Expert: Justin Shenk - 5/17/2008

Question
I’m currently studying molecular biology at university, but my real dream is to work as a researcher/field biologist in a group of biologists/explorators who travel around the world in order to study and care about animals and plants, observing their ways of life, habits, habitats. One of those groups of people who spend their life in forests with gorillas or in the ocean with whales and sharks. With those people who smile in front of a spider instead of killing him. With those people who work to preserve the fragile equilibrium of nature. This is my dream since I was 7 and I still wish with all my heart that one day it would become reality. I don’t care how much it will cost, I know I have to pursue this desire.
So, my questions are: is there any chance for a molecular biologist like I will become, to strike at this target? What are the roles a molecular biologist could have in such groups? is there a connection between biology of the organisms and biology of the cell, in terms of jobs? How could I get in contact with the right people?
Thank you for your answers.

Answer
Hello and thank you for your question.

As you have already discovered, biology covers an exciting and wide-ranging field of knowledge, from cells to civilizations. The answer to questions of animal behavior can be inferred from individual, system, organ, tissue, cell and even molecular scales of understanding. The technical terminology and scientific methodology varies slightly from one sub-discipline to another, but the concepts are generally consistent.
It is not uncommon for a scientist, enamored with the elegance or implications of one aspect of life, to shift focus to a related area, or even a completely different area! The history of cell biology is rife with naturalists who loved observing sea creature behavior and desired to understand the underlying cellular mechanisms; conversely, evolutionary theory benefited greatly from an emergent recognition of a striking uniformity within the cells of living organisms. Many would argue that such cross-pollination is what keeps science fresh and prevents "death by paradigm" due to the limits of technical language and methodological metanarratives (1).
Your expressed commitment to pursue field biology indicates that you are willing to make the sacrifices necessary - given sufficient experience that reflects this desire, an employer would be crazy to deny you. The challenge, of course, is to begin amassing a curriculum vitae, or resume, that reflects your capabilities and experience. Most employers, including universities and research institutes, consider a candidate's employment background in terms of years of experience, scope and intensity of work performed, productivity, and the strength of relationships formed on the job. It will be possible to market yourself across the disciplines if you can back up the story you have shared with references from experts in the field and some hands on experience (volunteering, part-time employment, etc). Of course, an undergraduate applying for an entry-level job outside his/her field would have less resistance than a graduate student who is usually expected to have specific knowledge in their field. But even still, it may be possible to accept a slightly lower salary to include whatever training or orientation is necessary. Hopefully, this person would have already taken elective courses that reflected his/her interest, which can be used to reinforce your personal statement.
If you prefer to stay at your current level of formal education, you may be able to gradually build field experience towards collecting biological samples (fecal, urine, etc) as well as secondary skills (marine exploration, animal collection and dissection, etc). One opportunity to do this is by joining a summer program, such as Hopkins Marine Station or Woods Hole. These locations provide the opportunity to experience closer to the source of the animal subjects.
Specifically, the training of a molecular biologist would be helpful in remote expeditions that have room for only a few scientists, as well as in research groups in under-developed countries, where there is often a shortage of laboratory scientists. This can be demonstrated as an advantage in proposals to study in these circumstances.
If your interest lies in the "thrill of the hunt", consider contacting faculty at your local university who are pursuing subjects that are of interest to you. Or, contact local organizations, like zoos or conservationalists, that may provide specific details on how you can get involved and what is required of a person with your background to enter into their field. You will likely find that sincerity and directness (and obligatory courtesy) will open many doors for you as you pursue your dream.       

Good luck, and keep me updated on your progress!

Reference:
(1) Against Method by Paul Feyerabend.