| Biological scientists are responsible for studying | | | | microscopic organisms, and applying their knowledge |
| organisms and how they relate to the environment | | | | to immunology, bioinformatics, and virology. |
| at large. Roles of the biological science major include | | | | Physiologists will study the processes of plants and |
| learning how life processes work and applying these | | | | animals which can include respiration, photosynthesis, |
| understandings to new developmental processes and | | | | reproduction, and growth, among other physiological |
| to the creation of new products. Most individuals will | | | | areas. |
| specialize in a particular area of study, such as | | | | Biophysicists will study how electrical energy relates |
| microbiology or zoology. | | | | to the activity of organisms, while zoologists will |
| Most of these professionals will work in research, | | | | study animals and other forms of wildlife. |
| investigating the properties of living organisms in | | | | Ecologists are responsible for studying animals and |
| trying to apply their research to current health | | | | plants and their relationships to their environments, |
| problems and environmental problems in America. | | | | which can include tracking population size, the |
| Most biological researchers will work for government | | | | temperature of the environment, rainfall, and the |
| agencies or universities performing specialized | | | | amount of pollutants in the ecosystem. |
| research. | | | | Biologists will have a wide range of conditions, which |
| Biotechnology is the hottest field for these individuals, | | | | can involve working in mountains or the ocean, |
| and this job involves working on isolating specific | | | | although most will work 40 hours a week in fairly low |
| genes for diseases and applying this knowledge to | | | | stress environments. A doctorate degree is usually |
| creating new strains of pest resistant crops using | | | | required in order to become a biological scientist and |
| genetic recombination. Some particular areas of | | | | to conduct research at the university level. |
| specialty for biologists include the following: | | | | In 2006, these professionals had about 87,000 jobs in |
| Aquatic biologists are responsible for studying plants | | | | America, with a number of them being held in |
| and animals that exist in the water, with marine | | | | colleges and university positions. About 40% of all |
| biologists specializing in saltwater and limnologists | | | | biology scientists work for Federal, state, and local |
| specializing in fresh water. | | | | governments, which include such apartments as the |
| Biochemists are responsible for the study of | | | | Department of Agriculture and the Department of |
| metabolic and reproductive processes, in addition to | | | | Defense. Many other scientists are employed by the |
| the chemical combinations of various organisms, with | | | | pharmaceutical and manufacturing industry. |
| their predominant line of work involving biotechnology. | | | | In 2006, the middle 50th percentile of biochemists |
| Botanists are responsible for studying how plants | | | | made between $53,390 and $100,060, with the |
| work, and they will investigate plant processes and | | | | middle 50th percentile of microbiologists making |
| how they interact with the environment and other | | | | between $43,850 and $80,550. The National |
| organisms. | | | | Association of Colleges and Employers discovered |
| Microbiologists are responsible for studying the | | | | that entry level biology majors received starting |
| growth of bacteria, algae, fungi, and other | | | | offers of $34,953 a year upon graduation. |