Jobs for Marine Science
Marine scientists have nearly as many career choices as there are fish in the sea. From marine biologists who study how a single species adapts to oceanic environments, to marine policymakers who regulate coastal life, marine science is a diverse field. Regardless of job choice, marine scientists must understand physics, geology, chemistry, biology and math. An undergraduate degree in marine science will net an entry-level job, but higher-level research and management positions typically require advanced education.
From boosting seafood supplies to finding the sources of ocean pollution, marine biologists have a range of job possibilities. Marine biologists study ocean-dwelling organisms, their behaviors and how they interact with the environment. That could mean studying how water temperatures influence shellfish, or how underwater plants affect fish populations. Marine biologists can also opt for biotechnology or biomedicine, such as developing pharmaceuticals from marine life or determining how to protect boats, piers and water-intake pipes from invasive species. Marine biology is marine science's best-known discipline, and it is its most competitive field.
Oceanographers research how water’s circulation and physical and chemical properties affect coasts and climates. Study areas include whether oceans limit climate change, how tectonic plates relate to sea floors, and how shipping traffic alters coastal sand distribution. Subspecialties include geological or geophysical oceanography, or exploration of the ocean floor and its structures, and analysis of physical and chemical properties of rocks and sediments. Physical oceanographers gauge water temperature, density, wave motion and tides. Marine geochemists assess oceans' chemical composition, including salt and pollution levels. Plus, they study the movement of chemicals across ocean currents.
Ocean engineering is the marine science that ties together other disciplines. Engineers develop oceanographic instruments and devices that help marine biologists and oceanographers to conduct studies. Engineers have invented ocean seismometers to measure seafloor movements, and buoys that connect to computers or satellites. They've also enhanced underwater video equipment, sound-measuring devices and underwater vehicles. Their devices enable marine scientists to do their work in less time, and from remote locations, rather than in maritime conditions. For marine scientists who must research offshore, engineering has allowed deeper and longer trips beneath the surface. Subfields in ocean engineering include robotics, naval architecture and electrical, mechanical and civil engineering.
Other marine science fields include archaeology and public policy. Marine archaeologists locate and recover underwater shipwrecks, lost cargo, human remains, buildings and tools from past cultures. Plus, they develop plans for managing maritime heritage sites. Marine policy analysts write regulations covering use of the ocean and coasts. They weigh economic, legal and political aspects of activity in the ocean and along shores, and recommend rules or policies for regional, national and international agencies.
Marine science graduates can pursue jobs with a variety of employers. Aquariums, zoos, fisheries and marine-research laboratories hire marine scientists. Scientific journals employ them as writers, while pharmaceutical companies hire them to find potential new drugs in ocean-dwelling organisms. Government agencies, including the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Department of Agriculture, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration all need marine scientists, as well. Marine scientists can join the U.S. Navy as oceanographers or ships’ officers, or they can sign up with the Peace Corps to teach aquaculture in developing countries. Universities also hire marine scientists to teach classes and publish research.
- Sea Grant Marine Careers: Ocean Engineering
- North Carolina State University: Marine Sciences
- University of South Carolina: Marine Science Program
- Palomar College: Careers in Oceanography
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: What Geoscientists Do
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: What Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Do
- University of Connecticut: The Minor in Maritime Archaeology