Career Tracks in the Biological Sciences
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Career Tracks in the Biological Sciences Henry L. Bart, Jr. Professor of Ecology and Evolu?onary Biology Director, Tulane University Biodiversity Research Ins?tute [email protected] Anthropocentrism Overconsumpon of Natural Resources Human Induced Global Warming Anthropocentric View of Importance of Biological Diversity Homo sapiens is just one of the 2 million species of organisms on Planet Earth Animals Plants David Hillis, Derreck Zwickl, Pro?sts and Robin Gutell Tree of Life Fungi Bacteria Science of Biology • Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life (living organisms). • Majority of undergraduate biology majors are interested in human health careers (medicine, pharmacy, den?stry, nursing). • Biology encompasses so much more than this. • Aim of this presentaon is to give you an appreciaon of the breadth of biology. Biology (Sub-disciplinary areas) • Anatomy • Limnology • Biochemistry • Marine biology • Bioinformacs • Microbiology • Biomechanics • Molecular biology • Biotechnology • Natural History • Cell biology • Neurobiology • Developmental Biology • Organismal biology • Ecology • Paleontology • Evoluon • Parasitology • Genecs • Physiology • Histology • Systemacs • Immunology • Taxonomy • Virology Biology (Sub-disciplinary areas) • Anatomy • Limnology • Biochemistry • Marine biology • Bioinformacs • Microbiology • Biomechanics • Molecular biology • Biotechnology • Natural History • Cell biology • Neurobiology • Developmental Biology • Organismal biology • Ecology • Paleontology • Evoluon • Parasitology • Genecs • Physiology • Histology • Systemacs • Immunology • Taxonomy • Virology Organismal Biology Major groups of living organisms • Viruses: DNA viruses — RNA viruses — retroviruses • Single-cell organisms: – prokaryotes : microbe — bacteria — archaea – eukaryotes: fungi — algae — protozoa — pro?sta • MulDcellular organisms: – Plantae — plants — bryophytes — pteridophytes — seed plants – Animalia — animals — metazoa — insects — mollusks — vertebrates – Fungi — lichens — mycorrhizae Biology (Taxonomic areas) • Arachnology – spiders and mites • Botany – plants • Entomology - insects • Herpetology – amphibians and rep?les • Ichthyology – fishes • Malacology - mollusks • Mammalogy - mammals • Mycology - fungi • Myrmecology - ants • Ornithology - birds • Phycology – algae • Zoology - animals Biology (Taxonomic areas) • Arachnology – spiders and mites • Botany – plants • Entomology - insects • Herpetology – amphibians and rep?les • Ichthyology – fishes • Malacology - mollusks • Mammalogy - mammals • Mycology - fungi • Myrmecology - ants • Ornithology - birds • Phycology – algae • Zoology - animals Ecology • Study of how organisms interact among themselves and with their environment. • Encompasses ecosystem science, populaon biology, conservaon biology. • Careers – – Higher educaon – Governmental natural resource agencies (Agriculture, Forest Service, Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA fisheries) – Non-governmental conservaon organizaons (Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, WWF, Conservaon Internaonal, etc.). Evolu?onary Biology • Study of changes in the characteris?cs of organisms over ?me. • Encompasses species formaon, taxonomy, interrelaonships of species and higher groups (phylogenecs). • Careers - – Higher educaon – Natural history museums Biodiversity Informacs • Applicaon of informaon technology to facilitate the study of biodiversity. • Interdisciplinary (biology and computer science). • Encompasses digi?zaon of biodiversity informaon and development of so\ware tools for using biodiversity data in research. • Careers in higher educaon and natural history museums (biodiversity research centers). Advice for Career Planning • Find and pursue your passion. • Explore some of these subfields of biology at your ins?tu?ons (faculty-mentored research experiences, independent study). • Seek career advice from established professionals and trainees (your mentors and their students, us). • Consider graduate school aer graduaon. THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR ATTENTON! [email protected] .