Entomological Research Scientist
Entomological Research Scientist
Career Overview
Entomological Research Scientists study insects, their biology, behavior, genetics, diseases, and relationships with plants, animals, and ecosystems. They conduct laboratory and field research to understand insects, control pests, protect crops, monitor ecosystems, and develop new approaches to agriculture, public health, and conservation. Modern entomologists use DNA analysis, AI, advanced imaging, GIS, drones, sensors, and data analytics to study insects and their impact on the environment.
Education
A bachelor's degree in entomology, biology, zoology, environmental science, or a related field is usually the starting point. A master's degree or Ph.D. is often needed for advanced research, university teaching, or leading scientific projects. Research experience, laboratory skills, and specialized training can help prepare you for this career.
Work Environment
Entomological Research Scientists work in universities, government agencies, museums, agricultural organizations, environmental research centres, laboratories, and private companies. Their work can involve laboratory experiments, field research, collecting insect samples, analyzing data, and working outdoors in forests, farms, wetlands, or other ecosystems. Some researchers travel to study insects in different environments or respond to emerging agricultural, environmental, or public-health concerns.
Future Outlook
Insects affect agriculture, food production, ecosystems, biodiversity, and human health, so research will remain important as environmental conditions and pest populations change. New technologies such as genetic analysis, AI, automated imaging, drones, GIS, and environmental sensors are giving scientists faster and more precise ways to identify, track, and understand insects. Students who combine biology with data science, technology, environmental science, and research skills can find opportunities in agriculture, conservation, biotechnology, public health, and environmental management.
Recommended High School Courses
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Math
- Communication
- Environmental Science
- Geography
- Science
- Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
- Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Management of Personnel Resources - Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
- Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
- Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
- Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
- Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
- Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
- Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
- Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
- Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
- Memorization - The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
- Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Number Facility - The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
- Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
- Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Visual Color Discrimination - The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
- Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Communicate results of environmental research.
- Prepare research or technical reports on environmental issues.
- Develop collaborative relationships between departments or with external organizations.
- Conduct research of processes in natural or industrial ecosystems.
- Collect environmental data or samples.
- Plan biological research.
- Supervise scientific or technical personnel.
- Classify organisms based on their characteristics or behavior.
- Examine characteristics or behavior of living organisms.
- Write grant proposals.
- Communicate with government agencies.
- Provide technical information or assistance to public.
- Research environmental impact of industrial or development activities.
- Prepare proposal documents or grant applications.
- Analyze chemical compounds or substances.
- Develop plans to manage natural or renewable resources.
- Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
- Instruct college students in physical or life sciences.
- Review plans or proposals for environmental conservation.
- Research diseases or parasites.
- Develop biological research methods.
Schools
Clemson University
Kansas State University-...
Michigan State University
North Carolina State Univ...
Ohio State University-mai...
Oklahoma State University
Purdue University-main Ca...
Rutgers University- New B...
University Of California-...
University Of California-...
University Of Delaware
University Of Georgia
University Of Illinois At...
University Of Nebraska- L...
University Of Wisconsin-...
Acadia University
Lakehead University- O...
University Of Alberta
University Of Manitoba
Potential Scholarships
5 Strong Scholarship
Agnes M. Lindsay Scholars...
- Traditional Fulbright P...
Approx Salary Expectation
Low End:
$49,000.00 /yr
Avg/Med:
$77,000.00 /yr
High End:
$126,000.00 /yr
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.