2 in Clinical Laboratory Support
BTEC National, BTEC HNC or degree in, for example, applied science or applied biology.

Skills and knowledge

To become a biologist, you will need to have:

practical scientific skills
an enquiring mind
the ability to think clearly and logically
good problem-solving skills
a methodical approach to work
accuracy and attention to detail
good teamwork skills
the ability to manage and develop a team
excellent spoken and written communication skills
the ability to keep up to date with advances in your field
an understanding of statistics and relevant computer packages.

More information

Society of Biology (Opens new window)
Charles Darwin House
12 Roger Street
London
WC1N 2JU
www.societyofbiology.org

Opportunities

You could work in the public sector and the private sector. There are opportunities for work in, for example, the pharmaceutical, agricultural or food industries, carrying out research and product development or scientific analysis and investigation.

If your specialism is environmental biology or ecology, you could work with zoos, charities, research institutions and organisations such as the Environment Agency.

You could also move into careers in management, teaching, the media, administration and scientific journalism.

Jobs are advertised in industry journals such as Nature, and Science, and on websites like the Society of Biology's Jobs Board, and New Scientist Jobs.

You should also check for jobs through professional bodies relevant to your specialism. For example, if you want to work in environmental management, check the British Ecological Society website for details of fieldwork opportunities as well as paid jobs.

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.

Related industry information

Industry summary

The science industry is part of the engineering manufacturing, science and mathematics sector, represented by Semta Sector Skills Council. This sector also includes the following industries: automotive manufacture; electronics and electrical equipment manufacture; mechanical equipment manufacture; metals; and transport equipment manufacture. Across the sector as a whole, the workforce comprises approximately 2 million people, working across around 75,000 companies. UK engineering and science turnover is over £250 billion. British engineering exports amount to 37% of total UK exports of goods and services. The UK is Europe’s top location for investment in pharmaceutical and biotechnology research and development.

The science industries comprises pharmaceuticals, manufacture of medical and surgical equipment plus science and engineering research and development, so covers a range of disciplines. This research and development work takes place in a variety of establishments, such as university departments, research based employers or other scientific based employers. Overall, it comprises:

Research based pharmaceutical companies that discover, develop, market and distribute medication and drugs
Research and development in pharmaceutical manufacturing companies
Bioscience companies that are a spin-off from university research departments
The application of bioscience to produce innovative medicines, therapeutics and medical devices
The application of bioscience for the processing and production of materials (i.e. the use of bioscience in engineering industries)
Research and experimental development in bioscience.

Bioscience-related companies tend to be located in clusters (e.g. science parks that are sometimes linked with university hospitals). One of the most significant cluster groups is around Cambridge, Oxford and London. There is also a large cluster in the North West, where there is a long established pharmaceutical industry. In Scotland, clusters are centred around Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow. In Wales and Northern Ireland, clusters of companies are centred around the main universities.

Key facts:

There are an estimated 191,000 people employed in the industry in Great Britain, which includes those involved in research and development with science qualifications, as well as those with other qualifications and job roles that are not science related but are essential to the business.
There are an estimated 6,490 companies.
The South East and East of England have the largest Science Industry (Bioscience) employment in the UK.
91% of the pharmaceuticals workforce and 88% of the medical devices workforce is full-time.
Around 6% of those in science occupations are self-employed.
The workforce has a young age profile.
Bioscience graduates need to have strengths in chemistry, mathematics and physics, some course are not equipping them with the skills to cope with the cross-disciplinary nature of modern bioscience or the practical aspects of laboratory work.
Currently, there are insufficient numbers pursuing technical courses, making it difficult for industry to recruit good quality technicians.

Jobs in the industry range from: analytical chemist/scientist, biochemist, biomedical engineer, biomedical scientist, biologist, biotechnologist, clinical scientist, microbiologist, physicist, research scientist, education lab technician, laboratory technicians, medical laboratory assistant, scientific laboratory technician, process/product design engineer and production engineer.

National and regional data

East Midlands – The science industries in the region employ 8,700 people in around 390 establishments. The healthcare sector is important in the region.

