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Marine Biologist - Personal requirements

Kaimātai Koiora Moana

Skills & knowledge

Marine biologists need to have:

knowledge of marine science, biology, and chemistry
research skills
skill in analysing and interpreting research results and other information
problem-solving skills
planning and organisational skills
communication skills
writing skills, for writing reports and for publications
maths and computer skills.

Marine biologists need practical skills for performing experiments and operating scientific equipment

Photo courtesy of NIWA

Personal Qualities

Marine biologists need to be:

enquiring
observant
motivated
persistent
patient.

Physical Requirements

Marine biologists need to have good hand-eye co-ordination. They might also need to have a good level of fitness for doing fieldwork, such as diving.

"Think about the lifestyle you want – do you want to be indoors most of the time, outdoors most of the time, or a mix? When you discover what's important to you, look at jobs that fit those things. There are jobs in biology that are suitable for all kinds of people."

Sue Clearwater - Aquatic Biologist

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Updated October 2009

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