Expert: ScienceAdviser - 4/19/2009

Question
Hello, my name is Joe. I was looking on the bls.gov website and looked under biologist. It showed me the nature of the work, work environment, salary, and job outlook. It had said that there will be alot of competition for jobs as a biologist. What do you recommend would give someone a leg up in getting a job as a biologist, microbiologist, or biochemist? I am going to college next year and will be majoring in Biology. What do you suggest I do to prepare for this course? Thank you.

"I dreamed of a thousand paths. I awoke and walked my old one."

Answer
Hi Joe,
One thing that I always tell my students is to have experience, experience and experience.

I know when you get in college, you have to work to pay for your living expenses. However, you can do that by working in the lab. All the areas that you are interested involves lab work. The first thing you have to do is to find a research lab that has the interesting topic that you want to get your hands in. Join the lab, and learn about all the ups and downs in research and the tough times and good times. These all tell you what the real research is about and also help you to decide if that is what you want to do. Join a big lab or a very comptetive lab that people work really hard and have a lot of publications because those labs are the ones the represente the real research lab or even labs that do not have that much publication but people are overwhelming themselves to get one. These are real researchers. Join them even if you have to do it during summer time or even they are labs that can pay you. However, DO NOT JOIN THE LAB THAT ASKS YOU JUST TO PREPPARE MEDIA. Join labs that you can PARTICIPATE IN A PROJECT and be on publications. It may not happen right away, but it happens when you learn the technices. You have to make sure that you clear that to the head of the lab so they know what you are looking for and what you want. Be as clear to them as possible.

From there, you can decide. You can have rotation meaning three months in one lab and three months in another and go for the three areas (micorbiology, biology, and biochemsitry) meaning choose one lab from each area and at the end of your first year, you have a good idea of which area are you more interested. Then, take that path and remember gain as much research (lab)experience as possible. That is a great success for having a great job. The other thing is to read and read and read and familiarize yourself with what is going on the science in your area and also by reading, you can learn about new tecnhics that are outthere even if you are not using them, but at least you know what they are, so it helps when you go for a job interview and they are using those technices. No body expects you to know every thing, but they expect you for example as a biochemist to know what is out there even though you have not even seen the equipments.

That is my suggestions to you. Think about them, and if you have any more questions, please feel free to contact me, and finally, welcome to  our world of research.

Best
Gloria