East of England – The science industries in the region employ 30,500 people in around 900 establishments. There is a well-established bioscience industry in the region. Cambridge has:

Over 185 biotech companies
Around 20% of the world's Nobel Prize winners in medicine and chemistry
17 of the UK’s publicly quoted biotech companies
A quarter of the public biotechnology companies in Europe

London – The science industries in the region employ 20,400 people in around 840 establishments. The following are the key activities of the region: Therapeutics; Contract Research Organisations; Biomedical engineering; Bioinformatics; Bio-nanotechnology; Food, environment and renewable; and Agricultural bioscience.

North East – The science industries in the region employ 7,600 people in around 200 establishments. Healthcare is a leading employer in the region, with over 140,000 people working in biotechnology, healthcare and life science companies, the NHS and associated health organisations. High level medical research is being carried out in the region’s universities and institutes (including the Institute for Ageing & Health, the Life Knowledge Park and many others). There are also strong clinical capabilities within the region’s hospitals.

North West – The science industries in the region employ 17,800 people in around 580 establishments. Several major pharmaceutical companies are located in the region. There is also a rapidly expanding biotechnology community and internationally renowned academic and clinical research strengths. The main types of bio-activity in the region include: Biopharmaceutical manufacture and research; Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine; Treatment of infectious diseases; Clinical trials and informatics; and Cancer research and care.

South East – The science industries in the region employ 49,200 people in around 1,260 establishments. The region has the highest concentration of health technologies companies in the UK. World-renowned universities, medical schools and institutes undertaking pioneering health research are located in the region. 30% of the UK’s life sciences research and development activity is carried out in the South East; 9 out of 10 of the world’s leading life sciences companies; and the top 12 global pharmaceutical companies have operations in the South East.

South West – The South West is a major centre of biomedical research with internationally recognised expertise, employing around 15,500 people in 560 companies. Employment in the sector is growing faster than the national average; there was a 48% increase in employment numbers between 1998 and 2004. The following are key areas of bio-activity in the region: Biomedical; and Healthcare.

West Midlands – The science industries in the region employ 5,300 people in around 420 establishments. A further 500 to 600 companies have also had some recent interest or involvement in medical technologies. Almost half of the activity in the West Midlands is manufacturing related and more than a third service oriented. The region is known for:

The most advanced ophthalmic surgical centre in the UK, located at The Academy of Life
Sciences, Aston University
Creation of the first pacemakers and plastic heart valve
Development and commercialisation of the first ‘his and her’ home fertility kits
Trial and development of the first allergy and herpes vaccines
Concept and development of first ever device to detect skin cancer

Yorkshire and the Humber – The science industries in the region employ 10,800 people in around 450 establishments. Bioscience companies in the region are focused on: entrepreneurial drug discovery and development; tissue engineering and biomaterials; and Plant biotechnology. There are also a number of Contract Research Organisations (CROs). There is a strong presence of pharmaceutical and medical device organisations in the region.

Northern Ireland – The science industries in Northern Ireland employ 3,100 people in around 140 establishments. Northern Ireland’s main focus is on Cancer Biotech and Medical Devices. Other areas of strength are: tissue engineering; diabetes; bioinformatics; clinical trials; neurodegenerative diseases; and infectious diseases.

Scotland – The science industries in Scotland employ 14,300 people in around 480 establishments. Scotland has strengths in most aspects of Bioscience, strong research and development groups and a coordinated policy focus through the Scottish Life Sciences Strategy. Cancer research, Cardiovascular research, Neuroscience, Genomics, Proteomics and bioinformatics, Signal transduction biology, Stem cell research and regenerative technology, Virology, and Immunology are key areas of focus in Scotland.

Wales – The science industries in Wales employ 7,600 people in around 270 establishments. Bioscience enterprise in Wales includes: diagnostics; medical technology; clinical trials and drug development; systems biology; and agricultural biotechnology.

[N.B. Data derived from Annual Business Inquiry, 2008, Northern Ireland Annual Business Inquiry, 2007, and IDBR, 2008.]