Biologist

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role

University

You'll usually need a relevant degree and often a postgraduate master's qualification in a life science subject like:

• biology
• biological science
• ecology
• marine biology

Employers may also want you to have experience in your area of interest and possibly a PhD.

Entry requirements:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
• 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology for a degree
• a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

Entry requirements:

Apprenticeship

You could begin by doing a degree apprenticeship.

For example:

• Laboratory Scientist Level 6
• Research Scientist Level 7
• Bioinformatics Scientist Level 7

The Level 6 apprenticeship takes around 5 years to complete.

The Level 7 apprenticeships are likely to have a higher entry criteria and typically take 2 to 3 years.

Entry requirements:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

Work

You could start as a laboratory technician and train as a biologist by working and studying for a relevant qualification at the same time.

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

Skills:

• knowledge of biology
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• maths knowledge
• excellent written communication skills
• analytical thinking skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• persistence and determination
• the ability to use your initiative
• complex problem-solving skills
• knowledge of chemistry including the safe use and disposal of chemicals
• the ability to work well with your hands
• thinking and reasoning skills
• knowledge of English language
• the ability to read English
• science skills
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software
• knowledge of physics
• concentration skills

What you'll do:

Biologists study living things, including people, animals and plants, along with the environments they live in.

Your tasks will depend on your specialism but you could:

• plan trials and analyse data, for example in crop production or medicine research
• study and protect endangered land and marine plants and animals
• develop new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat disease
• make observations, write reports and publish scientific papers
• teach students at a university or in a teaching hospital

Possible green job

This job could help the environment.

For a biologist to be a green job, you could:

• find new ways to clean up soil, air and water pollution
• research sustainable food production methods
• develop biofuels from non-food crops and waste biomass materials

Find out more about green careers

Location : You could work in a laboratory, at a research facility or at a university.
Environment : Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time.
Uniform : You may need to wear protective clothing.

Salary:

Starter : £24,000
Experienced : £40,000

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

38 - 40 hours a week

Working Pattern is evenings / weekends / bank holidays occasionally

Career Path:

With experience you could:

• become a commercial research project manager
• teach in schools, colleges or universities
• work in science licensing, patent and trademark rights
• advise organisations on policy as a freelance scientific consultant
• go into science communication, such as media and scientific journalism

If you work in academic research, you could also lead projects and become a senior research fellow or professor.