What does a marine biologist do? A day as a marine biologist 

If is your dream then absolutely go for it! There are many ways you can work in ocean protection, whether that is as a marine biologist doing scientific research, working in a charitable organisation promoting their environmental campaigns, or even as a marine wildlife photographer promoting conservation through the arts. If you have the passion, there any different ways you can be an advocate! 😀🐠💙

Thank you I will come back here when it's done

@@JayMinuti Marine Biology is an interest of mine.

@@JayMinuti I heard it’s hard finding jobs in that field

@Joshita Soobiah how's it going now ???

Thanks so much ! In the tanks are some local inter-tidal gastropods (monodonta). We need to do a collab video asap. I'm ready whenever you are 💕

Nice🙂

You sound super committed which is so great to see. You can do it! See you out there some day! 🌊💙

Thanks Karl!

We miss you too!

Thank you!! 🌻 Here I am looking at the impact of heatwaves on these snails 🐌. Now I technically work pretty standard working hours, Mon - Fri, 9-5. But sometimes if experiments require longer working hours, or sometimes work in the night, then we do it! Lately I've been heading out into the field in the dark to catch the low tides, and sleeping in the day time. It varies quite a lot :)

Haha there are plenty of these boring days but also plenty of fun ones too 😋

That's so great to hear Kaylee! Good luck 💙

:)!

Ahh there are so many ways you can use your engineering skills in marine science!! We work a lot with the engineering department for different projects. Whether that's help with designing new coastal structures, building artificial seawalls or for help in coral/reef restoration projects to name a few. Your skills will be incredibly valuable in marine science for sure 😊

@@JayMinuti so happy to hear, can’t wait 😄😌

😘💪

Yes of course! There is SO much work to do in ocean conservation. Whether you want to work in research, conservation, advocacy etc! :)

Hey! Thanks so much. Tons of marine bio careers involve being out in the sea. For example, my job (a research scientist/marine biologist) involves lots of ocean time. This job you can do either at a university (like me) or in an independent research institute. Depending on which animals you work with, will depend on what sort of stuff you do! Some work may involve you going out to the ocean to collect animals to bring back to an aquarium where you conduct experiments. E.g. this project you can see here was run for a couple of months in the aquarium, after I collected the organisms from the sea via snorkeling. Or, some projects are 100% in the ocean, for example, reef restoration work (which I am working on now), helping to build new reefs in the sea, or tracking wild animals to monitor their behaviour from a boat, following animals using scuba & a camera to monitor them, etc. So, any research job that involves researching wild animals can involve lots of ocean time :)! You could also work in fisheries or aquaculture, being a manager ensuring sustainable practices are being implemented, that way you would get to travel to different places to assess the practices. If you prefer, you could work in a conservation organization or an NGO, were they go out and do conservation work directly in the ocean. This could involve doing things like beach cleans, monitoring turtle nests on the beach, or going out on boats to monitor wildlife. Another job idea could be something more advocacy based. So, working for a tourism operator e.g. where you go out in boats as an expert on a whale watching boat tour, giving talks to the tourists about whale conservation. You could also become a qualified scuba diver and teach scuba diving. & as part of it, you could involve teaching the students about ocean conservation, ocean protection etc. There are lots of different ways to work in this area! Lastly, if you didn't want it to be your main career, but still want to do something for the ocean, you could always use social media in your spare time to share photos & details promoting ocean advocacy! :) xx I hope this was helpful. Perhaps I should do a video on different marine biology careers? Thanks so much for commenting x

@@JayMinuti wow! thank you so much! this really means a lot 😊😊 and yes please! that would be so helpful! 🤍

You're welcome! 🌻

Thank you!! If it is something you are passionate about & are able to commit some time to study then there are so many options for these type of positions. Honestly, no matter what sort of background you have (whether it is biology, maths, business, marketing, admin etc..) there will always be a job in marine conservation that will need you type of skills. Do you have anything specific in mind? x

I wish she answered you.

