Where Do Marine Biologists Work?

Marine biologists work in wide ranging environments from offices to laboratories to bodies of water, such as oceans or lakes. The location depends on the specialized job of the scientist.

Marine biologists study the behavior of organisms that live in marine locations, as well as how these organisms interact with the environment. The specializations within marine biology are vast and include researching hydrology, managing fish stocks and developing medicines from marine organisms.

Opportunities for work in this area are so vast that marine biologists can spend time in an office preparing research papers or reports, in a laboratory conducting experiments, in a museum curating a sea life exhibition or as part of a team out in the field on sea vessels. When working directly in a coastal or marine environment, such as the ocean, marine biologists could be observing and analyzing creatures as small as single-cell algae or as large as whales, according to Marine Careers.

In order to become a marine biologist, an individual requires a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in a marine subject or a closely related field. Depending on the area they decide to work in, marine biologists may also require skills such as swimming, scuba diving or sailing a boat.