Biologist

A biologist is a scientist who studies living organisms and their interactions with each other and their environments. Biologists seek to understand the structure, function, growth, development, evolution, distribution, and classification of life, from molecules to ecosystems.

Specialization is common. Subfields include molecular biology, genetics, physiology, microbiology, ecology, zoology, botany, marine biology, neuroscience, and biochemistry, among others. Some biologists work broadly as researchers or educators, while others focus on applied areas such as biotechnology, conservation, or public health.

Education typically begins with a bachelor’s degree in biology or a related field. Many biologists pursue graduate study to obtain master’s or doctoral degrees for research, academia, or leadership roles. Training covers experimental design, data analysis, lab safety, statistics, and field methods.

Biologists work in universities, government and private research laboratories, hospitals, and industry. Their activities include designing experiments, collecting and analyzing data, performing fieldwork, teaching, and communicating results. They use tools such as microscopes, sequencing technologies, imaging systems, and computational analyses.

Ethics and societal impact are integral to biology. Biologists consider animal welfare, environmental sustainability, biosafety, and responsible data handling. Their discoveries contribute to health, agriculture, conservation, and our understanding of life’s diversity.