Employment Opportunities

Biology is an area of growth especially in gene technology. Biology offers a huge range of occupations and job prospects in New Zealand.

As with most vocations, the better qualified you are the more jobs open up to you. NCEA/IGCSE /A Level/BSc/MSc/ PhD. However, post graduate research (MSc, PhD) due to its more specialised nature, will likely narrow your choices while increasing your chances.

Try entering "Biology" into a Job Search Engine (eg. www.sciencejobs.com/bio (USA), www.kiwicareers.govt.nz and www.nzjobs.co.nz) on the internet. 120 examples (from NZ and abroad) of vocations/fields that appear when "biology" is entered are:

• AgResearch scientist
• Analytical Pharmacology
• Animal ethologist
• Anthropology
• Applied and food microbiology
• Aquaculture Assistant
• Professor Behavioural Neuroscience/Pharmacology
• Bioanalyst
• Biochemist
• Biochemist - Biophysicist
• Bioinformatics
• Biomedical Engineer
• Biomedical Researcher
• Biometrics
• Biotechnology cDNA
• Library Construction
• Scientist
• Cardiovascular Researcher
• Cell Biologist
• Cellular Neurobiologist
• Clinical Oncologist
• Clinical Researcher
• Commercial Assay
• Development Sr. Scientist
• Computer Programmer
• Conservation ecologist
• Dermatologist
• Developmental Biologist
• Diabetes Researcher
• Dosimetrist/Treatment Planner/Radiotherapy
• Physicist
• Drug Delivery
• Ecologist
• Ecological Restoration and management
• Environmental Sampling
• Scientist Epithelial regulatory physiologist
• Fermentation Research Associate
• Fisheries officer
• Food Science
• Forestry
• Gene Array Facility Scientist
• Gene Therapist
• Genetic therapy Scientist
• Genetics Scientist
• Geriatrics
• Gynaecology
• Hematologist
• Horticulture
• Immunologist
• Immunodiagnostics
• Research Scientist
• Integrative Genomics Scientist
• Laboratory Assistant
• Laboratory Research Technician
• Laboratory technician Lipid biology and animal lipid metabolism
• Mammalian Developmental Biology
• Manager of Clinical Affairs
• Marine biologist
• Microarray and Genotyping Facilities
• Microbiology
• Molecular Biology/Immunology
• Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
• Molecular Medicine
• Molecular Neuropharmacology
• Molecular Signaling and Breast Cancer
• Monoclonal Antibody Development
• Neurobiology and Behavior Neurologist/Physician Scientist
• Nutritionist
• Obstetrics
• Ocular Gene Therapy
• Oncology Research Associate
• Organic/Bioorganic Chemistry
• Paediatric
• Allergy/Immunology Paediatrics
• Pathologist
• Physical education
• Peptide Discovery Scientist
• Pharmacology and Toxicology Physiologist
• Principal Biostatistician
• Product Complaint Analyst
• Product Safety Surveillance
• Protein Chemistry
• Protein Production
• Protein Purification
• Protein Sciences
• Protein Expression Scientist
• Psychiatry
• Public Health
• Quality Scientist
• Quality Systems Manager
• Radiologist
• R&D Quality
• Unit Research Biologist
• Research Biologist
• Research Data Manager - Dept. of Psychiatry/Behavioral Sciences
• Research Scientist
• Biochemist Research Scientist
• Cell Biology Research Associate
• Assay Development/Mass Spectrometry Research
• Scientist - Center for Genome Research Research
• Specialist/Technician RNA Molecular Biology Scientist
• Scientist - Preclinical Safety
• Scientist in Stem/Progenitor Cell Biology
• Senior Animal Research & Resource Co-ordinator
• Statistical Genetics/Genomics
• Structural Biologist
• Supervisor
• Surgeon
• Teaching
• Technology
• Transfer Scientist
• Toxicology
• Transgenic Animal Technologist
• Virologist
• X-Ray Crystallographer
• Zoologist

Where do NZ biology graduates end up?

If you want to get independent, factual information on where university graduates end up, go to the NZ Vice Chancellors Committee site at: http://www.nzvcc.ac.nz/pubs.html and download the current "University Graduate Destinations Report" eg in the 2000 report some facts include:

Page 7: "The Aggregate Field with the greatest number of Doctorates (92) is Biological Sciences".

Page 44: "Table 2s" shows that in the Biological Sciences 46.8% of BSc + BSc (Hon.) graduates had starting salaries of over $ 30 000, compared to 32.5% in the Physical Sciences and that only 1.9 % of Biological Science graduates were in the $ 0 - $ 20 000 category compared to 10.0 % in the Physical Sciences.

Page 49: For the 1200 Biological Science graduates in NZ in 2000; the main fields of study were: No. The Main employer groups were: % Resource/Environmental Studies 171 Health and Community Services 18.1 Zoology 132 Government Administration & Defence 13.3 Anatomy/Physiology 118 Manufacturing 10.5 Agriculture 100 Agriculture 10.1 Biochemistry 95 Business Services, Scientific Research 9.3 Pharmacology 68 Education, Tertiary 6.9 Plant Science 63 Retail Trade 5.6 Veterinary Sciences/Nursing 63 Forestry and Fishing 4.4 Microbiology 54 Horticulture 4.0 Molecular Biology/Genetics 48 Business Services, Marketing & Business 3.2 Forestry Science 41 Business Services, legal & Accounting 2.0 Aquatic Studies 18 Recreational services 1.6 Neuroscience 14 Accommodation, cafes & restaurants 1.6 Biological Sciences (non specific) 215 All Business Servives [9.3 + 3.2 + 2.0] 14.5 Job Titles included: Field Assistant (Research), Life Scientist/Technician, Physical Scientist/Technician, Teacher/Lecturer, Scientific Sales Representative, Environmental Health Officer, Bacteriologist, Zoologist, Conservation Officer, Forestry Scientist, Forest Manager, Veterinarian, Farmer, Horticulturist and Biochemist. Employers included: Crown Research Institutes, Regional Councils, Dairy Companies, Secondary Schools, Tertiary Institutions, Ministry of Health, Hospitals, Pharmaceutical Companies, Medical Laboratories, Meat Companies, Department of Conservation, Forestry Companies, Private Veterinary Practices, Club Veterinary Practices, Farming Enterprises and Horticulture Enterprises. Biotechnology is one of the most rapidly growing areas of employment and New Zealand's emphasis on agriculture horticulture, aquaculture (salmon, mussels etc.), conservation, forestry, gene technology and biomedicine ensure Biology graduates have numerous vocational opportunities.

Check out:

http://osms.otago.ac.nz/biotechmsc/biotechmsc.htm

In New Zealand the main areas of employment are in industry, Government departments, Crown Research institutes, and in the private sector, eg. in biotechnology, food, brewing, dairy and pharmaceutical industries, conservation, plant protection and quarantine, biomedicine, marine biology and ecology, aquaculture and fisheries, parks, zoo and nursery management, education and environmental resource management and planing.