Thank you so much for the comment & I'm very sorry it took me so long to reply! :( To get into marine biology, it really depends where you want to work. If you want to work in academia (doing research through a university) you will need some formal degrees. I was also a very very average student. I did pretty good in high school, but in college I went really downhill (I got a D in maths, C in biology). So, because my grades were bad, I studied a 'foundation' degree in Zoological Conservation at university first, as well as doing a bunch of extra curricular stuff, and then I went on to do my Bachelors in Environmental Science. All my elective subjects & my final thesis was marine-based, so after that I was able to apply directly for a PhD in marine biology/ecology. There are SO many fields in this area of academia. You can work entirely in the lab, doing molecular or microbiology, evolutionary developmental biology, stable isotopes, epigenomics etc. You could do more pure ecology, where your work is out in the field, scuba diving, looking at animal behaviour & conservation, environmental effects. There is more 'historical' stuff like paleoecology, biochem or more physics based stuff like geological or physical oceanography. There are more engineering type fields, focused on designing/building new coastal structures, or entirely social based where you work with communities, looking at human interaction with the ocean and ecosystem services. There is also things like remote sensing work, using satellites, biotechnology, or inventing new ways to remotely assess the environment. This is just a few! The different fields will require different skills. Some marine bio subjects require no chemistry or maths at all, whilst some are based entirely on those (biochemistry, biostatistics, data science, big data). And of course, you don't have to work in academia. You can work for an NGO or a government body doing pure conservation, rebuilding habitats, clearing marine litter, or doing community projects promoting marine protection. You could also work more in policy, working with stakeholders & government institutes to implement marine protections laws, fisheries management, or other private companies. Don't worry about which university or subject - just chose something that includes classes you are interested in, and it's also good if you can study somewhere that gives you options to gain work experience outside of the university. Or, try to volunteer yourself. You'll help out organisations which really need it, whilst also gaining valuable experience yourself. Would it be helpful if I did a video on my route into my job (what I studied, my grades etc) and also on the different fields in marine biology? Thank you again for your comment, & I'm really sorry it took so long to reply!

@@notveryrea1 thanks for the reminder! Just replied :)

Hey! Yes it certainly is possible. There are lots of different areas of work in marine science/conservation where you don't need a degree. If you want to work in a science laboratory, you will likely need one. But plenty of areas where degrees aren't necessary, & experience goes a long way! I know a bunch of people who work in this field without degrees.

You definitely don't need to pursue science! An economics degree could be GREAT because one huge aspect of ocean conservation is socio-economic aspects. The socio-economic drivers of the shark fin trade for example. During my undergrad, I did a class called “ecological economics” which was my favourite! We learned about sustainable resource management, value of ecosystem services, costs of environmental damage etc. Another interesting route could be working in the shark tourism industry, making that safer for sharks & still economically valuable for people. Salary is difficult to say because there are SO many different types of jobs you could get. Perhaps I'll do a video on this if you think this would be interesting? I think ocean conservation jobs can be risky, but given how much work is needed, there are plenty of jobs out there. If you have a specialist skill (such as an economics degree!) this would help you stand out & open more opportunities for you. If for example you wanted to work directly in a lab on shark biology, you would need some type of scientific training, but there are many jobs outside of the lab which still involve sharks! I do spend a lot of time in the sea, but also a lot of time infront of my computer :). You should check out: projecthiu.com/ They help shark fishermen to stop killing sharks & switch their trade to shark tourism. Another interesting area that an economics degree could help with! Hope I've answered some of your questions, & please let me know if there's anything else I can help with! Xx

@@JayMinuti Ma'am I'm literally so happy now after hearing that someone can do these jobs with an economics degree also, I literally cannot explain my joy at the current situation 🥺❤ Thank you so much ma'am for replying me, love you loads 🤗💖✨ Also if you make a video on the salary of these jobs it would be amazing & I'm sure everyone will watch it 😊❤

You're very welcome, glad I can help! 🥰

I got this job whilst I was waiting to do my phd defense (there is about ~4 months wait inbetween handing in your thesis & defending). So I had the experience of running experiments during my phd to apply for this job. If you are doing a Bachelors, you can apply for research assistant positions directly after graduating. We hire fresh graduates regularly (& even students who haven't graduated for positions during summer).

Hi there! Thanks for reaching out. Any science or math courses would be useful for you! Also geography, or any tech courses can be useful too. But at this stage, just do whatever classes you enjoy, & you can craft your marine career around those 😊.

Hi there! I actually made a video on "how to become a marine biologist" which may have some useful info for you! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xqOG-TbCkLk.html Typical paths to work in research like me firstly involve getting formal education, although there are lots of jobs which don't require degrees which you can get into, particularly in marine conservation. You can get experience through volunteer work or directly applying for jobs in conservation projects. Do you have any particular area in mind? x

@@JayMinuti thank you!! I'll give your video a watch!!

