Guide to Marine Biology as a career

Marine Biology is one of the most interesting and vast fields of study, and one of the careers that will be featured as students consider their class choices for the following year. As indicated in the name, this field involves the study of all kinds of fish, marine plant life, marine micro-organisms, and many more types of marine life.

Jobs in this field include (but are not limited to)

Aquatic scientist

Description: An aquatic scientist primarily studies the ecology and behaviors of living organisms, such as plants, animals, and microbes. The organisms are usually found in freshwater sources, including lakes, rivers, marshes, and wetlands.

Salary: The average salary for aquatic scientist is $47,000 a year, with one years experience these scientists are likely to make $35,000 a year; however, with twenty years of experience they are likely to make around $77,000+ a year.

Education: To become an aquatic scientist most get a bachelors degree but in certain cases a doctorate is required for work.

Biologist

Description: Biologists analyze may different living organisms, and they may work in a number of settings. This work is generally indoors in a laboratory setting, but they might find themselves gathering samples from the land and water.

Salary: The average salary for Biologist is $54,000 a year, with one years of experience biologists are likely to make $42,000 a year; however, with twenty years of experience, they are likely to make $78,000+ a year.

Education: Most aspiring biologist go for a bachelor’s degree, but then get a master’s or doctorate.

Horticulturist

Description: Horticulturists have a variety of duties which revolve around the growing, breeding, and landscaping of plants. Horticulturists generally spend most of their day outside, working to maintain the vitality of their plants. Horticulturist might end up working with marine plants.

Salary: Most Horticulturists work on an hourly wage because of the work schedule. The majority of them make $16 an hour, but some can make up to $24 or more an hour.

Education: To become a horticulturist you need formal education primarily a bachelor’s or master’s in biology or plant science.

Microbiologist

Description: Microbiologists study the biology of microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa and algae. They often find themselves working in fresh or salt water locations, with the microbes in the water.

Salary: Most microbiologists make around $54,000 a year, with one year of experience the majority of people make around $43,000, however with twenty years of experience they could make up to $82,000+ a year.

Education: At least a bachelor’s degree is required to become a microbiologist, but in certain cases the job can require more schooling.

Biological technician

Description: Biological technicians typically set up lab equipment, they also clean and maintain the equipment. The technicians can also collect samples such as blood, or bacterial samples.

Salary: Most Biological technicians work on an hourly wage and make around $16 an hour; however, if they have twenty or more years of experience, they could make up to $20 an hour.

Education: The required entry level of education to become a biological technician is a bachelor’s degree.

Best schools for Marine Biology

These schools are the top ten best schools for Marine Biology, they give all of the tools that you will need to excel. The descriptions are copied from their program sites.

1: Duke University (Durham, North Carolina): this school offers an undergraduate degree in biology with a concentration in marine biology. Duke takes full advantage with its 45 research laboratories. They also offer a Masters degree and a Doctorate degree that specialize in marine biology or marine conservation biology.

2: Boston University (Boston, Massachusetts): This school offers a degree program focusing marine biology, Referred to as BUMP (Boston University Marine Program). This program focuses on the topic of biomimicry, ocean exploration, marine conservation and function genomics. Boston University offers a “Marine Semester” that involves the in-depth study of marine biology courses. There are no Master’s degree and Doctorate degree programs offered in this school.

3: The University of Maine (Orono, Maine): this university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the fields of Marine Science an Marine biology. The university offers more than 30 professors specializing in marine sciences, the University of Maine represents the largest concentrations of experts in the state. As a result of the concentrated amount of professors the university is considered to be one of top Marine Biology schools in the U.S.

4: Eckerd College (St. Petersburg, Florida): they pride themselves on their unique curriculum with four fields of specialization: marine biology, marine geophysics, and marine chemistry. The school also offers research opportunities and grants as well as study abroad grants. Furthermore the school is located in a strategic location (Gulf of Mexico). This is the ideal location for hands-on experience about marine science.

5: Oregon State University (Corvallis, Oregon): OSU offers biology and marine science undergraduate and graduate degrees. The Hatfield Marine Center offers three terms: in spring, the school offers marine biology; in summer, marine and environmental studies; and in the fall, coastal ecology and resource management.

6: University of Hawaii at Hilo (Hilo, Hawaii): this university offers an opportunity to look at marine organisms, coral reef ecosystem, oceanography, and techniques in marine monitoring. the Western Association of Summer Session gave the Excellence of Program Award to the Marine Science Summer Program of UH Hilo. The said association represents more than 80 academic institutions in the western U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

7: University of New England (Biddeford, Maine): this university is designed in order to provide the students a well-rounded education in both academic and research. The school offers a program built for teaching the practical uses of marine science. According to UNE, the students “don’t just learn marine science – they do marine science“.

8: University of New Hampshire (Durham, New Hampshire): this university offers marine science courses under the School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering, which is its first “interdisciplinary school“. The school prepares the students with training in both marine science and ocean engineering, also preparing the students to be involved in scientific policies and management of marine resources.

9: University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill, North Carolina), this university offers degree programs that center on the study of marine sciences. UNC-CH works with the Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) and the Department of Marine Sciences to make their marine education top tier.

10: University of Tampa (Tampa, Florida): The school offers a Marine Science degree, it is one of the most defining and prominent degrees that make the Department of Biology of the university stand out. At the University of Tampa nearly half of the faculty biology is studying about marine organisms and the marine ecosystem in general.

In conclusion marine biology is a massive field of study and can encompass many different jobs and settings of work. There is many schools that excel in teaching marine science and prepare many students to succeed in the world of marine biology.