Rough_ER said:
I am going to study a science at university, probably Biology or Zoology. I was just wondering what the job market is like for Biology graduates. Is it better to go into a non-scientific area or work in research? I've heard that jobs for scientists are few and far between and we get paid peanuts hehe.
Thanks,
Dave
If you love biology and research then you should persue it with all your heart. I think it is the best job on earth (well, after parenting that is...
). After your undergrad studies you should be able to go to graduate school on a stipend which covers the cost of your education plus gives you a small living wage (actually very small in most cases). Most stipends are connected to either research or teaching assistant responsibilities...but the point is that you do not need to take out loans to get your graduate degree.
In most cases you will then take a post-doctoral position in which you conduct research full-time (haha, actually much more than full-time) and you will recieve a sligthly higher stipend or salary for this. It is best (and typically expected) that you will write a research grant to gain your own funding support for some or all of your post-doc (at least in non-medical research field that is).
After your post-doc you should be well-positioned to find a job either in a university, government or private sector. In my area of research, plant molecular genetics, industry jobs were far and away the best-paying positions and of course very competetive to obtain. In zoology I am not as certain of the availability of industry postions...these are probably much more limited unless you have combined your expertise with something like molecular genetics, biochemistry, or reproduction/anatomy/physiology. You probably will not be able to persue your dream in industry, but there are lots of biology jobs in the pharmeceutical and big chemical-ag companies still (haha...if you want to sell your soul that is).
In the states with a zoology degree a good possible place for employment would be in government (federal/state) supported postions in wildlife management. And of course you can also work at universities. With a Ph.D. you would most likely be targeting tenure-track positions with teaching and research responsibilites, and also responsibilites for writing grants to fund your own research. It's very challenging, but you will also be getting to decide what you want to do and should have quite a lot of intellectual freedom in such a position. Industry jobs can be fun because of the unlimited amount of money available to fund your research once you've sold it to the higher-ups, but the problem is that research is ultimately driven by the bottom line profit and you can find your projects pulled as often as every six months...very frustrating.
You will find that while in grad school and then as a post doc you will come into contact with the scientists and other people who will connect you to the career you want to persue. It is very competative and as you move up the pyramid the kinds of jobs you are qualified for are harder to get (and do not necessarily pay better!). But all along the way you will find options available to stay in the field if you wish.
Best wishes!
