Up to the 1990s, postdoctoral jobs in the biological sciences were overwhelmingly in the field of academia. Biology instructors enjoyed the independence of conducting research, building a team of co-workers and students, and eventually gaining a professorship. A decrease in government funding, combined with the development of biotechnology, has led postdoctoral biologists to seek jobs in industry.
Computational biology, also called bioinformatics, applies mathematics and statistics to biological processes. These may involve genetics, genomics, evolution or cell biology, among other disciplines. The pharmaceutical and biotech industries are large employers of postdoctoral biologists with computational skills. These specialists use large amounts of genomic data to find links between diseases and genotypes. They create computational models that allow them to screen drug data and investigate a drug’s potential therapeutic or adverse affects. The 2011 annual average salary for biological scientists in pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing was $79,220, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Almost any energy, mining or construction project -- such as housing and shopping malls, roads, power plants and offshore oil platforms -- requires environmental assessment and monitoring. Specialist consulting companies, as well as energy or construction corporations, employ environmental biologists for these tasks. They study how a project may affect a land or marine habitat and what kind of environmental protection should be in place. The 2010 median pay for environmental scientists was $61,700 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Neuroscience is the study of how the brain functions. Its well-known uses are in the treatment of diseases such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s, as well as in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Neuroscientists specialize in fields such as behavior, brain growth and brain chemistry. The combination of a medical degree with neuroscience is an ideal specialization for a brain surgeon. Neuroscientists are employed in hospitals and medical centers; government agencies; and the food, pharmaceutical and biotech industries. The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies neuroscientist as biological scientists and reports a 2011 median pay of $79,220 a year.
Law is a well-trodden career path for many postdoctoral scientists. Examiners at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office hold doctorates. Attorneys working in law firms dealing with biotechnology issues -- such as pharmaceutical or environmental matters -- are biological scientists with doctorates. Law degrees are not always required for a job in patent law. A company or law firm may hire a biologist for his scientific expertise to help protect an organization’s intellectual property or develop patents. But attending law school and passing a patent bar examination is always a good idea. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 2010 median pay for lawyers as $112,760 a year.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Postdoc Sander Group; Computational & Systems Biology
- American Association for the Advancement of Science: Computational Biologists; The Next Pharma Scientists?
- Ecological Associates: Services Provided
- American Association for the Advancement of Science: Where are the Neuroscience Jobs?
- Peterson’s: Neuroscience Jobs Available in a Variety of Industries
- American Association of the Advancement of Science: In Person; A career in Biotech Patent Law
- Bio Careers: Getting Started with Patent Law
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook; Lawyers
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Biological Scientists, All Other
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Environmental Scientists and Specialists
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