What Can I do With a Degree in Biology?

Advising & Career Services Library Resources
The Advising & Career Services Library has a variety of resources to help students explore potential career fields. These resources include information about typical responsibilities, qualifications, career paths, job outlook, salary, and related careers.

Books Specifically Related to Biology Majors

• 100 Jobs in the Environment
• Green at Work
• Careers in Health Care
• Careers for Nature Lovers & Other Outdoorsy Types
• Careers for Animal Lovers & Other Zoological Types
• Exploring Health Careers
• Jump Start Your Career in BioScience
• Real People Working in Science

Vocational Biographies
Vocational Biographies describes the career success stories of 1001 real people. Search by career title, keyword, topic, and career cluster. Username: portland su and pass code: 3w9n

• Park Ranger
• Conservation Officer
• Wildlife Biologist
• Safety Manager
• State Park Resource Ecologist
• Desert Ecologist
• Zoo Biologist
• Habitat Designer
• Molecular Endocrinologist

Professional Associations

• The American Institute of Biological Sciences
• AIBS / Member Societies — Lists 50 member societies and organizations of the American Institute of Biological Sciences.
• American Society for Microbiology
• Genetics Professional Societies — Links to a variety of genetics societies including the American Society of Human Genetics, the Genetics Society of America, and the American College of Medical Genetics. Maintained by the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.
• Organization of Biological Field Stations
• Society of Wetland Scientists
• Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) Pacific Northwest Chapter — Look for their Chapter Newsletter online which includes job announcements.
• Ecological Society of America (ESA)
• The Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists
  
• Northwest Environmental Business Council (NEBC) — NEBC is a "regional trade association representing environmental technology and service firms". Membership Directory.

Internet Sites with Career-Related Information for Biology Majors

• What can I do with a Major in...Biology — Lists related job titles for biology and marine biology majors. From the Career Services Office at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
• Biology — Lists potential job title and related skills. From the University Career and Employment Services at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas.
• College Majors and Career Opportunities — Biological Sciences — Lists related occupations and types of employers. From Career Services, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
• Careers for Biology Majors — From Furman University in Greenville, S.C. "Here you will find nearly 200 links to Web sites that describe specific careers accessible after training in biology."
• Careers in the Microbiological Sciences — From the American Society for Microbiology.
• Careers in Botany — From the Botanical Society of America.
• Careers in Genetics Field — Includes profiles of scientists working in the field of genetics. From the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB).
• Careers in Zoology — From Department of Zoology at Weber State University, Ogden Utah.
• Biology: What Can I Do With This Major? — Outlines common career areas, identifies typical employers, and suggests general strategies to enhance employability. From Career Services at the University of Tennessee.
• Botany: What Can I Do With This Major? — Outlines common career areas, identifies typical employers, and suggests general strategies to enhance employability. From Career Services at the University of Tennessee.
• Biochemistry: What Can I Do With This Major? — Outlines common career areas, identifies typical employers, and suggests general strategies to enhance employability. From Career Services at the University of Tennessee.

Internet Sites with Job Search Information for Biology Majors

• BioSpace Site Search — Use keywords to search data bases with job postings.
• BioSpace: Job Postings by Job Category — "Research" category seems to have a wide range of positions that require B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. Keyword search option is also available — try using "research assistant", "research associate", and "laboratory technician".
• Bioscience Jobs — List of jobs from Oregon BioScience Online.
• Career Opportunities — List of jobs from Washington Biotechnology and Biomedical Association.
• Announcements, Jobs — Job announcements from the Organization of Biological Field Stations.
• Society of Wetland Scientists: Wetland Jobs
• Lab Support — Temporary agency providing listings to laboratory jobs requiring A.S., B.S, or M.S degrees.

Places of Employment
Biology majors may find employment in a variety of areas depending on their skills and experience. Career-related internships or career-related part-time jobs may be a prerequisite to finding professional-level employment after graduation.

The following list of employers and job titles was derived from Advising & Career Services' jobs database where the employer specifically requested biology majors. This list does not reflect all potential places of employment or kinds of jobs for biology majors. This list does not reflect current openings.