No, you don't have to! There is a lot of work done whether it is in an aquarium, lab, or at the computer that doesn't involve having to go into the ocean if that isn't something you want to do / or are unable to do :) x

Yes! There are lots of parts of the ocean that are still unexplored :)

Let me know if you have any questions! 😉

@@JayMinuti alright will do

When you go diving what kind of organisms do you find most commonly

In Hong Kong, a lot of urchins, different snails, various coral species, crabs, different types of shellfish (mussels, oysters), bunch of different fish!

No, none at all :)

Yes, absolutely! My Bachelors was Environmental science. Any type of biology background would be very useful 😊

It's not a strange question :)! There are tons of options, but some of the most popular as a marine biologist you can work in academia, for example working as a research scientist at a university (that is what I currently do) or become a professor, you teach marine bio & run your own research group (& hire PhD students or researchers like me). In academia the main focus is to carry out new research to advance a particular field through publishing research papers. You can also work in external research institutes eg. Smithsonian, EPA, NOAA, whether these are gov organisations or NGOs or charities. In those you can run research projects, conservation initiatives etc. You can also work in marine conservation directly, places such as The Nature Conservancy, WWF, where you can do work such as replanting reefs, work in endangered species conservation etc. There are also lots of jobs in outreach, so promoting the work of these types of organisations to gain public support. Let me know if you have any specific area in mind & I'll give you as much info as I can! xx

Hey there! Don't worry too much about which major. I know lots of people working with animals who have studied lots of different majors. For example my major was zoology & environmental science (I didn't study marine bio for undergrad). I know people who have come into the same job as me with degrees in general biology, marine bio, animal science, wildlife conservation etc. There is also a LOT of use for skills in math & computer science, so if you study those they can he heavily applied to working with animals. So don't worry too much about which major it is, just chose one that has a range of options for classes which look interesting to you! If you know you want to work with animals/environmental work but you don't yet know which area, my advice would he keep it as broad as possible so you can go into different areas afterwards as your interests develop :)

@@JayMinuti Thank you so much, I do want to work with animals/environmental so what would be the best option

Hi there! That's awesome 🥰🥰🥰

It definitely does! Lots of marine biology - and related courses. We also have the Swire Institute of Marine Science which is a big marine research station down in Cape D'Aguilar :) x

First step would be to go to school & study either environmental science, wildlife biology, marine biology, or similar. I would try & do some volunteering within research labs at universities, with conservation organisations who do things like going out on boat or beach surveys to study marine life, or even in wildlife sanctuaries. This will give you an idea of the type of work you are most interested in. I also suggest trying to get your scuba diving qualifications (although this isn't necessary, many marine biologists I know don't scuba dive), but it will open up more opportunities for you. Next weekend I'm going to post a video explaining some of the different types of careers you can have in marine science & conservation if you are interested! If you have any more specific questions about certain types of work, please let me know! x

@@JayMinuti Thank you thank you thank you!! I will definitely look in to your video and I can’t express how much you’re response means to me!!!

You're very welcome ☺xx

You can do experiments on almost any animals. Of course for animals like turtles or dolphins, you would need large aquariums. People typically dont collect those animals just for experiments; they would work with animals which are already captive (such as those in zoos/aquariums or rescue centres which are unable to be released) for things like behavioural studies. A lot of experiments with bigger animals like that are done in the wild 💫

Sounds like you'd do pretty well 😉! Being able to stomach a bit of dirt & general gross stuff is definitely a plus for this type of work 😄

@@JayMinuti ok good cuz I’m used to dirt a lot I have a dog and have been in scouting for seven years now and still have years left so dirt is everywhere always

Hi there! thank you for your comment. Majoring in zoology will be great to kickstart a career in marine biology. In fact, I actually did my bachelors degree in zoology & environmental science before directly going into my marine biology PhD. There are SO many different areas to specialise in that don't require high level skills in maths or chemistry (actually, I am also VERY bad at these also!!) so don't worry about that at all.

@@JayMinuti I'm interested in science but I'm not the best at math , I noticed that marine biology does not involve a lot of math and physics. Math is something that most people find too be to hard , even Charles Darwin said that he wasn't good at math.

