SUNY Oswego - Career Services
- Career Communities
- Major And Career Exploration
- Resumes and Cover Letters
- Networking, Personal Branding and LinkedIn
- Job and Internship Searching
- Graduate School
- Online Career Tools
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- Compensation Negotiation
- Events
- Graduate Outcomes
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What can I do with a major in biology?
SUNY Oswego - Career Services
- Career Communities
- Major And Career Exploration
- Resumes and Cover Letters
- Networking, Personal Branding and LinkedIn
- Job and Internship Searching
- Graduate School
- Online Career Tools
- Affinity Group Resources
- Compensation Negotiation
- Events
- Graduate Outcomes
- Information for
- Resource Center
- Connect with us
View videos of professionals describing a day on the job
Naturalist & School Programs Manager, Audubon Naturalist Society
Staff Scientist, National Institute of Health
Bioinformatician and Adjunct Professor, UMBC
Zoonotic and Vector-borne Disease Epidemiologist, Indiana State Department of Health
Lead Physician Assistant, Hennepin Healthcare
Join a student organization today
Biology Club Pre-Health Care Club Pre-Optometry Club Pre-Veterinary Club Zoological Student AssociationSearch for opportunities
Companies:
Crouse Hospital
CNY Family Care
Oswego County Ambulance Service
Titles:
Lab Technician
Veterinary Assistant
Research Assistant
Explore the numerous career fields related to your major
Areas
Basic
Applied
Quality Control
Administration
Grant Writing
Employers
Industry and laboratories:
- Pharmaceutical
- Healthcare
- Agriculture production
- Food processing and safety
- Environmental
Private research institutions
Public health departments
State and federal government:
- National Science Foundation
- National Institutes of Health
- Food and Drug Administration
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Department of Agriculture
- Armed Services
- Department of Homeland Security
State and local government laboratories/agencies
Colleges and universities
Areas
Some Areas of Specialization:
Botany and Plant Sciences
Ecology and Wildlife
Marine and Aquatic
Systematic (Taxonomy)
Zoology
Entomology
Genetics
Microbiology
- Bacteria
- Algae
- Fungi
- Molds
- Yeasts
- Viruses
- Protozoa
Employers
Colleges and universities, especially colleges of agriculture and veterinary medicine
Veterinary hospitals
State and federal government:
- Departments of Agriculture, Interior, and Health
Independent laboratories:
- Food production
- Textiles
- Chemical
- Pharmaceutical
- Forestry products
Zoos and aquariums
Fish hatcheries
Wildlife preserves and parks
Conservation agencies
Botanical gardens and arboretums
Museums
Agricultural experiment stations
Inspection agencies and control boards
National and international environmental organizations
Private recreation organizations
Areas
Some Areas of Specialization:
Biophysics
Biochemistry
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Cytology
Genetics
Immunology
Pathology
Pharmacology
Physiology
Virology
Employers
Colleges and universities
Professional schools including colleges of pharmacy, dentistry, medicine, veterinary medicine, and agriculture
Federal laboratories and regulatory agencies:
- National Institutes of Health
- Food and Drug Administration
- State and local public health departments
Clinics and hospitals
Private research foundations
Independent laboratories
Pharmaceutical companies
Sample occupations
Areas
Medicine
Dentistry
Optometry
Podiatry
Pharmacy
Veterinary
Medicine
Allied Health
Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
Medical Technology
Nuclear Medicine
Employers
Hospitals
Medical centers and clinics
Nursing homes
Private practice
Armed services
Government agencies
Areas
Algorithm and Statistics Development
Data Analysis and Interpretation
Information Management: Organization and Retrieval
Employers
Colleges and universities
Private research foundations
Independent laboratories:
- Organic and agricultural chemicals
- Drug and pharmaceutical
- Medical device and equipment
- Research, testing, medical
Federal laboratories and regulatory agencies:
- National Institutes of Health
- Food and Drug Administration
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Department of Agriculture
National Biological Information Infrastructure
Areas
Teaching
- Elementary
- Secondary
- Post-Secondary
Non-Classroom Education
Employers
Universities and colleges
Medical and other professional schools
Public and private schools, K-12
Museums
Zoos
Nature centers and parks
Areas
Technical Writing
Editing
Illustrating
Photography
Employers
Publishing companies including:
- Scientific magazines
- Professional journals
- Periodicals
- Textbooks
- Online publishers
Newspapers
Educational and scientific software companies
Zoological and environmental societies
Medical, dental and veterinary colleges
Research centers
Federal government agencies
Related nonprofit organizations
Museums
Sample occupations
Areas
Lobbying
Regulatory Affairs
Science Policy
Patent Law
Environmental Law
Employers
Federal and state government
Law firms
Large corporations
Areas
Technical and Pharmaceutical Sales
Management
Consulting
Marketing
Employers
Manufacturing companies including:
- Pharmaceuticals
- Animal pharmaceuticals
- Laboratory equipment
- Medical supplies and prostheses
Marketing firms
Consulting firms
General information and strategies
- A bachelor's degree will qualify one for work as a laboratory assistant, technician, technologist, or research assistant in education, industry, government, museums, parks, and gardens.
- An undergraduate degree can also be used for nontechnical work in writing, illustration, sales, photography, and legislation.
- Master's degrees allow for more opportunities in research and administration. Some community colleges will hire Master's level teachers.
- Doctoral degrees are necessary for advanced research and administrative positions, university teaching, and independent research.
- An advanced degree provides the opportunity to specialize in fields of interest.
- The biological sciences are good preparation for a career in healthcare such as medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science, but professional degrees and licenses are also necessary to practice in these fields.
- Learn laboratory procedures and become familiar with equipment.
- Obtain summer, part-time, volunteer, co-op, or internship experience to test the fields of interest and gain valuable experience. (Take independent research classes if possible.)
- Participate in summer research institutes.
- Submit research to local poster competitions or research symposiums.
- Develop strong analytical, computer, mathematics, and communications skills.
- Join professional associations and community organizations to stay abreast of current issues in the field and to develop networking contacts.
- Read scientific journals related to your area of interest.
- Become familiar with the specific entrance exam for graduate or professional schools in your area of interest.
- Secure strong relationships and personal recommendations from professors and/or employers.
- Consider completing a post doctoral experience after graduate school.
- Learn federal, state, and local government job application process.
- The federal government is the largest employer of biologists.
- Gain experience with grant writing and fundraising techniques.
- Often research must be funded in this manner.