The world is changing fast in the wildlife kingdom and we need to be able to help wildlife thrive in their natural habitat. We couldn’t do this without the help of wildlife biologist and zoologist. These professionals study the characteristics and behavior of animals – gaining a better understanding of how they interact with each other and their environments. Through breeding programs, informational presentations, and collecting and analyzing biological specimens, zoologists and wildlife biologists work on the front lines of the effort to preserve our planet’s biodiversity.
Research and development managers help organizations determine if an undertaking will meet business goals. Think about your favorite flavor of ice cream. A research and development manager was likely tasked with overseeing important research into its development – the cost of the ingredients, analyzing consumer trends on nutrition and flavors, and finding efficient and cost-effective methods to produce it. Their findings enable businesses to make informed decisions and make products people love.
If you are curious and creative, then being a research scientists could be the path for you! They can be found working across every industry, from biology and chemistry to environmental science, pharmacology, physics, computer science and even history. They plan and conduct research by formulating hypotheses, conducting experiments and analyzing the results in order to expand knowledge. They may work for environmental agencies, food companies, universities, government entities or on publicly funded research projects.
Are you a natural leader who loves technology? Do you thrive helping others reach their goals? If you answered yes to both, you might want to consider a position as a scrum master. They ensure that the daily projects related to software development are completed efficiently and effectively. They work with all areas of a company to create a seamless collaboration with the software development team. They remove obstacles that might delay the team’s goals and help the team align their work to the company objectives.
Software engineering architects are visionaries and planners, ensuring organizations have a software infrastructure that supports their unique business needs. With an understanding of goals and functional needs, they research and design customized software solutions, oversee development and implementation and ensure on-going functionality. With an eye to the future, they ensure that software systems are able to evolve with changing trends and emerging technologies.
Application software developers are the creative minds behind the apps we use every day, and not just the ones on our smartphones. Word processors, games and even internet browsers are all examples of programs created by application software developers. These professionals analyze the needs of businesses and consumers, then leverage their skills in computer science and software engineering to design, test and develop applications that meet those needs.
Just like a theater set designer does for stage production, systems software developers work behind-the-scenes, designing the operating software that enables daily technology production – computers, phones, tablets, routers and more – to work; basically anything that has a chip in it requires a systems software developer to make it operate. Applying the principles of computer science, mathematical analysis and engineering, these professionals research, design, develop and test operating system components, drivers and debuggers to ensure that the daily technology show always go on.
Technical problems usually don’t have a one-size-fits-all solution and that’s especially true for businesses and organizations with large scale software systems. It’s the job of solutions architects to understand user or functionality issues and resolve them by researching, designing and managing the implementation of solutions. Their work ensures that organizations are able to maximize efficiency and achieve their goals.
Civilizations have relied on the work of statisticians for thousands of years, dating as far back as the Ancient Egyptians, who employed statisticians to census cattle. Currently, we rely on statisticians to help us to better understand the world around us, viewing data as a puzzle that can be applied to various situation – from science, to public health, agriculture, marketing and more. Statisticians analyze and interpret data in order to draw conclusions, make predictions, tracks trends and provide information.
We only have one earth, and it’s important that we protect it by being environmentally responsible. It’s the role of sustainability specialists to help businesses implement green and sustainable practices that reduce a company’s environmental footprint, ensure compliance with regulations and meet organizational goals and objectives
Toxicology is often referred to as the “Science of Safety” – toxicologists use the power of science to test and predict how various chemicals may cause harm. These scientists typically have a strong understanding of science and biology – working primarily in laboratory settings to study the effects and proper doses of substances ranging from pesticides to prescription drugs. Toxicologists play a key role in protecting public health, the environment and animal welfare.
Veterinary pathologists diagnose diseases by going straight to the source—they examine animal tissues and body fluids. Veterinary pathology is divided into two branches: anatomical pathology (examination of organs, tissues and bodies) and clinical pathology (examination and urine and blood). This isn’t for the faint of heart—veterinary pathologists are the crux of sustaining animal health.
Process engineers are critical thinkers and problem solvers – applying scientific principles and mathematics to improve processes that develop the products we enjoy every day. Whether turning milk into cheese or oil into gasoline, these professionals specialize in maximizing the efficiency of transforming raw materials into final products. These innovations keep overhead as low as possible for production companies and prices down for consumers.
