Typical Career Progression
|
|
Position
|
Remuneration
|
Experience
|
Education
|
|
Start Position
|
Research Technician
|
Approx. $40,000
|
Diving/Office skills/ Computer skills
|
BSc
|
|
1st Promotion
|
Research Officer
|
$50,000 – $60,000
|
Diving/Data Analysis/at least 1 publication
|
BSc(Hons)
|
|
2nd Promotion
|
Senior Research Officer
|
$60,000 – 70,000
|
All of the above + 2-3 publications + leadership experience
|
MSc
|
|
3rd Promotion
|
Post-Doctoral Fellow/Scientific Officer
|
$80,000 – $90,000
|
All of the above + 5 or more publications + evidence of success gaining grants
|
PhD
|
|
4th Promotion
|
Project Leader/Co-Investigator
|
$90,000 -$110,000
|
All of the above + more than 12 publications + international collaboration + leadership & success gaining grants
|
PhD
|
|
5th Promotion
|
Project Leader/Chief Investigator
|
$110,000– $150,000
|
All of the above + senior administrative (managerial) skills
|
PhD
|
**The above table is to be used as a guide only
Typical Accountabilities and Responsibilities
|
Research Technician
|
Specimen & data collection, data management & storage, providing basic field and lab support to researcher in charge of project
|
|
Research Officer
|
Data analysis, generating graphs & figures, assist with report writing, laboratory management, coordinating field work logistics
|
|
Senior Research Officer
|
Experimental design, writing scientific papers, team work and leadership
|
|
Post-Doctoral Fellow/Scientific Officer
|
Writing research proposals and funding applications, supervising support staff and associates, attending conferences and making presentations
|
|
Project Leader/Co-Investigator
|
Developing collaborative projects, organising scientific meetings and workshops, speaking to media and Non Government Organisation representatives
|
|
Chief Investigator
|
Overall coordination and management of research project, managing budget, staffing and output of research team, writing annual reports for major funding agencies and government offices
|
**The above table is to be used as a guide only
Career Path Options & Employment
As a marine biologist your research possibilities are endless, and the range of this occupation may very well hold your interest for the span of your career. However, you do have the option to specialise in various fields. You may like to move into the areas of fish reproduction, aquaculture or toxicology.
Toxicology is the scientific study of poisons, and you may be employed to monitor the effects of drilling on marine life due to offshore petroleum drilling. You also have the opportunity to become a freshwater biologist, where you would do similar work, but studying the plant and animal life in rivers, lakes and ponds.
About the Author
School of Marine and Tropical Biology
School of Marine and Tropical Biology Faculty of Science and Engineering James Cook University, Townsville
James Cook University is recognized internationally for its undergraduate, postgraduate and research programs in Biological Sciences. The School of Marine and Tropical Biology strategic intent is to be the leading research and education centre for the study of biology in the tropics. It expands the knowledge and understanding of biology through excellence in research and teaching, with a focus on tropical systems.With its immense biodeiversity in marine and terrestrial environments, North Queensland is one of the best places in the world to study whole organism biology and ecology.
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