If you’re fascinated by the natural world, you may be considering a career in biology. Biology is the study of living organisms and their natural environments. As a biologist, you will help develop our understanding of the world around us. You may be asked to perform experiments, observe animals in their natural habitat, investigate some of nature’s mysteries, develop new ways to protect and preserve animals, and more.

One of the best reasons to consider biology as a career is the stable growth and the availability of plenty of jobs in the field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts job growth for biology occupations between 2016 and 2026 at 25 percent, much faster than other occupations. So, how do you become a biologist?

Steps on Becoming a Promising Biologist:

• Decide which research areas interest you most.

If you want to become a biology researcher, the first step is to figure out what area of biology you want to work in. Biology is a vast field, and there are many different research areas within it. What interests you? What intrigues you? What draws you into biology? What questions do you want to explore? Answering these questions will help guide you as you learn more about biology and your career options as a biologist.

• Learn about all the fields of Biology, such as genetics, physiology, and zoology.

Biology degrees let you explore all that life has to offer, from the study of molecules to the analysis of human and animal populations. As a person who is interested in Biology, you might choose to study cellular biology, evolutionary biology, environmental biology, or any number of related fields. And unlike some science majors, biology degrees do not require that you take any pre-professional courses. Understand the areas and topics that arouse your curiosity and move ahead accordingly. You can also learn more about the myriad biology courses available online nowadays, and maybe pick a course or two to get some good foundational learning.

• Choose your major: Biology, Biochemistry, or Molecular Biology.

Biology majors can pursue careers in a wide range of fields and work environments. A biology major is educated in a broad range of sciences, including chemistry, anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, genetics, and neuroscience, to name a few. A career in research is particularly common in this field, but you also have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of career paths. Medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, genetics, and forensics are some of the popular careers to name a few.

• Try to contact a scientist in the field.

As an aspiring biologist, it is important that you take chances and put in the effort to talk to as many scientists as you can. This is a great way of not only making an informed career decision but also building your connections with people who can further your career in the future.

• Attend seminars, conferences, or workshops.

Every biologist needs to attend seminars, conferences, or workshops as part of their career. The learning that comes out of these opportunities can come from a number of sources: networking, new contacts, shared experiences, and exposure to new ideas. Biologists can create new connections that can ultimately benefit their own careers through these events.

• Find an internship or job.

Biology graduate programs are highly competitive, so it’s critical to get a head start on landing your dream job. One way to achieve this is by earning an internship before you apply to graduate school. You can earn an internship with your undergraduate professor or a local biotechnology company. If you’re already enrolled in a graduate program, you can take on an internship at a biotechnology company along with your coursework.

Becoming an excellent biologist begins with a demanding academic schedule. Students must attend lectures, take quizzes, and test their knowledge through exams and lab reports to retain knowledge. When a student completes their coursework, they must take their exam, which determines whether they pass the course. Students who fail a course must repeat it. In addition to committing a large amount of time to these activities, students must also commit to attending 20 hours of formal lab per week and performing additional independent work. So, do you still want to become a biologist with all of this hard work?