When organizations are faced with mission critical IT projects—information technology architects serve as their captain. They are both visionary leaders and tech gurus, shaping information systems around the unique needs and challenges of organizations, testing and modifying their plans as needed. IT architects are leaders and communicators, providing oversight and guidance to achieve system goals.
From plane engines to big data precision agriculture, every large operating system needs an expert “mechanic.” IT configurators work to understand an organization’s goals, identify “gaps” in current software functionality and then implement solutions by configuring and optimizing software programs. They may oversee and manage the configuration of new and existing software, evaluate program versions and ensure that ongoing functionality is consistently improved.
Are you a great collaborator, coach and communicator? Then you might want to consider being an IT project manager. They are multi-taskers who oversee technology projects from start to finish. They ensure that large-scale projects run smoothly, working cross-functionally to ensure that technologies and supporting tasks are implemented on time, budget and meet goals.
Studies show that online users only take 50 milliseconds to decide whether they will remain or leave a website. Web designers guide businesses on how to create sites that capitalize on that snap decision. Armed with a combination of graphic design and technical skills, web designers create relevant, functional and engaging online experiences that represent an organization’s brand image and engage its target audience.
Manufacturing engineers use their prowess for efficiency to improve agricultural processes and systems. From manufacturing and industrial machines to entire greenhouse systems, they’re everyone’s go-to on making things work. And they know that the more efficiently and responsibly we use our resources, the greater impact we can have on the world.
Mechanical engineers are true mathematical thinkers. They combine their knowledge of engineering, physics and math to create functional and efficient mechanical systems. From design to installation, maintenance and repair—these engineers keep the systems that operate our world running smoothly.
No detail is too small for a microbiologist; they’re experts on microorganisms like bacteria, fungi and algae. But they don’t stop at the nitty gritty—they take their knowledge of these microscopic creatures to see the bigger picture. With this greater understanding, microbiologists can change the world.
Ever wondered how DNA was discovered? That was the work of a molecular and cellular biologist! These scientists study cells’ interaction and their diverse functionality to discover what fuels and sustains life. Their research is applied across many areas—including genetically engineering new crops, applying DNA-based technology for animal breeding, addressing environmental health and so much more.
Centuries ago, ears of corn were less than an inch long and only produced about ten hard kernels that tasted like dry, raw potatoes. The corn we grow and eat today is 100 times larger, with about 800 sweet and juicy kernels. The evolution from a tiny, tasteless crop to a flavorful food staple is the work of plant geneticists. By selectively breeding crops based on desirable qualities – such as yield, flavor, size and nutrient value – plant geneticists improve and create new varieties of crops and plants.
Plant pathologists evaluate plant species from both a micro and macro level to determine pathogens affecting the life and production of the plant. This career is vital for the innovation of plant growth and production practices that protect individual plants and are environmental safe and effective.
The average grocery store carries over 47,000 products – that’s a lot of food and a lot of choices for shoppers. Production Food Development Specialists are responsible for creating new food strategies and products that will appeal to consumers. They oversee the entire product development process, from conducting market research and trends, to product testing, packaging and marketing. They are innovators and team players, collaborating across many cross-functional teams and groups.
Not all formulas are created equal—formulation requires a blend of both art and science. Formulation chemists study substances that do not react with each other—but have advantageous effects as a mixture; examples include pesticides, fertilizers, paints, cosmetics, etc. These scientists are curious about not only how a formula can be improved chemically, but how it can better serve both farmers’ and consumers’ evolving needs.
Consulted your GPS the last time you took a trip? Geospatial analytic scientists use this technology daily to develop advanced methods and products that interpret environmental data like moisture, terrain features and climatic conditions to automate farming processes. This emerging technological approach is the future of modern farming.
The number one cause of crop loss is fungi. Preventing crop loss is critical to our food supply, the food supply of production animals and our economy – which is why fungicide chemists are critical to farm production. Fungicide chemists formulate fungicides that prevent and kill harmful fungal parasites and diseases that pose a threat to crops and plants. They study chemical compounds to identify toxins that manage fungi and won’t harm plants, while adhering to environmental regulations.
The best websites are like sports cars – combining beautiful design with power under the hood. Most of the time, the mechanics who build the engine aren’t the same ones who craft the exterior, but in the world of web development, that’s exactly what full stack developers do. These experts are highly skilled in both front-end and back-end web development – designing the visible parts of websites while simultaneously constructing the behind-the-scenes infrastructure.