• ABR, Inc. — Research Biologists
• Alaskan Observers — North Pacific Groundfish Observers
• AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc. — Site Assessor/Field Scientist - Entry Level, Environmental Scientist
• Anderson Hay & Grain — Endophyte Samplers 
• Aronora LLC — Research Scientist I
• Bay Valley Foods — Quality Control Lab Supervisor
• Benton County — Deputy Administrator - Environmental Health
• Bonneville Power Administration — Fishery Biologist, Environmental Protection Specialist
• Calypte Biomedical Corporation — Business Development Analyst
• Camp Fire USA - Lower Columbia Council — Nature Program Specialist
• CH2M Hill — Wetlands Scientist, Oregon Waste Management Marketer/Doer, Risk Assessor, Assoicate Water Scientist
• City of Hillsboro — Water Distribution Operator IV, Water Plant Operator I/II, Source Control Specialist, Water Resources Technician
• City of Portland — Environmental Technician II, Seasonal Fisheries/Wildlife Technician
• City of Salem — Water Treatment Plant Coordinator, Natural Area Specialist, Principal Planner - Zoning Review
• City of Tigard — Water Quality Program Coordinator/Volunteer Coordinator
• City of Vancouver — Environmental Planner - Level C
• Clackamas County — Environmental Policy Specialist
• Clark County — Autopsy Assistant
• Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission — Ecological Data Technician, Fishery Technician II/III
• Cowlitz County — Environmental Health Specialist I-II
• Data Contractors, Inc. — Field Biologist, Weeds Control Program Coordinator
• Deschutes Basin Land Trust — Land Steward Assistant
• Dimera Incorporated — Research Assistant'
• Duck Creek Associated, Inc. — Natural Resource Specialist
• Ecological Land Services, Inc. — Wetland/Habitat Biologist
• Ecotrust — Project Coordinator, Conservation Biologist, Research Assistant
• Ellis Ecological Services, Inc. — Field Technician
• Entrix, Inc. — Assistant Staff Scientist - Fisheries Biologist/Aquatic Ecologist, Senior Consultant
• Environ International Corp. — Water Quality Field Technician
• Environmental Careers Organization (ECO) — Wildlife/Soils Monitoring Lead
• Exelixis, Inc. — Research Assistant
• Health Wright Products — Quality Assurance Technician
• Heinrich Corless Laboratories — Research Assistant II
• Illumina — Research Associate/Scientist - Protein Profiling, Sr. Research Associate - RNA Profiling
• Intel Corporation — Semiconductor Manufacturing Technicians
• Johnson Controls, Inc. — Biological Sciences Technician II
• LabCorp — Lab Supervisor
• Lions Eye Bank of Oregon — Eye Bank Technician
• ManTech Environmental Technology, Inc. — Scientist Associate
• Marion Soil and Water Conservation District — Conservation Outreach Technician
• McBain Laboratories, Inc. — Microbiologist
• Metro Regional Parks and Greenspaces Department — Wildlife Monitoring Assistant Coordinator
• Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit — Field Research Assistant
• Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) — Science Lab Coordinator, Biology/Natural Resources Technology Instructor
• Multnomah Education Service District — Outdoor School Site Supervisor
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) — Commissioned Officer Corps
• National Park Service — National Park Education Specialist
• National Pesticide Information Center — Faculty Research Assistant
• National Psoriasis Foundation — Research Associate
• Natural Resource Group — Associate Environmental Consultant
• Nature Conservancy of Oregon, The — Williamson River Delta Field Ecologist
• Nisqually Indian Tribe — Harvest Management/Stock Assessment Biologist
• Nunhems USA, Inc. — Quality Assurance Lab Technician
• Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) — Natural Resource Specialist 2, 3 & 4
• Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife — Experimental Biology Aide, Marine Fish and Habitat Technical Assistant
• Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) — Laboratory Aide, Clinical Trials Research Coordinator
• Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) — Salmon Camp Lead Instructor, Outdoor Science Instructor
• Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center — Faculty Research Assistant - Research Wildlife Biologists, Field Ecologist
• Oregon State University (OSU) — Cell Culture Technician, Faculty Research Assistants, Lab Aid
• Oregon Trout — Fish Refuge Program Coordinator
• Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission — Natural Resource Data Analyst, Research Technician, Field Biologist
• Pacific University — Biology Lab Supervisor
• Port of Portland — Environmental Specialist II
• Port of Vancouver USA — Environmental Technician
• Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) — Laboratory Technician
• ProteoGenix — Lab Assistant
• Proteome Software, Inc. — Bio-informatics
• Providence Health System — Research Associate
• Resource Company, Inc, The — Habitat Restoration Laborer, Environment Scientist
• SAIF Corporation — Industrial Hygiene Technician
• Schreiber Foods, Inc. — Production Team Advisor
• SiC Processing USA — Laboratory Technician
• Stevenson-Carson School District — Forest Youth Success Program Director
• Techsea International, Inc. — Fisheries Observers (Alaska)
• Tillamook School District — Astronomy/Earth Science Coach
• Umatilla County Soil and Water Conservation District — Natural Resource Specialist
• US Bureau of Land Management — Resource Educator
• US Customs and Border Protection — Agriculture Specialist
• US Department of Agriculture (USDA) — Plant Protection and Quarantine Officer, Hydrology Technician
• US Fish and Wildlife Service — Biological Technician, Natural Resources Specialist 1 - Project Assistant, Fish and Wildlife Biologist
• US Forest Service — Botanist - Bakota Prairie Grasslands, District Silviculturist - North Kaibab Ranger District, Wildlife Biologist - Plumas National Forest, Rangeland Management Specialist, Forest Ecologist
• Vernier Software & Technology — Biology Education Specialist/Technical Support
• Yamhill County — Registered Sanitarian

