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ZOOLOGIST
Zoologists are life scientists who study
animals, observing them in the laboratory and in their natural habitat.
They study the origin and development of species as well as their
habits, behaviors and interactions. Zoologists, who also research
the development of animal diseases, sometimes known as animal scientists
or animal biologists because zoology is the branch of biology that
deals with the animal kingdom.
Zoology is a wide field offering many
career opportunities for research, especially because there still
is a great deal to learn about it. A career in zoology offers an
opportunity to make a difference to the planet’s ecology
through conservation work. Most zoologists are employed by colleges
and universities, where they engage in research and teach students.
In
general, all zoology specializations involve work with animals,
either in the wild or in a lab. Some zoologists study the entire
organism while other zoologists study only parts of an organism.
Also, zoology is not merely an observational pastime for natural
history buffs; it involves analytical research and experimental laboratory
components, just as all other biological sciences do. As with other
disciplines, zoologists work outdoors in the field and in laboratories
using a wide variety of scientific equipment. Some zoologists conduct
field research in remote areas and harsh climates, which can involve
strenuous physical activity and primitive living conditions.
Career
Opportunities
County, state and federal agencies employ zoologists in a wide range
of positions, and sometimes the hiring agency might not be related
directly to zoology. The Department of Energy and the U.S. Geological
Survey are two good examples. Many of these jobs involve research,
and some can include work in the regulation and enforcement of
environmental laws.
Zoologists also can find careers in industry and
private business. For example, some industries employ field biologists
to monitor and manage effluent production, land use around a factory
and environmental health.
Examples of typical job duties for a zoologists
are as follows: monitoring wildlife health and creating recovery
plans; communicating with the public by conducting field trips to
point out scientific, historic and natural features of a park; setting
up equipment to monitor and collect pollutants from sites, such as
smoke stacks, manufacturing plants and mechanical equipment; conducting
experimental studies indoors and outdoors; and studying the origin,
interrelationships, classification, life histories, diseases, development,
genetics and distribution of organisms in basic research.
Daily tasks
vary widely based on the specific career in zoology. The following
are a few key tasks for some of the available zoology roles:
Zookeeper: A zookeeper’s role includes preparing animals’ meals;
caring for animals; cleaning enclosures; monitoring and recording
behavior; ensuring the animals are healthy; grooming, exercising
and training animals; and talking to visiting groups about the animals.
Wildlife
Educator: Among other duties, wildlife educators reside at
the study location and research and explore various intricacies of
wildlife behavior; research and write information for use in printed
materials and on Web sites; prepare information for educational visits;
design and prepare displays; and buy or raise animals for exhibition.
Researcher: Researchers perform
experiments; identify new data achieved through research; use data
to help solve environmental or health problems; breed and raise specimens;
dissect animals and preserve their bodies; use computers, microscopes
and other equipment to analyze and record findings; prepare collections
of preserved specimens or slides for identification and study; research
species in their natural surroundings; collect specimens to study
in the lab; collect or catalog species; write papers and give speeches;
and prepare grant proposals to obtain funding.
Wildlife Rehabilitator: Wildlife
rehabilitators care for ill, injured and orphaned wild animals and
birds; release animals back into their habitat; and acquire relevant
permits from state and federal wildlife agencies.
Education/Training
Students planning careers as field biologists need strong mathematical
skills and should like working with computers. Perseverance, curiosity
and the ability to concentrate on details and work independently
are essential.
In addition to basic biological knowledge, interested
students should seek opportunities to demonstrate they can work well
with a wide variety of people. Good oral and written communication
skills are critical, as many scientists work as part of a team, write
research papers or proposals and have contact with clients or customers
with nonscience backgrounds.
Experience through internships, undergraduate
research or co-op programs is valued highly by employers and graduate
schools.
Although there are career opportunities for zoologists with
only a bachelor’s degree, many professional field biologists hold
either a master’s degree or a Ph.D. For this reason, individuals
interested in careers in zoology should give careful consideration
to graduate study and should research the different jobs available
at the B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. levels as part of choosing a major of
study.
Salary
If your primary goal in choosing a career in zoology is to make a
lot of money, you might be surprised. The average starting salary
for students with a bachelor’s degree in zoology was $31,000
in 2003, but the majority of new graduates started in the low-$20,000
range. The average salary for a zoologist is $47,740, with the
maximum salary around $71,000.
Related Links
http://www.ns.msu.edu/acrc/career_exploration/zoology.asp
The Michigan State University College of Natural Sciences Web site
offers great information on what career choices are available for
individuals with a degree in zoology. It also provides information
on specific job duties as well potential education paths and salaries.
http://www.schoolsintheusa.com/careerprofiles_details.cfm?carId=432
This Web site offers a good general description of what a zoologist
does and provides a broad understanding of all of the topics associated
with zoology. It also lists salary information as well as educational
paths and typical tasks of zoologists.
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