The human tongue has over 10,000 taste buds and flavor technologists want to appeal to them all! They’re responsible for formulating the flavorings that go into food, drinks and even pet products. Combining scientific and analytical tools with creativity, flavor technologists blend flavor chemicals and extracts to create flavorings and flavor profiles. They may enhance natural flavors, create new flavors, replicate existing flavors or mask unpleasant flavors.
Ever peeked inside a laptop or cell phone and wondered how it was created? It was likely the work of a computer hardware engineer. Using design methods, problem-solving and logic skills, computer hardware engineers build computer systems and their related components. From processors to memory devices, 3-D printers to self-driving combines, computer hardware engineers shape the future of computer technology.
Behind every website, application and piece of software is a computer programmer. All programs need operating instructions, and computer programmers write code that instructs them on what to do. When they aren’t writing code, computer programmers are typically busy maintaining existing programs, or diagnosing and fixing malfunctioning ones.
Every time a student searches the web, a nurse updates patient records or a farmer checks the weather forecast, they generate data. Data curators use their deep understanding of data applications to help businesses, organizations and IT professionals establish common goals and utilize this data to accomplish them. With more sophisticated ways to leverage the huge amounts of information we create, data curators help us become more efficient, informed and productive.
Computer users generate massive amounts of highly useful data, but less than one percent is ever analyzed and used. All this information has the potential to revolutionize the way we live our daily lives. It’s up to data processors to source, certify and formulate this data—enabling companies and organizations to harness its power and move innovation forward. With a high attention to detail and focus on communication—data processors are an integral part of any team.
Have you ever wondered how Netflix knows what shows “you might also like…”? That’s the work of a data scientist! They transform large amounts of unruly data so that useful information can be extracted. They’re responsible for cleaning data to remove inaccuracies and transforming it so that patterns and valuable insights can be obtained. The resulting information can be used to detect consumer or market trends, patterns and behaviors that will assist agbioscience companies in producing the best consumer products.
Do you see everyday products and find ways to improve them? Design engineers combine creativity with engineering principles; they research and develop ideas for new, more efficient products and seek ways to expand functionality in existing products – such as transferring a Fitbit to animals to help track health and productivity.
From Amazon’s servers crashing on Prime Day to Ellen DeGeneres’ famous Oscars selfie breaking Twitter, IT emergencies happen. Thankfully, devOps engineers are always thinking ahead and collaborating with developers and other IT staff to mitigate system downtimes and promote automation. Focused on system reliability, devOps engineers work behind the scenes – laying the groundwork that allow programs to run smoothly – writing code, and planning and executing maintenance, code deployments and migrations.
Flip on a light switch. Check the news on your smartphone. Stream a video. These everyday activities are made possible by the work of electrical engineers. They specialize in the technology of electricity—designing, developing, testing and producing electrical equipment and systems within a wide range of technologies. Do you like to create, solve and build? Electrical engineering might be right up your alley.
Streamed your playlist through portable speaker lately? Then you’ve encountered the work of an electronics engineer. Electronics engineers look at the challenges present in the ever-advancing world of technology and say, “bring it on!” Armed with a deep understanding of mathematics and science, these experts draw up theoretical designs of new and improved electronic equipment in nearly every industry imaginable.
When the environment is under attack, so is the air we breathe, the water we drink and the soil we use to grow our crops. Environmental scientists investigate potential environmental threats and create plans to prevent and fix them. They investigate issues like mysterious frog deformities and death of livestock due to soil contamination. As experts in natural science, they have the responsibility to act both as environmental advisors and advocates to companies and governments.
How do microorganisms in the fermentation process relate to food and medicine? Fermentation scientists have the answers for us. Always on the lookout for new uses for fermentation, they’re leaders in helping us connect the microscopic to the big picture.
If you’ve ever asked “Alexa, what’s the weather today?” then you’re familiar with the work of machine engineers. Machine engineers curate and program large data sets that ultimately function as the “brain” of artificial intelligence devices, allowing them to operate independently.
