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Research and the lab

Research Biologist

Researches how living things work, from cells and organs to whole species, and turns findings into data, papers and practical uses.

Research biologists work in university labs, research institutes, government agencies and industry, often specialising in areas such as crops, disease or wildlife. It suits someone who is curious, patient with experiments that fail and willing to keep studying beyond a first degree.

Also called Biological scientist or Life scientist.

At a glance

Way in
Master's degree, often in biology, biological sciences, ecology, marine biology and plant science
Pay in the US
$98,920 a year, the medianFor biological scientists, all other, the group O*NET places research biologists in, 2025
Pay in the UK
£24,000 starting to £40,000 with experienceFor a biologist, the nearest National Careers Service profile
US outlook
Faster than average, 2025-2035
Suits you if
You keep asking how living things work and enjoy finding out for yourself.

Pay is a guide: it moves with the country, the employer, the sector and the years in the job. Figures from O*NET OnLine (US) and the National Careers Service (UK); see the sources below.

The work

What does a research biologist do?

  • Plan experiments and field trials to answer a clear research question
  • Collect and analyse samples and data in the lab or outdoors
  • Study plants, animals or microbes to understand disease, development or survival
  • Write reports and papers and present results at meetings
  • Supervise students or technicians and apply for research funding

Where they work

  • University labs
  • Research institutes
  • Government science agencies
  • Agricultural and pharmaceutical companies
  • Teaching hospitals

Skills

The skills a research biologist needs

  • Experimental designcontrols, replicates and fair tests
  • Lab and field techniquecareful, safe and well recorded
  • Statisticschoosing the right test and reading the result
  • Scientific writingclear reports, papers and grant bids
  • Persistencerepeating work until the answer is solid
  • Initiativespotting the next question to ask

Route in

How to become a research biologist

  1. Take biology at A level, or equivalent, with chemistry or maths
  2. Complete a biology or life science degree, ideally with a research project or placement
  3. Take a master's, and then a PhD for research posts you lead yourself
  4. Build experience as a research assistant or postdoctoral researcher

Degrees people take

  • Biology
  • Biological sciences
  • Ecology
  • Marine biology
  • Plant science

In the UK, laboratory and research scientist degree apprenticeships are another way in, and biologists can become members of the Royal Society of Biology.

Practise for it

The quizzes and tools that fit

Also on biofideX

Next to it

Careers to weigh against it

Sources

Where the facts come from

Written for biofideX from these public sources. The pay figures are theirs, copied as published, last read 2026-10-25.

Requirements differ by country and change over time; check with the body that registers the profession where you will work. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we'll correct it.

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