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Pronghorn
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According to most science jobs websites, like jobs.sciencecareers.org, the number of jobs in biology far exceeds the number of jobs in every other natural science, like physics or chemistry.
What gives?
What gives?
Ben Espen said:My wife has a Masters in Microbiology, and when she was looking for work after graduation, jobs were pretty thin on the ground. Glancing through the listings at the link, it looks like a lot of lecturer and post-doc academic positions, which probably just reflects the relative size of biology departments compared to the other sciences. The lab my wife worked in in grad school had as many students as the whole physics department.
jbrussell93 said:Why are there so many more people getting biology degrees than physics or chem (or even other fields like geology)? Is it because most of the premed people do bio? Is it the math in physics/chem that scares people away? Or is it just that biotechnology is the "hot" thing right now?
jbrussell93 said:Why are there so many more people getting biology degrees than physics or chem (or even other fields like geology)? Is it because most of the premed people do bio? Is it the math in physics/chem that scares people away? Or is it just that biotechnology is the "hot" thing right now?
Choppy said:Oh boy, another question I can speculate on...
Physics is known to be killer to most, so they'll take the minimum required and be done.
NextElement said:OP, there's a far greater amount of Biology majors going into professional schools and more money to be spent on research in Bio than almost any other science! That's why more people get Biology degrees. You can get a BS in Bio, and if you get turned down for Med School, just get your PhD and research. If you get turned town for a PhD program, you can usually get an entry level job as a lab tech.
Choppy said:Oh boy, another question I can speculate on...
I would venture to guess that one factor on the physical sciences end is that a lot of people with such aptitudes in high school are drawn in different directions - physical sciences compete with engineering and even technology fields. You don't have as much of a split with those who are drawn towards the squishy sciences.
Another factor might be the perception of biological sciences being easier (memorization-type work) compared to physical sciences (problem-solving-type work). On average more people perhaps tend to focus their cognitive abilities on the former rather than the latter.
Then of course there is meal ticket that is medicine. Every school has its urban legend of the first year bio/chem/physics professor who asks how many students are interested in medicine and roughly 90% of the class raises hands. Medicine is a noble profession, it offers a large amount of prestige, it can pay insanely well, and parents can be more willing to help out a kid who wants to go into medicine than one who wants to say, study black holes.
On top of that, there is just plain interest. Biology - particularly at the high school level - explains a lot of things... why we breathe, how we evolved, why we get sick... whereas a lot of physics at the high school level can be confined to "a block on an inclined plane about to slip" type problems. The students that really get into it (physics) seem to make that intuitive leap that studying such things leads to quantum tunneling and wormholes in space and the like, but I can't help but wonder if that same kind of leap isn't necessary with the biological sciences.
With a degree in biology, you can pursue a wide range of career options such as research in academia or industry, healthcare professions, environmental science, biotechnology, and science education.
Biology offers a diverse range of job opportunities compared to other natural sciences. While fields like chemistry and physics may have more specialized career paths, biology offers a broader range of options in various industries.
A successful career in biology requires a combination of technical skills, analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and strong communication skills. It is also important to have a strong understanding of scientific principles and the ability to work collaboratively in a team.
Yes, there are many opportunities for advancement in biology. With experience and further education, you can move up the career ladder and take on roles with more responsibility, such as research team leader, project manager, or department head.
Absolutely! A degree in biology can be combined with other disciplines such as computer science, business, or law to open up even more career opportunities. This interdisciplinary approach can be especially useful in fields such as bioinformatics, biotechnology, and science policy.