To become an aquatic biologist, you need an advanced degree, research and communication skills, and a passion for aquatic life. High school science and math classes are important, and undergraduate studies should focus on biology, chemistry, and math. Specialized postgraduate studies in aquatic biology are necessary for a career in the field, but job opportunities are limited and competitive.
If you enjoy studying plant and animal life found in aquatic environments, consider becoming an aquatic biologist. To become an aquatic biologist, you’ll need an advanced college degree, strong research skills, solid communication skills, and a passion for aquatic life forms. Taking the right courses early in high school will give you the foundational knowledge you need to complete advanced educational requirements and secure a position in this field.
An aquatic biologist is often confused with a marine biologist. An aquatic biologist focuses on life forms in a freshwater aquatic environment, and a marine biologist studies life forms in a saltwater environment. Regardless, job title can have different meanings depending on an individual’s career aspirations. Some people entering this field may want to manage aquatic wildlife and others may want to study waterborne microbes. However, the main objective of anyone who wants to become an aquatic biologist is to study, observe and interact with aquatic life forms and the environmental factors that affect them.
Aspiring to become an aquatic biologist starts with a curious mind and a fierce determination to find solutions. In high school, this means that science and math classes are very important. It is not enough to ask the questions, but conclusively show the answers. Therefore, students will need a solid foundation in biological and chemical sciences to understand how living organisms work. Students must also learn advanced mathematical applications to understand how to interpret, compile, and manipulate data.
At the college undergraduate level, students will need to earn a bachelor’s degree to qualify for an entry-level position related to the field or prepare for graduate study. At this level of study, students typically do not specialize in aquatic biology, nor will an undergraduate degree prepare a student to become an aquatic biologist. Instead, students typically pursue a degree program in the biological sciences, focusing on courses in chemistry, biology, engineering, computer science, physics, and mathematics. This builds on information learned in high school and provides students with the foundational knowledge needed for field applications and graduate-level specialization.
Students at the master’s and doctoral level specialize in aquatic biology. Not all universities offer specialized postgraduate studies in the field; therefore, students need to carefully research universities and enroll in a strong program dedicated to the field. At the graduate level, students can expect to study in the classroom, conduct research in the laboratory, and apply research in the field.
A master’s program will generally last two years and culminate in a thesis. A doctorate can take six years to complete and will culminate in a dissertation. Earning a PhD will give the student the best opportunity to become an aquatic biologist.
Upon graduation, students are prepared to enter the workforce as an aquatic biologist. As of 2011, the field of aquatic biology offered limited opportunities, with many more graduates than positions available. Although there is a demand, this field is still a small field, under the purview of biological sciences. This means that coveted research positions are highly competitive and securing a PhD does not guarantee a position. Instead, when earning a PhD, students should focus their research on important questions in the field of aquatic biology, which will provide students with the best opportunity to demonstrate an ability to make valuable contributions to the field.
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