Hey Camille! You're totally right. I'm also not very good at math. Any type of research will involve a little math, as you need to use statistics to do data analysis. But if math isn't your strong point, it doesn't matter. There will be plenty of people around you who can help, also resources online to help you when you need it. It's definitely not a major part of all marine biology unless you specifically work in physically oceanography, biostatistics, or something like that. Don't let it put you off at all :) x

It depends! In research there are some areas you will hardly do any math, whereas some you will do it a lot. Some researchers only need to do a bit of basic math when analyzing data to publish papers (statistics), but a high level isn't required & there are also people around to help/collab with/outsource work too if you're not good with numbers. A lot of biologists I know also hate maths (I also barely passed maths & chem in college). So don't worry, there are LOTS of ways to avoid it 🤗

Hello! I believe 12th means high school, right? (sorry, bit different where I studied). If you want to do scientific research, you need to go to university & at least get a Bachelors degree (typically 3-4 years), though you will probably then also need to follow that with a Masters degree (typically 1-2 years) or PhD (3+ years). If you don't want to work in academia, but you'd like to work in another area such as for an environmental government organisation, NGO or other charitable conservation organisation, teaching, work in an aquarium, science communication or a sanctuary you could start volunteering right out of high school to gain experience before applying directly to these jobs. Though, having a Bachelors would be beneficial for these too! What type of work do you want to do?

There are lots of different types of courses you could take which could lead to a job in marine biology! Where abouts in Asia are you looking?

@@JayMinuti India, Singapore, Japan

@@vaibbhavijainrollno.16clas62 Umt in Terengganu, Malaysia is a marine focus university and the campus is beside South China Sea so they often go out there

It depends on your experience and institute. Where I am now working (The Swire Institute of Marine Science) typical postdoc salaries range from $28000 HKD - 35000 HKD (Hong Kong Dollars) per month which is quite typical in Hong Kong. You can apply for fellowships where you get more, and some where you get less!

Yes! Definitely. Lots of people work in this area with just a degree. Its also more common to find people working in NGOs straight after gaining their degrees. You could also start out as a research assistant with your BSc & gain experience from there!

Also - astrobiology sounds really cool!!

Hey 😊! Any course related to biology would be great. However, math is also super useful for work in biostatistics, programming etc. I know people who have been accepted onto marine bio phd programs with a maths or physics Bachelors degree. It all depends on your interests! But if you're unsure, general science would be a good starting point! I'm not sure what a neet exam is, we don't have that in my country so I can't help with that I'm afraid. But for entry onto a PhD program in the UK (where I'm from) or Hong Kong (where I live/work) there are no entrance exams, they just consider your previous education & experience 😊

@@JayMinuti Thanks for the information. 😊

You're welcome!

Oceanography is more the study of the ocean directly (the physics, seabed geology, plate tectonics, waves & currents) where as marine biology is the study directly of the organisms in the ocean, their physiology, biology, interactions from single species to whole ecosystems. They cross over a lot also but these are the main differences! :)

@@JayMinuti okayy :)

Hey there! Thanks so much for commenting. I wouldn't worry about feeling nervous or afraid. That is totally normal if you haven't spent much time around them! A lot of people get scared of the ocean & what is beneath there who haven't explored it much. My advice would be to try go swimming in the sea whenever you have chance (if you have the opportunity?) And learn how to scuba or even just snorkel. Being able to actually see what's under you when swimming by using a mask actually takes a lot of the fear away! 🌻🌻🌻

@@JayMinutiTy 💗💗

No you don't need a phd! There are a lot of entry level jobs you can get with a Bachelors. For example you could work in a research lab as a research assistant. You'll have your own projects, help with others in the lab. Great jobs that pay well!

@@JayMinuti thank you so much 💙☺️

It depends what you do! There are lots of different jobs you can do as a marine biologist, so it depends what you choose! What sort of thing are you interested in?

@@JayMinuti I am interested in studying marine animals..like sharks and fishes...that sort of stuff

If you have this type of interest in marine animals, I would definitely think about studying marine science! Studying would be quite broad & include some difficult subjects, but after you study, you can choose which area you like the most, & get a job in that field! You can go into lots of different jobs to work directly with sharks or other fish, such as research or conservation work, or even working in an aquarium or rehabilitation centre. Or you could go into work like teaching scuba diving, a marine charity, being a marine veterinarian, or even work as a wildlife photographer, specializing in the marine world! I’m making a new video on different types of jobs for a marine biologist, so it may give you some ideas! Let me know if you have any more questions x

@@JayMinuti thanx🙂 ..and I will let you know if I have more questions

Hey! If you have a PhD, then yes you are 😊🌻

@@JayMinuti wow! That was quick! Thank you :)

You're very sweet!!

Whoops, yes I should do that! Thanks 😅

Indeed 🤗🌻

Yeh, I have to laugh at myself everyday too, otherwise I'd just cry... ;)