Responsibilities
Marine biologists analyze and research structures and processes in animals, plants and microorganisms in marine habitats. They work in science and teaching, in product development, in environmental protection or as experts.
Typical Places of Work
Marine biologists find employment e.g.
- at universities and oceanographic research institutes
- at environmental authorities and associations
- at fisheries research institutes
- in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries
- in aquariums and zoos
- at publishers
Salary
The salary level for Marine Biologist in Germany is:
from 4749
up to 6434 EUR per month
Задачи
What is it about?
Marine biologists analyze and research structures and processes in animals, plants and microorganisms in maritime habitats. They work in science and teaching, in product development, in environmental protection or as assessors.
Science and teaching
At universities or research institutes, marine biologists deal with, for example, the consequences of overfishing and aquaculture on the environment or with the extraction of active substances from marine organisms such as algae, bacteria and marine animals. Or they investigate the type, number, condition and behavior of animal and plant species in certain marine regions or the migratory behavior and migration routes of certain animal species in the world's oceans. In field research, they sometimes work on research ships. Submarines or diving robots are used to collect samples. Marine biologists count, measure, photograph and catalog their finds. In the office, they evaluate their photographs and data, as well as satellite photographs if necessary. They carry out analyses of the water composition, purity and quality in the laboratory.
Marine biologists publish their research results and make them accessible to other scientists and students. They present their findings at conferences and congresses. They hold lectures and seminars, supervise scientific work and take examinations.
Independent scientific activities usually require a master's degree and a doctorate.
Development and production
In commercial research, they examine, for example, maritime natural substances, analyze their components and properties and test their suitability as active ingredients, e.g. in medicines, cosmetics, nutritional supplements or food. In development, they transfer research results to the operational scale. In this so-called scale-up, they look for technically feasible, economical and environmentally friendly production methods for new products and test the results from the development laboratory under practical conditions. When they take on tasks in validation, they ensure that production facilities, equipment, analysis methods and all production steps always meet the required quality standards. They develop production processes, plan and monitor production processes, take on tasks in product management, sales or patents.
A master's degree is often required for management positions.
Consultancy and environmental protection
On behalf of environmental authorities or the fishing industry, they monitor fish stocks, analyze the pollution of fishing waters and fish and, if necessary, advise the authorities on the designation of protected areas for endangered fish species. They create concepts for sustainable aquaculture, e.g. for salmon or mussel farms, monitor aquaculture and examine its impact on the environment, e.g. with regard to the pollution caused by medication. They prepare environmental impact reports for construction projects in coastal or marine areas.
