Marine Biotechnology and Bioinformatics Teacher Enhancement Program at Moss Landing Marine Labs Careers in Biology Emphasis on Biotechnology and Bioinformatics Adapted from the American Institute of Biological Sciences website

Biotechnology and Bioinformatics  Biotechnology is the use of living organisms or their products to make or modify a substance or process  Bioinformatics is the use of computers to store, retrieve and analyze biological data

Careers in the Biology  Biologists learn how living things work, how they interact with one another, and how they evolve.  Their work increases our understanding about the natural world in which we live and helps us address issues of personal well being and worldwide concern.

Career Paths  Research:  Study the natural world, using scientific tools and techniques.  Health care:  Work to cure or prevent illnesses.  Environmental management and conservation:  Solve environmental problems and preserve the natural world for future.

Career Paths  Education:  Life science educators enjoy working with people and encouraging them to learn new things. They works at:  Colleges and universities  Primary and secondary schools  Science museums, zoos, aquariums, parks, and nature centers

Additional career paths  Biotechnology  Forensic science  Politics and policy  Business and industry  Economics  Bioinformatics and computational biology  Science writing and communication  Art and illustration

To prepare for a biology career  In high school  Take courses in math and science.  Talk to biologists.  Explore your college options.  Have fun! Find what interests you.  In college  Talk to your advisor.  Consider how long you want to be in school.  Ask your professors about part-time jobs.  Find summer internships.

Colleges and Universities  There is no "best" college to study biology.  Find a school that fits your needs, budget, and lifestyle. One with:  Faculty diversity and experience  A commitment to undergraduate education  Research opportunities for undergraduates

Job outlook  Job growth is expected in a number of areas, biotechnology and molecular biology in particular.  Business leaders are trying to create more science and technology jobs in the US to prevent them from being exported.

Salaries  Starting salary around $33,000 per year.  Mean annual salary of $55,000.  With more experience and education:  $80,000 in private industry  $65,000 in government, academia, and nonprofit sector  After 30 years of experience median salary is $103,000.  Salaries may vary greatly depending on  geographic location, job type, experience and education.

Biotech & Environmental Issues  Genetically engineered foods  Bioremediation  Assessment of biodiversity  Species identification  Biomonitoring

Biotech Careers in Environmental Fields  Aquaculture Technology  Chemical Ecology  Ecotoxicology  Endangered Species Management  Entomology  Environmental Engineering  Environmental Risk Assessment  Forestry  Global Change Ecology  Habitat Degradation  Medicinal Drug Development  Natural Resource Management  Oceanography  Plant Science  Pollution Stress  Seed Banks  Sustainable Agriculture  Taxonomy  Tropical Ecology  Wildlife Management

More information  Careers in Biological Sciences:  Environmental Jobs and Careers:  Environmental Career Opportunities:  Minority Environmental Leadership Development Initiative:  National Academy of Sciences career planning guide:  National Institutes of Health--Career Exploration:  Virtual Hospital--Careers in Biomedical Research:  AccessExcellence--Biotechnology Careers: