Marine Biologist

A marine biologist studies life in the ocean and other saltwater environments, from tiny plankton to whales. Work might involve collecting samples at sea, diving to survey coral reefs, analyzing data in a lab, tracking animal populations, or writing reports and grant proposals. Time is often split between fieldwork and indoor work such as computer analysis and writing. Some marine biologists also teach, work with the public at aquariums, or advise on protecting coastal areas. Plenty of the job is unglamorous, like cleaning equipment and entering data, but it all supports the discoveries.