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MARINE BIOLOGIST
The field of marine biology — the study of aquatic organisms,
their behaviors and their interactions with the environment — is
considered one of the most all-encompassing fields of oceanography. Because
there are so many possible topics of study within the field of marine
biology, many researchers select a particular interest in which to
specialize. Specializations can be based on a particular species,
organism, behavior, technique or ecosystem. For example, a marine
biologist may choose to study a single species of clams or all clams
that are native to a climate or region.
Career Opportunities
One area of specialization, the emerging field of marine biotechnology,
offers great opportunity for marine biologists. In addition, research
in the new field presents a wide range of possible applications.
For example, in the biomedical focus area, scientists develop and
test drugs, many of which come from marine organisms. An example
application of biotechnology research can be seen in industry or
defense, where researchers have developed nontoxic coatings that
prevent the buildup of fouling organisms, such as barnacles and
zebra mussels. Such coatings are useful for ships and intake pipes
used in power plants.
Molecular biology — the branch of biology that deals with
the formation, structure and function of macromolecules essential
to life, such as nucleic acids and proteins, and with their role
in cell replication and the transmission of genetic information — is
a related area of specialization in marine biology. Researchers apply
molecular approaches and techniques to many environments, from coastal
ponds to the deep sea, and to many different organisms, such as microscopic
bacteria, plants, land animals and marine mammals. For example, molecular
biology can be used to identify the presence of a specific organism
in a water sample through the use of molecular probes. This is very
useful when the organism being identified is microscopic or similar
to other organisms.
The study of disease in organisms also has been
furthered by the use of molecular techniques. Researchers have developed
antibodies that are specific to a particular virus so that when the
virus is present in an organism, detection and diagnosis is easier
and faster. Likewise, new molecular techniques help scientists identify
whether an animal has been exposed to pollutants and, in some cases,
can determine the source of the pollutants. The field of molecular
biology is growing and will continue to experience significant advances.
Marine
biology researchers also are experimenting with ways to administer
drugs to diseased populations of farm-raised fish. Disease can wipe
out an entire crop of farm-raised fish or shellfish due to the confined
setting in which they are raised. One technique for administering
drugs involves exposing a pen of fish to ultrasound (high frequency
sound that cannot be heard by humans).
Unfortunately, the supply of
marine biologists far exceeds the demand, and the number of government
jobs (the federal and state governments are important employers in
the field) is decreasing. Other employers of marine biologists are
local governments, aquariums/museums, colleges and universities,
private research laboratories and consulting firms. In fishery science,
where the study of fish and marine mammal population dynamics is
in the most demand, a strong background in advanced mathematics and
computer skills in addition to coursework in the animal and aquatic
sciences is recommended for a competitive edge in the job market.
Also, more universities now are offering courses and programs in
fisheries and wildlife management, increasingly important aspects
of the study of fishes, marine mammals and sea turtles.
Education/Training
Many colleges and universities offer degrees in marine biology and
related fields. A publication titled University Curricula in the
Marine Sciences and Related Fields and published by the Department
of Commerce lists all the colleges with programs in marine topics.
Ask your librarian, who might be able to get it for you on interlibrary
loan.
Preparatory courses in basic biology, zoology, chemistry, physics,
biometrics, mathematics and statistics are important for careers
in marine biology. English is important, too, because one of the
most important activities of a marine biologist is writing and publishing
scientific papers. Courses in the aquatic sciences such as fishery
biology, ichthyology (the branch of zoology that deals with the study
of fishes) and oceanography also are important, as are courses in
your discipline of interest (for instance, ethology, the scientific
study of animal behavior, if you are interested in animal behavior).
Courses in the social sciences also are recommended for occupations
that deal mainly with the public, public policies or management.
Some
schools offer a marine biology degree, and most not surprisingly
are located in coastal states. However, interested students do not
have to receive an undergraduate degree in marine biology. Instead,
the degree can be in biology, zoology, fisheries or one of the other
animal sciences. Physical oceanographers, who study the physical
(rather than the biological) aspects of the sea, can work toward
an oceanography degree, with coursework weighted heavily in physics,
mathematics and computer modeling. Biological oceanographers study
both the biological and physical aspects of the sea and their interactions.
A
good approach would be to refer to the University Curricula in the
Marine Sciences and Related Fields and contact the schools that interest
you to learn more about the specific programs and degrees they offer.
A bachelor’s or master’s degree usually is
required for most entry-level marine biology research jobs, though
a Ph.D. usually is required to carry out independent research in
biology.
Salary
Biologists with less than one year of experience have a starting
salary of around $33,000 per year. Data from a 2003 federal Bureau
of Labor report show that the field of life sciences as a whole
has a mean salary of almost $55,000 per year. As biologists gain
more experience and education in their field, those in private
industry can earn more than $80,000, while those working in government,
academia and the nonprofit sector earn about $60,000 to $70,000.
And those with more than 30 years of experience have a median salary
of around $103,000. Keep in mind that salaries vary greatly depending
on geographic location, job type, experience and education.
Higher
salaries are found in private research companies and government agencies,
where employees likely have more job security, advancement opportunities
and independence in their work. While jobs in nonprofit groups or
academic institutions generally have lower salaries, many biologists
find great personal reward in working for an organization that is
effecting change and has an emphasis on teamwork and collaboration.
Related
Links
http://www.marinecareers.net/careerfields.html
This Web site introduces you to a wide range of marine career fields
and to people working in those fields. Men and women share what they
like and dislike about their careers, what they see for the future
in their fields and much more. The site also provides experts’ views
on what the future holds for marine science careers.
http://www-marine.stanford.edu/HMSweb/careers.html
This Web site, maintained by Stanford University, provides a list
of resources and other links that offer advice for those interested
in a career in the marine or aquatic sciences.
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