Published occupation directory
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Showing 1–24 of 27 published occupations · page 1 of 2
Natural sciences and research
Biologists study living organisms and the systems they belong to, from cells and genes up to whole populations. Much of the work is designing studies, running them carefully enough that someone else could repeat them, and writing up what the results actually support. Specialisms vary widely, so two biologists can have very little day-to-day overlap.
Natural sciences and research
Microbiologists study bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other organisms too small to see without a microscope. The work spans identifying what is growing in a sample, testing how organisms respond to conditions or treatments, and confirming that products, water, or clinical specimens meet safety standards. Sterile technique and meticulous record-keeping matter as much as the science.
Natural sciences and research
Biochemists study the chemical processes inside living things: how proteins fold, how enzymes behave, how a drug candidate interacts with a target. The work is heavily instrument-based and iterative: most experiments fail or return ambiguous results before a clean one lands. Roles sit in universities, hospitals, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical research.
Natural sciences and research
Chemists investigate what substances are made of and how they behave, whether that means developing a new formulation or confirming that a batch matches specification. Analytical roles lean towards testing and method validation; research roles lean towards synthesis and problem-solving. Both involve strict handling procedures for hazardous materials.
Natural sciences and research
Laboratory technicians run the tests and keep the laboratory working: preparing samples, operating equipment, and recording results against defined procedures. The role is procedural by design, because reliability of the method is the point. It is one of the most common ways into scientific work without a research degree.
Natural sciences and research
Research assistants carry out the practical work of a study under the direction of a lead researcher: collecting data, running procedures, and keeping records that stand up to scrutiny. The role exists across university, hospital, government, and commercial research settings, and the subject matter varies with the project. Posts are frequently tied to the funding period of a specific study.
Natural sciences and research
Physicists investigate matter, energy, and the rules that govern them, either through experiment or through mathematical and computational modelling. Applied roles put that reasoning to work in areas such as medical imaging, instrumentation, optics, or energy systems. Much of the day is spent on mathematics, code, and instrument work rather than at a whiteboard.
Natural sciences and research
Astronomers study objects and processes beyond Earth using telescope observations, archival survey data, and simulations. In practice the work is dominated by writing code, handling very large datasets, and applying for observing time or funding. Instrument and software development is a substantial part of many posts.
Natural sciences and research
Geologists study the composition, structure, and history of the ground, and what that means for building on it, extracting from it, or protecting it. Work usually alternates between field campaigns, laboratory analysis of samples, and desk-based interpretation and reporting. Roles sit in consultancy, resources, government surveys, and infrastructure projects.
Natural sciences and research
Geophysicists use physical measurements (seismic, magnetic, gravity, electrical) to work out what lies beneath the surface without digging it up. The work is strongly quantitative: acquiring survey data, processing it through signal-processing chains, and interpreting the result alongside geological evidence. Applications range from resource exploration and engineering site investigation to earthquake and hazard monitoring.
Natural sciences and research
Hydrologists study how water moves through and is stored in the environment: rivers, aquifers, catchments, and the systems built around them. The work supports flood risk assessment, water supply planning, contamination investigation, and environmental permitting. It combines field measurement with modelling and a good deal of regulatory reporting.
Natural sciences and research
Meteorologists study the atmosphere and turn observations and model output into forecasts and warnings. Operational forecasting runs around the clock and carries real consequences for aviation, shipping, emergency services, and the public. Research meteorology focuses instead on improving the models and understanding atmospheric processes.
Natural sciences and research
Oceanographers study the physics, chemistry, geology, and biology of the sea and how those systems interact. Fieldwork can mean extended time at sea deploying and recovering instruments in demanding conditions, followed by long stretches of data processing ashore. Specialisms differ sharply, so a physical oceanographer and a biological one share methods more than subject matter.
Natural sciences and research
Ecologists study how organisms interact with each other and with their surroundings, and what changes when habitats are altered. Consultancy work is often tied to development projects: surveying a site, assessing impact, and recommending mitigation. Survey work is seasonal and weather-dependent, with report writing filling the rest of the year.
Natural sciences and research
Environmental scientists investigate how human activity affects air, water, soil, and ecosystems, and what can be done about it. A large share of the work is regulatory: site investigations, permit applications, monitoring programmes, and impact assessments. Findings usually have to be defensible to a regulator, not just scientifically interesting.
Natural sciences and research
Marine biologists study organisms that live in the sea and the habitats that support them, from plankton and coral to fish stocks and marine mammals. Fieldwork can involve boats, diving, or shore surveys, but a great deal of the role is sample processing, data analysis, and writing. Work often connects to fisheries management, conservation, or aquaculture rather than pure research.
Natural sciences and research
Botanists study plants: their classification, physiology, genetics, and distribution. Work ranges from herbarium and taxonomic study to plant breeding, crop improvement, and vegetation survey. Accurate identification is central, and in survey roles it is a skill built over years rather than taught in a single course.
Natural sciences and research
Zoologists study animals (their behaviour, physiology, genetics, and populations) in the wild, in collections, or in the laboratory. Field roles involve survey, trapping, tagging, and long hours in variable conditions; others are laboratory or analysis-based. Much applied work supports conservation management, disease surveillance, or animal welfare decisions.
Natural sciences and research
Toxicologists study how chemicals, drugs, and other substances affect living systems, and at what exposure levels effects appear. The work supports safety assessment for medicines, chemicals, and consumer products, as well as forensic and clinical investigation. Regulatory toxicology in particular involves close work with defined testing frameworks and dossier requirements.
Natural sciences and research
Epidemiologists study patterns of disease and health in populations and what explains them. The work is largely quantitative (study design, surveillance data, and statistical analysis), and it feeds directly into public health decisions. Outbreak roles can be intense and time-pressured; surveillance and research roles are steadier.
Natural sciences and research
Food scientists study the composition, processing, safety, and shelf life of food and drink products. Development roles work on new or reformulated products; technical roles focus on safety, specification, and compliance with food standards. Both sit close to production, so factory time is part of the job.
Natural sciences and research
Materials scientists study the structure and properties of metals, polymers, ceramics, and composites, and how processing changes them. The work includes developing new materials, selecting the right one for an application, and investigating why a component failed. It sits between science and engineering, so results usually have to be usable by a design or production team.
Natural sciences and research
Statisticians design studies and analyses so that the conclusions drawn from data are actually supported by it. Applied roles sit across medicine, government, agriculture, and industry, and much of the value is in the planning stage rather than the final analysis. A recurring part of the job is explaining uncertainty to people who would prefer a single number.
Natural sciences and research
Clinical research coordinators run the day-to-day operation of clinical studies at a site: recruiting and consenting participants, scheduling visits, and keeping documentation audit-ready. The role is as much about protocol discipline and paperwork as about science, because a study is only usable if it was run and recorded correctly. It sits at the point where research and patient care meet.
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