How to Become a Marine Biologist: Requirements and Necessities

Studying for a marine biologist career involves specific requirements and following many protocols. Since a degree in marine biology allows a person to gain knowledge about marine fauna and flora, getting an education in the field involves a lot of steadfastness and dedication to not only complete the necessary qualifications but also come out as a professional and dedicated marine biologist.

It is a long and arduous journey to becoming a respectable marine biologist. To take up marine biology, one must choose subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology during your undergrad years. A degree in marine biology is the safest way to reach your career goals.

You will be able to learn all the necessary subjects surrounding marine biology, which involves zoology and other aspects of biology. Your life as an undergrad biology student will already give you an idea of how arduous the journey will be.

Also additionally, a person aspiring to take up marine biologist education must be proficient in terms of his writing and communication skills.

Writing skills are relevant in the context of a marine biologist education because a marine biologist must draft extensive notes and observations about the area he is studying and researching so that others also learn crucial and significant things from the same.

Responsibilities of a Marine Biologist

Marine biologists have various roles and responsibilities in management and leadership. They have to manage agencies and oversee that the environmental regulations are being followed regarding the ecosystem in question. They must formulate proposals to receive funds for research and fieldwork, not to mention scientific papers. They also have to do many internships and monitor the natural habitats of endangered species and marine mammals like dolphins and seals.

They must present their findings at conferences in front of stakeholders and policymakers. They are responsible for making people aware of the impact of human activities on marine animal behaviour, issues like climate change and excessive fishing.

Marine Biologist Degree

An important thing to consider while taking up a marine biologist degree is the university that offers marine biology courses. When choosing a university, the candidate must look out for universities that provide practical training and the necessary theoretical know-how.

A marine biologist must pursue vigorous education to become eligible to work. The starting point for any student who intends to choose this career path is an undergraduate or bachelor’s degree. As an undergrad, you can pursue biology or zoology or choose marine biology.

It isn’t necessary that you must choose marine biology during your undergraduate years to become a marine biologist. It is also advisable for undergrads to pursue engineering, mathematics or computer science courses in addition to natural science education. These subjects can assist your career greatly and give you more options to apply in various situations.

Students that pursue a biology program will study subjects such as cell biology, biochemistry, ecology, evolution, etc. They will be able to choose elective courses that can help them learn about subjects related to their majors, like marine zoology or marine ecology. Biology programs also rely heavily on laboratory practicals. This will give the students experience working with lab tools, conducting correctly in a lab environment, and following research protocols.

Graduates with bachelor’s degrees in marine biology can find jobs, but career advancements require higher education.

Students will also fail to keep up with their more educated peers unless they put in the extra effort. Pursuing a master’s degree is a wise choice for students to gain confidence in the subjects’ proficiency.

Oceanography, biostatistics, marine chemistry, ecosystems and geology are some choices that can help students specialize in their field of study. The master’s programs will also have electives to choose from, which can further help the students improve their skills.

They will also be able to specialize in their subjects of interest like particular marine organisms, for example, fish, mammals, corals, and other marine wildlife. Graduate students must also focus on independent research and coursework for their thesis and publish scientific papers. This will act as the gateway to their journey as marine biologists.

Research and documentation are two essential requirements for a scientist. Later, students may even opt for PhD programs to further develop their research skills and knowledge. A PhD is not necessary, but having one is very commendable, and the quality of your dissertation will significantly influence your potential employers.

Marine Biologist Jobs

Some of the critical organisations that hire marine biologists in the United States are:

1. NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
2. Fisheries and Oceans Canada
3. California Department of Fish and Wildlife
4. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
5. NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
6. EnviroMatrix Analytical, Inc. (EMA)
7. AquaBio Environmental Technologies, Inc. AquaBio Environmental Technologies, Inc.
8. Nautilus Environmental

An individual can look up similar organisations in their respective country to know more about opportunities for marine biologists.

Different Career Options After Pursuing Marine Biology

After gaining an education in the field of marine biology, one can take up different kinds of jobs, as mentioned below:

• Marine ecologist and dive operations manager
• Consultant in marine ecology
• Marine biotechnologist
• Fishery data manager
• Environmental engineer
• Marine policy expert.
• Reef restoration project manager
• Marine biology technician
• Research Assistant
• Professor in marine ecology
• Postdoctoral fellow
• Oil spill response specialist

A marine biologist has several career options, all of which can provide fruitful compensation and great satisfaction from work. However, to advance in the career domain of your choice, you will need to specialise in a particular field. Reef ecology ( studying coral reefs), fisheries biology, marine pollution, molecular biology, biodiversity, marine science, ethology ( studying the behaviour of deep sea creatures) and coastal management are some of the popular choices for a marine biologist to specialise in.

