to be perfectly frank I feel like it is a useless degree..Dont get me wrong I love biology and I know for a fact I have learned a lot and have studied so much but after graduating I feel like there is nothing anyone can do with a biology degree...All my friends are either doing further study but personally I dont see myself going down that route..I have no idea what Im supposed to do with my degree can someone help me??
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While it is true most people use it as a stepping stone to pursue career in medicine or research, there are several position you can apply for with a bachelor's in biology. Here are the two main positions biology majors apply to:
Research Assistant
Research Study Assistant
First, you will see that there are a lot of positions that have different names but are the same in terms of the responsibilities. It just depends on what the employer calls it. For example a research assistant can also be called a research technician, and research technologist. A research assistant is more "bench work," so you would be doing a lot of work in the lab running different lab tests or techniques such as PCR, electrophoresis, gram staining, DNA extraction, although it all depends on the department what kind of tests you will run. Sometimes you will see research assistant I and research assistant II. The numbering system is based on your level of experience, the higher the number, the more experience required. Starting off, you would apply for level I. Also, the higher the number the higher the pay.
The other main position is the research study assistant. A research study assistant can also be called: clinical research coordinator, research coordinator or even just research assistant. (I know it's confusing, but you have to just look at the job description). As a research study assistant, you will be working more with patients, often referred to as study subjects, and will spend less time, if at all, in a lab. Your duties as a research study assistant include recruiting, consenting patients, meeting with them at their study visits and data entry. The research study assistant can also branch off into the academic research side where you work with the principal investigator (PI), on publishing, background research, source finding, a lot of reading and library work.
Over all, they are nice positions to start off at, if you don't want to further your education. It may be easy to move up if you stay there long enough, it can open up many other opportunities as well. On average the pay salary for these two positions are between $30k - $45k. That being said, a biology degree, I think is a lot more useful in terms of getting a job compared to other degrees. These positions can be very competitive, so keep applying. A good thing about these positions is that there are a lot of them out there, just look for jobs at a hospital or university near you. There are also teaching positions open, but may require additional training/certification if you want to go down that route.
Hope this helps!
Research Assistant
Research Study Assistant
First, you will see that there are a lot of positions that have different names but are the same in terms of the responsibilities. It just depends on what the employer calls it. For example a research assistant can also be called a research technician, and research technologist. A research assistant is more "bench work," so you would be doing a lot of work in the lab running different lab tests or techniques such as PCR, electrophoresis, gram staining, DNA extraction, although it all depends on the department what kind of tests you will run. Sometimes you will see research assistant I and research assistant II. The numbering system is based on your level of experience, the higher the number, the more experience required. Starting off, you would apply for level I. Also, the higher the number the higher the pay.
The other main position is the research study assistant. A research study assistant can also be called: clinical research coordinator, research coordinator or even just research assistant. (I know it's confusing, but you have to just look at the job description). As a research study assistant, you will be working more with patients, often referred to as study subjects, and will spend less time, if at all, in a lab. Your duties as a research study assistant include recruiting, consenting patients, meeting with them at their study visits and data entry. The research study assistant can also branch off into the academic research side where you work with the principal investigator (PI), on publishing, background research, source finding, a lot of reading and library work.
Over all, they are nice positions to start off at, if you don't want to further your education. It may be easy to move up if you stay there long enough, it can open up many other opportunities as well. On average the pay salary for these two positions are between $30k - $45k. That being said, a biology degree, I think is a lot more useful in terms of getting a job compared to other degrees. These positions can be very competitive, so keep applying. A good thing about these positions is that there are a lot of them out there, just look for jobs at a hospital or university near you. There are also teaching positions open, but may require additional training/certification if you want to go down that route.
Hope this helps!
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You have discovered a dirty little secret...too bad you didn't realize this before you went to college. Degrees in biology are really just stepping stones to other degrees.