Marine biologist qualifications include advanced degrees, specialized training, and experience working with specific marine species or tools. Some jobs require scuba training or navigation licenses, while others require artistic or engineering skills. Pursuing the right qualifications depends on the specific area of marine biology.
University degrees are the main type of marine biologist qualification. These degrees are usually offered at advanced levels rather than at the undergraduate level. Other qualifications, such as the ability to work underwater or the knowledge to design marine biology tools, can help a biologist achieve breakthroughs. Even so, these are not strictly necessary for work as a marine biologist.
The most basic marine biologist qualifications are educational. A biologist of this type usually must obtain a Ph.D. or at least a master’s degree. In some cases, having an undergraduate degree in biology or at least one scientific field is desirable when seeking entry into more advanced programs, but an undergraduate degree alone is often not sufficient for work in that field. A Ph.D. it is one of the most versatile marine biologist qualifications as it represents a high degree of specialization. This allows an individual to teach, conduct research, or perform virtually any work related to marine biology.
In some cases, marine biologist educational qualifications other than academic degrees may be required. For example, academic experience working with maps or specific marine species may be required in some jobs. Gaining this experience after graduation is also certainly a possibility. Concrete examples from one’s experience, such as working on a paper or dissertation, can be valuable as qualifications.
Attending marine biology internships and special training programs is not strictly a qualification, but it is a benefit when looking for employment. Positive certifications or recommendations can help make an individual seem like a stronger candidate for a job. Seeking experience of any kind is part of the process of becoming a marine biologist, but it’s easier to put a resume around experiences that are easily quantifiable and evaluated.
Marine biologist qualifications unrelated to the actual study of marine biology may also be required. For example, in any circumstance where a biologist works deep underwater, scuba training is usually required. Likewise, navigation licenses can be valuable depending on the study being carried out. Some biologists never work in real water, so these qualifications are often optional.
Certain specific areas of marine biology require very special training. People who work in aquariums that create environments for captive species need not only broad marine biology skills, but artistic and engineering skills as well. Biologists who train marine animals or work with mammals require experience in general animal training and safety. Jobs in marine biology can require highly divergent skills; therefore, pursuing the right qualifications often involves working towards a specific area of marine biology.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
