Careers & Alumni
Our Biology, Botany, and Zoology majors are broadly based which allows latitude of choices when developing a program suitable to individual needs.
Favorable opportunities can be expected for biological scientists with advanced degrees and for bachelor's candidates with outstanding educational and experiential backgrounds. Employment in the life sciences is expected to grow due to recent advances in genetic research, advances in biological technology, and efforts to conserve the environment.
The employment outlook will vary by specialty. Those who have the ability to do research in areas related to the genetic, cellular, and biochemical areas of biology should experience better employment opportunities than those in other specialties. However, many persons with a bachelor's degree find jobs in occupations such as sciences or engineering technicians or medical laboratory technologists. There is a continuing demand for secondary and private school life science teachers.
Related Job Titles
The following list is not meant to be all-inclusive; many other job alternatives and titles may exist. Many of the job titles listed require further education.
Biologist
Biological Technician
Life Scientist
Laboratory Asst/Tech.
Research Assistant
Technical Writer
Naturalist
Park Ranger
Environmental Educator
Museum Curator
Science Teacher/Professor
Conservation Officer
Environmental Scientist
Environmental Planner
Environ. Protection Specialist
Ecotourism Specialist
Scientific Divers
Environmental Consultant
Science Writers
Agriculture Inspector
Botanist
Zoologist
Horticulturist
Biotechnology Research Technician
Plant Geneticist
Plant Ecologist
Plant Physiologist
Science Writers
Water Quality Biologist
Marine Biologist
Aquatic Biologist
Marine Educator
Environmental Health Sanitarian
Industrial Hygienist
Microbiologist (Public Health Micro.)
Biotechnologist
Pharmaceutical Sales Rep.
Scientific Illustrator
Featured Alumni
Degrees in the Biological Sciences have given alumni opportunities to work in their fields around the world.
Some Biology, Botany, and Zoology alumni have gone on to graduate schools. Others are making a difference as teachers and professors, have documented rare insects in Patagonia, work in orchid conservation, and have become health care professionals.
Class of 2016 | Botany, B.S. Major
Emma Fryer
Graduate Assistant, Teaching Assistant, and Master's Student,
California Polytechnic State University
Class of 2006 | Botany, B.S. Major
Lucy Kerhoulas
Assistant Professor of Forest Physiology,
Cal Poly Humboldt Department of Forestry & Wildland Resources
Class of 2017 | Biology, B.S. Major
Christian Brown
Graduate Teaching Assistant,
University of South Florida, Integrative Biology
Class of 2010 | Botany, B.S. Major
Jessie Uehling
Assistant Professor of Fungal Biology,
Oregon State University
Alumni Updates
Our grads are doing great things.
Jerre Winder Maurer, 2001 and 2002
Submitted: November 4, 2023
Jerre would like to thank the Cal Poly Humboldt credential program and biological science department. Jerre just finished her 20th year teaching science for the Bret Harte Union High School District in Angels Camp, California, and continues to love it! Jerre teaches biology and anatomy/...
Marianne Lancaster, 1979
Submitted: September 14, 2023
After 30-plus years of serving as a high school biology teacher in Humboldt County and Riverside County, Marianne retired and took another job serving as the Nature Education Manager for The Nature Education Foundation at the Santa Rosa Plateau in Riverside County, which supports education...
Richard Sayre, 1974
Submitted: August 10, 2023
Dr. Richard Sayre is a co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer for Mercury Bio Inc. (www.mercurybio.com) based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Mercury Bio Inc. focuses on the targeted delivery of therapeutic RNAs and small molecular weight drugs to human cells to address various viral and genetic...
Myshelle Charlon , 2000
Submitted: December 8, 2022
Myshelle Charlon ('00, Biology, Zoology) is now leaving in the Bay Area with her family. She is working to develop effective, tolerable, and durable treatments to help patients with cancer thrive.
Matthew Nelson, 2004, 2009
Submitted: August 18, 2022
Matthew Nelson ('04, Zoology, '09, M.S. Biology) has worked as a biological technician for Olympic National Park, a marine biologist for the City of San Diego, and is currently a Shellfish Biologist for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community in Washington. This position involves working closely...