From blue jeans to insulin, chemistry is responsible for many of history’s most important scientific breakthroughs. As the detectives of the chemistry field, analytical chemists identify substances and how they behave. Their work is used in many industries both in and outside the laboratory – you can find analytical chemists working in forensic labs identifying evidence, in environmental labs testing for toxins and pollutants or in the animal pharmaceutical field developing new drugs to improve our pets’ health.
As animals’ lives improve, so does human quality of life, and the availability of nutritious food on our tables. Animal geneticists work to determine which traits are most desirable – such as greater resistance to disease, or higher milk output – then help to promote those traits through breeding programs.
If you have a passion for animals and a love for science, then an animal nutritionist may be the perfect career for you. Animal nutritionists spend their time analyzing behavior and growth of all species of animals to make decisions about their health and wellbeing. They provide producers and/or animal caretakers with feeding recommendations that will increase the quality of life for all animals.
If you are solutions-focused with a passion for animals, a career as an animal scientist could be a great fit for you. They research genetics, nutrition, growth, development and reproduction of domestic livestock and companion animals to better animal quality of life and well-being.
Comparing biochemists to biophysicists is like comparing apples to oranges – or actually – atoms to molecules. Biochemists study molecular functions, such as how cells metabolize chemical compounds, like food and medicine. Biophysicists focus on atomic functions, and how the laws of physics affect biology, like the effect of zero gravity on plants and animals.
How can we grow crops that resist disease, withstand droughts or yield larger produce? Bioengineers solve issues like these by enhancing or augmenting biological processes. This may mean working to develop a transgenic papaya that resists the ringspot virus, a strain of cotton plant that is able to tolerate herbicides or a type of popcorn that produces more kernels. In this way, bioengineers help improve the productivity of crops used for food, fiber and fuel.
We live on a truly miraculous planet – the perfect combination of breathable air, liquid water and the only known home to living organisms. Biologists study Earth’s life in all its forms, from bacteria to horses and everything in between. They seek to understand how living things came to exist, how they function, what they do, and how they’re impacted by external factors. Because of biologists, we have a better understanding of the planet we call home.
Are you curious about the world around you and excel at solving problems using math and biology? You may have what it takes to be a biostatistician. A biostatistician is someone who uses mathematics and statistics to explore and solve problems in biology. They design experiments in the fields of agriculture, environment and human healthcare to solve problems that will make life better for us all.
Chemical engineers are in the business of making chemical manufacturing safe and efficient. They design chemical plant equipment and create processes for chemicals and products that are essential to everyday manufacturing—gasoline, rubber, plastics, detergents, cement, paper and more. And they do it all by applying principles and technology of chemistry, physics and engineering.
Chemists are the leaders in the lab, with the ability to think both qualitatively and quantitatively. Known for their high quality standards, they produce chemical analyses that allow us to continually discover and deepen our knowledge about the world we live in. We only get one Earth—and with a chemist’s help—we understand it more deeply and can make better decisions for how we treat it.
Cloud computing is a necessity in today’s business landscape, and cloud engineers are the experts in all things cloud-based. “Should I take storage from my computer to the cloud?” “Is my data information secure?” These are problems and questions that cloud engineers solve through managing, planning, building and monitoring cloud systems.
Computational biologists use data and experimentation to construct models of complex biological systems and processes—all with the intent to make new discoveries about how living things function. These scientists identify and challenge assumptions, innovate and test solutions, changing the way we understand the world around us.
You’ve probably heard of virtual reality, but how about virtual chemistry? Computational chemists conduct research and experiments virtually, using computer simulations to build and study chemicals and their behavior. This allows scientists to perform experiments that would otherwise be too dangerous, impractical or expensive to conduct—making research more efficient and paving the way for new discoveries and innovations.
Did you know that the first computer took 3 years to build and weighed over 50 tons?! Thanks to the work of computer and information research scientists, computers are now small enough to fit on your wrist, and process data 100,000 times faster. These scientists develop innovative ways to improve the efficiency and functionality of complex computing systems, enabling us to access information more quickly, store data more securely and automate tasks and processes. Their work advances agriculture, healthcare, business and education, helping make all aspects of life more productive.
Technology makes a lot of our daily tasks easier, but reaching better solutions takes a creative mind that also understands how things work. Today’s modern agriculture needs individuals who can combine and use creativity and mechanical knowledge to solve agricultural problems concerning power supplies, the efficiency of machinery, the use of structures and facilities, pollution and environmental issues, and the storage and processing of agricultural products.
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