The following list was generated from a variety of sources (indeed, simplyhired, google, bing, craigslist). The following search terms were used: biology, biologist, microbiologist, ecology, ecologist, science, sustainability.

• Abbott Laboratories: Senior Research Associate
• American Red Cross, Oregon Trail Chapter: HLA Supervisor
• City of Beaverton: Program Coordinator-Sustainability
• Clean Water Services: Water Resources Analyst
• Conservation Services Group: Energy Advisor
• DeVry University: Microbiology General Education Faculty
• Oregon Health and Science University: Lab Animal Technician, Laboratory Aide, Research Assistant 1, Research Assistant 2
• Genentech: QA Specialist II
• Medtronic: Clinical Specialist
• Oregon Trail Chapter of the American Red Cross: Blood Bank Supervisor
• Pacific University: Biology Laboratory Coordinator
• PeaceHealth: Client Relations Specialist
• Public Health Division, Department of Human Services, State of Oregon: Medical Laboratory Technician 1, Microbiologist 2, Microbiologist 3
• Tetra Tech: Wildlife Field Biologist
• VCA/Antech, Inc.: Laboratory Technician
• Veterans Health Administration: Health Science Specialist, Biological Science Laboratory Technician
• Water Bureau, City of Portland: Laboratory Analyst
• Water Department, City of Hillsboro: Water Treatment Plant Laboratory Technician
• Wild Salmon Center: Salmon Management Specialist
• ZRT Laboratory: Laboratory Scientist

Links to Government Job Classifications

• State of Oregon Classification Specifications. Describes duties and responsibilities of a variety of jobs with the state. Sample job titles:
  • Biological Technician, Environmental Specialist 1, Environmental Specialist 2, Environmental Specialist 3, Environmental Program Coordinator 1, Environmental Program Coordinator 2, Environmental Program Coordinator 3, Fish and Wildlife Technician, Laboratory Technician 1, Laboratory Technician 2, Microbiologist 1, Microbiologist 2, Microbiologist 3, Natural Resources Specialist 1, Natural Resources Specialist 2, Natural Resources Specialist 3, Natural Resources Specialist 4, Natural Resources Specialist 5, Park Ranger, Park Ranger Assistant

• City of Portland Classification Specifications. Describes duties and responsibilities of a variety of jobs with the city. Sample job titles:

Botanic Specialist I, Botanic Specialist II, Botanic Technician, Conservation Programs Coordinator, Senior Conservation Programs Coordinator, Conservation Programs Specialist, Endangered Species Act Program Coordinator, Environmental Program Coordinator, Environmental Program Specialist, Environmental Specialist, Environmental Technician I, Environmental Technician II, Watershed Specialist

Department of Biology — Portland State University