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Biologist
A biologist is an expert on some aspect of the science of biology, the discipline dealing with the study of living organisms and their vital processes.
Research within this field attempts to understand organisms at all levels: for example, how they reproduce; how new types of organisms arise in a natural setting and how they can be artificially bred; how they ingest and process food; their classification and relationship through descent; their behavior, geographic distribution, physical appearance, chemical composition, and metabolism; their macroscopic and microscopic structure. Scientists of this type also study such questions as the interactions of organisms, particularly with regard to how microorganisms cause human disease. To see a list of the major branches of this field, click here.
Most, but not all biologists, have laboratories. Those who don't may be concerned with purely theoretical issues or they may conduct their research on computers. Others play a role in supervising or facilitating the activities of other scientists, or they may spend their time "in the field" making observations or collecting samples in a natural setting. Scientists of this last type often face harsh environmental conditions and/or strenuous physical labor.
Even those who typically do carry out their work indoors in a laboratory are commonly exposed to a wide variety of hazards such as infectious or otherwise dangerous organisms, toxic chemicals, and tissue-damaging radiation (in particular, x-rays, ultraviolet light, and radioactive isotopes).
Actually, although it is widely supposed that all real scientists must conduct research, many professional scientists do not in any way actively collect new information about natural phenomena. Many teach full-time and do no research whatsoever. Nor do many others, for example, school and university administrators, engage in research.
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