Jobs in Biology

Seanh111

I'm just about to register for my 3rd year of a biology degree in UCC and while my course was very general up to now, I must decide on what area of biology to now specialise in.

So I have 4 choices - Physiology, Microbiology, Neuroscience or Plant Biotechnology

I was wondering which of these would have the best job prospects? I'm between physiology and microbiology really and I think I'd much prefer physiology (I've wanted it since 6th year) but I honestly don't believe there would be many jobs with that degree, while micro would have great job prospects!

I might decide to go teaching, which I can do with both of these. I might also do a postgrad but again is there many options with a physiology degree? Thanks for any advice you can give me!

cookie1977

It's hard to say. Do you want to go into the private sector or public sector?
Any of the areas would be good if you're going to do a postgrad and stay in research maybe with the idea of becoming a lecturer. We've taken on physiology students for PhD's. It depends on how you'll work in your PhD.

There's also lots of jobs abroad in these areas too.

IrishKnight

Personally, forget about getting a job and do what you like doing! You will find a job at some point and it is must better to do something you love, than something you just like...

GLaDOS

IrishKnight wrote: »

Personally, forget about getting a job and do what you like doing! You will find a job at some point and it is must better to do something you love, than something you just like...

From talking to people more experienced than me, this seems to be good advice. Just because you specialise in one area, doesn't mean you can't branch out into others later.

IrishKnight

ScienceNerd wrote: »

From talking to people more experienced than me, this seems to be good advice. Just because you specialise in one area, doesn't mean you can't branch out into others later.

This is very true. Last summer I worked with a scientist in Nestlé on coffee plants who started off working on cancer...

Seanh111

cookie1977 wrote: »

It's hard to say. Do you want to go into the private sector or public sector?
Any of the areas would be good if you're going to do a postgrad and stay in research maybe with the idea of becoming a lecturer. We've taken on physiology students for PhD's. It depends on how you'll work in your PhD.

There's also lots of jobs abroad in these areas too.

Well I don't know what area I'd like to enter yet, just don't want to have spent 4 years studying and then have no choice but to continue on further ya know?

I think what was said about doing what I like the most is quiet true, and more than likely I'll go with physiology in the hope it works out ok in the long run.... :cool:

IrishKnight

Seanh111 wrote: »

...then have no choice but to continue on further ya know?

You will have a choice, the greatest thing about a science degree is that no doors are closed to you!

Tree

Aye, as long as you have a good grasp of hte basics you can move about. Two of the lads in my masters have physiology degrees, loved the course, but wanted to branch out. But it's not essential to study further, and if you have no idea exactly what you want to do after college it's no harm doing somethnig you enjoy and might actually study hard at.

jaycey001

If you wantto go on to a PhD or further, and want to be funded. I would highly recomend micro biology. it is the future, lab on a chip and all that!
Im currently doing a Phd in animal biology/ethology ect and finding post docs in this area is difficult!

hope that helps

jay.

P.s if you dont like micro bio, dont even think about it, it would be impossible to go on to Msc/Phd in a subject you dont really like! enjoy the subject and it will be much easyer!

Bloody Nipples

Randomly enough, I did your course and had the exact same degree options going into 3rd year. I did Micro and I'm personally relieved and delighted at the decision because at the time it was what I found most interesting but now (graduating Sept 7th ) I can see it has by far the most job opportunities.

Loads of pharma companies and food companies have micro labs for quality control and sterility assurance and Micro is one of the better undergrads with regards to postgrad opportunities at UCC (as in it's one of the more applicable undergrads to the biological postgrads such as the MSc's in Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Food Microbiology and Food Science).

Also if you go to the jobs websites and search for jobs in the other potential areas you'll see that neuroscience, physiology and EPB don't have as many industrial applications and this is reflected in the employment opportunities.

This isn't a comment on the worthiness of their fields of study, just that there not as industrially oriented as micro so where you'll end up within that field is a little more restricted but there's nothing to stop you branching out as others have said.

pragmatic1

Microbiology would probably be your best bet for jobs. You could work in a broad number of areas and fields like biotech and food are always growing. Plus its one of the more interesting areas and isnt that difficult.

Job wise, micro is the way to go. Physiology won't get you any job and you're most likely going to have to get further education. A lot of people in my class opted fro physiology as they were going on to do medicine or physiotherapy after.