Your success as a marine biologist depends entirely on your experience and achievements within the field of choice. Education only plays a partial role by helping you break your way into the area. Like other scientific careers, a marine biologist can expect tons of competition. Hard work and commitment are the only answers to success in this field.

Marine Biologist Education Requirements

As mentioned earlier, a marine biologist does not have a specific blueprint for education requirements besides a bachelor’s degree in a related science. Further education will be a bonus and add more value to the biologist.

Best Marine Biology Colleges

Some of the famous colleges providing courses in marine biology are:

• Duke University in Durham, NC
• ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
• Boston University in Boston, MA
• The University of Maine in Orono, ME
• The Australian National University
• University of Cambridge

Important Books for Marine Biologists

If you are a marine biologist or are planning to become one, then the following books would be beneficial:

• The Unnatural History of the Sea – Prof. Calum Roberts
• Mapping the Deep – Robert Kunzig
• Spirals in Time – Dr Helen Scales
• Vanished Ocean: How Tethys Reshaped the World – Prof. Dorrik Stow
• The Empty Ocean – Richard Ellis
• Voyage of the Turtle: In pursuit of the Earth’s last dinosaur – Prof. Carl Safina
• Reflections on a Summer Sea – Prof. Trevor Norton
• Narwhals: Arctic Whales in a Melting World – Todd McLeish
• Flotsametrics and the floating world – Dr Curtis Ebbesmeyer & Eric Scigliano
• A Life Underwater – Dr Charlie Veron

Marine Biologist Salary

Though there is no detailed data on the salary of marine biologists around the world, according to payscale.com, marine biologists across different levels have a salary range as mentioned below:

Entry-level

Experience plays a huge role in the success of your career as a marine biologist, but your early days will not have a low salary either. An entry-level marine biologist with less than five years experience can expect an average salary of $49,000. This is a significantly high amount to earn for someone starting their way on the field. You can make more with overtime work, extra projects, etc.

Mid-level

A marine biologist that has been in the field for more than 5 to 10 years can expect an average salary of $51,000. This isn’t all that different from the average entry-level salary, but you can find plenty of top companies that pay higher than this amount. You will easily find more demanding work if you have the talent and achievements.

Experienced

An experienced marine biologist with 10 to 20 years of work experience can expect an average salary of $60,000. This is also relative to your achievements and the company you work for.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What exactly does a marine biologist do?

A marine biologist studies and observes marine life in their natural habitat. They also assess their living conditions, record their physiology and behaviours, and the human impact on their lives and ecosystems.

2. Are marine biologists paid well?

Marine biologists are well-paid in many countries of the west. An entry-level position can get an average total consumption of 250,000 dollars, including bonus, overtime pay, tips etc. Marine biologists make the most in San Francisco, California.

3. What are the disadvantages of being a marine biologist?

The job of a marine biologist pays well. However, it is very demanding and also dangerous. One should be physically fit and know how to deal with marine species. It requires stamina to operate heavy equipment, dive deep waters and examine marine animals.

4. Who is known as the first Marine Biologist?

Aristotle was the first person to record his observations on marine life. Hence, he is called the father of marine biology and the world’s first marine biologist. Charles Darwin is also considered one of the first marine biologists as he studied coral reefs extensively, which helped to develop his initial ideas about natural selection and evolution.

5. What is the demand to be a marine biologist?

Marine Biologist is not a popular job in most developing countries which do not undertake marine research. However, it is a prominent position in western nations like the UK, the US and Europe. According to the U.S Bureau of Labour Statistics, the employment of zoologists, marine biologists and wildlife biologists can be expected to increase by 5 per cent between 2020 to 2030.

You might also like to read.

• Choosing the Career of Marine Biologist
• A List of Unique and Interesting Marine Careers
• Top 10 Marine Biology Books You Must Read
• Ocean Engineering: Education, Colleges, Jobs And Salary
• The Unexplained Mystery of the Sea Serpent

Disclaimer: The author’s views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of Marine Insight. Data and charts, if used in the article, have been sourced from available information and have not been authenticated by any statutory authority. The author and Marine Insight do not claim it to be accurate nor accept any responsibility for the same. The views constitute only the opinions and do not constitute any guidelines or recommendations on any course of action to be followed by the reader.

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About Author

Zahra is an alumna of Miranda House, University of Delhi. She is an avid writer, possessing immaculate research and editing skills. Author of several academic papers, she has also worked as a freelance writer, producing many technical, creative and marketing pieces. A true aesthete at heart, she loves books a little more than anything else.

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