Job Market for Molecular Biologists [guest post]

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the growth rate for molecular biologist jobs will be faster than average for all occupations from 2010 to 2016 (14% to 19%). Employment projections are not always accurate due to the complexities of the economy and other factors, however the BLS is regarded as one of the best forecasting sources. The University of Wisconsin reports that molecular biologists are working for research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, colleges, universities, hospitals and chemical manufacturers. A large number of molecular biology jobs are in drug development and medical research. There is also a demand for molecular biologists in the agricultural industry. The federal government is a major employer of molecular biologists and government jobs are available in genetic research, biotechnology, veterinary sciences, environmental chemistry and other fields.

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Employment of molecular biologists by government agencies is projected to increase significantly, including by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Institute of Health (NIH). For some government jobs, only a bachelor's degree in molecular biology is required. An undergraduate degree is usually sufficient for many entry-level lab tech positions. Additionally, biotechnology companies involved in fields such as energy, environment, human healthcare, agriculture and animal health hire those with a bachelor's degree for positions in manufacturing/production, information systems, quality control, research and clinical research.

Some of the popular research fields for molecular biology experts are chemistry and safety of food products, animal and industrial waste, and environmental topics. Those with an advanced degree in molecular biology are sought after by intellectual property law firms. Comprehensive knowledge of the subject is required to draft a patent for a drug. Molecular biologists who have good writing and editorial skills are also sought after by pharmaceutical companies, textbook editors and research journals. Those with graduate degrees have the most job opportunities. However, individuals with a bachelor's degree in molecular biology are typically qualified for entry-level lab tech positions in various fields.

Educational offer is comprehensively updated since 1996 at Braintrack. Job opportunities can be searched at Science Careers and further considerations for a career in biotech are available at BitesizeBio.

This article is from Brian Jenkins, an expert in career and education who writes at Braintrack.com, a site to help students to make better decisions about their education and careers.