Marine Biotechnology and Bioinformatics

Teacher Enhancement Program at Moss Landing Marine Labs

Careers in Biology Careers in Biology

Emphasis on Biotechnology Emphasis on Biotechnology

and Bioinformaticsand Bioinformatics

Adapted from the American Institute of Biological Sciences websiteAdapted from the American Institute of Biological Sciences website

http://www.aibs.org/careers/http://www.aibs.org/careers/

Biotechnology and BioinformaticsBiotechnology and Bioinformatics

Biotechnology is the Biotechnology is the use of living organisms use of living organisms or their products to or their products to make or modify a make or modify a substance or processsubstance or process

Bioinformatics is the Bioinformatics is the use of computers to use of computers to store, retrieve and store, retrieve and analyze biological dataanalyze biological data

Careers in the BiologyCareers in the Biology

Biologists learn how living Biologists learn how living things work, how they things work, how they interact with one another, interact with one another, and how they evolve. and how they evolve.

Their work increases our Their work increases our understanding about the understanding about the natural world in which we natural world in which we live and helps us address live and helps us address issues of personal well issues of personal well being and worldwide being and worldwide concern. concern.

Career PathsCareer Paths

Research: Research: Study the natural world, Study the natural world,

using scientific tools and using scientific tools and techniques. techniques.

Health care: Health care: Work to cure or prevent Work to cure or prevent

illnesses. illnesses. Environmental Environmental

management and management and conservation: conservation: Solve environmental Solve environmental

problems and preserve the problems and preserve the natural world for future. natural world for future.

Career PathsCareer Paths

Education: Education: Life science educators enjoy Life science educators enjoy

working with people and working with people and encouraging them to learn encouraging them to learn new things. They works at:new things. They works at:

Colleges and universities Colleges and universities Primary and secondary Primary and secondary

schools schools Science museums, zoos, Science museums, zoos,

aquariums, parks, and aquariums, parks, and nature centersnature centers

Additional career pathsAdditional career paths

BiotechnologyBiotechnology Forensic scienceForensic science Politics and policyPolitics and policy Business and industryBusiness and industry EconomicsEconomics Bioinformatics and Bioinformatics and

computational biology computational biology Science writing and Science writing and

communicationcommunication Art and illustrationArt and illustration

To prepare for a biology careerTo prepare for a biology career

In high school In high school Take courses in math and Take courses in math and

science. science. Talk to biologists. Talk to biologists. Explore your college options. Explore your college options. Have fun! Find what interests Have fun! Find what interests

you.you. In college In college

Talk to your advisor. Talk to your advisor. Consider how long you want Consider how long you want

to be in school. to be in school. Ask your professors about Ask your professors about

part-time jobs. part-time jobs. Find summer internships. Find summer internships.

Colleges and UniversitiesColleges and Universities

There is no "best" college to study biology. There is no "best" college to study biology. Find a school that fits your needs, budget, and lifestyle. Find a school that fits your needs, budget, and lifestyle.

One with:One with: Faculty diversity and experience Faculty diversity and experience A commitment to undergraduate education A commitment to undergraduate education Research opportunities for undergraduates Research opportunities for undergraduates

Job outlookJob outlook

Job growth is expected in a number of areas, Job growth is expected in a number of areas, biotechnology and molecular biology in particular. biotechnology and molecular biology in particular.

Business leaders are trying to create more science Business leaders are trying to create more science and technology jobs in the US to prevent them and technology jobs in the US to prevent them from being exported. from being exported.

SalariesSalaries

Starting salary around $33,000 Starting salary around $33,000 per year. per year.

Mean annual salary of $55,000. Mean annual salary of $55,000. With more experience and With more experience and

education: education: $80,000 in private industry$80,000 in private industry $65,000 in government, $65,000 in government,

academia, and nonprofit sectoracademia, and nonprofit sector After 30 years of experience After 30 years of experience

median salary is $103,000. median salary is $103,000. Salaries may vary greatly Salaries may vary greatly

depending on depending on geographic location, job type, geographic location, job type,

experience and education. experience and education.

Biotech & Environmental IssuesBiotech & Environmental Issues

Genetically engineered Genetically engineered foodsfoods

BioremediationBioremediation Assessment of Assessment of

biodiversitybiodiversity Species identificationSpecies identification BiomonitoringBiomonitoring

Biotech Careers in Biotech Careers in Environmental FieldsEnvironmental Fields

Aquaculture Technology Aquaculture Technology Chemical EcologyChemical Ecology EcotoxicologyEcotoxicology Endangered Species Endangered Species

ManagementManagement EntomologyEntomology Environmental EngineeringEnvironmental Engineering Environmental Risk Environmental Risk

AssessmentAssessment ForestryForestry Global Change EcologyGlobal Change Ecology Habitat DegradationHabitat Degradation

Medicinal Drug Medicinal Drug DevelopmentDevelopment

Natural Resource Natural Resource ManagementManagement

OceanographyOceanography Plant SciencePlant Science Pollution StressPollution Stress Seed BanksSeed Banks Sustainable AgricultureSustainable Agriculture TaxonomyTaxonomy Tropical EcologyTropical Ecology Wildlife ManagementWildlife Management

More informationMore information

Careers in Biological Sciences: http://www.aibs.org/careers/Careers in Biological Sciences: http://www.aibs.org/careers/ Environmental Jobs and Careers: http://www.ecoemploy.com/ Environmental Jobs and Careers: http://www.ecoemploy.com/ Environmental Career Opportunities: http://www.ecojobs.com/ Environmental Career Opportunities: http://www.ecojobs.com/ Minority Environmental Leadership Development Initiative: Minority Environmental Leadership Development Initiative:

http://www.umich.edu/~meldi/ http://www.umich.edu/~meldi/ National Academy of Sciences career planning guide: National Academy of Sciences career planning guide:

http://nationalacademies.org/careerguides.html http://nationalacademies.org/careerguides.html National Institutes of Health--Career Exploration: National Institutes of Health--Career Exploration:

http://science.education.nih.gov/home2.nsf/Careers/Career+Exploration http://science.education.nih.gov/home2.nsf/Careers/Career+Exploration Virtual Hospital--Careers in Biomedical Research: Virtual Hospital--Careers in Biomedical Research:

http://www.vh.org/welcome/tour/discovery/ http://www.vh.org/welcome/tour/discovery/ AccessExcellence--Biotechnology Careers: AccessExcellence--Biotechnology Careers:

http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/CC/ http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/CC/