Molecular and Cellular Biologists

Research and study cellular molecules and organelles to understand cell function and organization.

Most important skills

Science
Reading Comprehension
Writing
Critical Thinking
Active Listening
Speaking
Complex Problem Solving
Judgment and Decision Making

Key knowledge

Biology
English Language
Chemistry
Mathematics
Education and Training
Computers and Electronics
Medicine and Dentistry
Administration and Management

What the work involves

Verify all financial, physical, and human resources assigned to research or development projects are used as planned.
Evaluate new supplies and equipment to ensure operability in specific laboratory settings.
Develop guidelines for procedures such as the management of viruses.
Coordinate molecular or cellular research activities with scientists specializing in other fields.
Supervise technical personnel and postdoctoral research fellows.
Provide scientific direction for project teams regarding the evaluation or handling of devices, drugs, or cells for in vitro and in vivo disease models.
Perform laboratory procedures following protocols including deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequencing, cloning and extraction, ribonucleic acid (RNA) purification, or gel electrophoresis.
Monitor or operate specialized equipment, such as gas chromatographs and high pressure liquid chromatographs, electrophoresis units, thermocyclers, fluorescence activated cell sorters, and phosphorimagers.

Strongest interest areas (O*NET): Investigative, Conventional, Realistic.

Qualifications and licensing

Most common education: Bachelor's Degree (34.6% of respondents)
Related experience: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (30.8%)
On-the-job training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (30.8%)
Preparation level: O*NET job zone 5: Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Licensing: Not yet verified. Check your state licensing board.

Check before planning

Licensing for Molecular and Cellular Biologists is not yet verified for any state: check the state licensing board before planning.
Projection education uses SOC 19-1029 (detailed_parent); it may describe a broader group.

Limits

Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0

Work environment

How the typical conditions of this occupation compare with 911 occupations in O*NET (very low = the lowest fifth).

Levels are relative. Most occupations involve a lot of contact with people, for example, so “very low” can still mean regular contact; the last column shows what workers actually reported.

Rankings compare typical U.S. occupation-level work conditions; individual jobs and employers vary. Data: O*NET 31.0 Work Context and BLS wages (May 2025).
Condition	Level	Compared with other occupations	Most common answer (O*NET survey)
Contact with others	Very low	Lower on contact with others than 89% of occupations compared	35% of surveyed respondents chose “Contact with others most of the time”
Dealing with the public	Very low	Lower on dealing with the public than 90% of occupations compared	38% of surveyed respondents chose “Not important at all”
Teamwork	Low	Lower on teamwork than 65% of occupations compared	46% of surveyed respondents chose “Very important”
Freedom to make decisions	Low	Lower on freedom to make decisions than 69% of occupations compared	42% of surveyed respondents chose “Some freedom”
Time pressure	Very low	Lower on time pressure than 86% of occupations compared	42% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a month or more but not every week”
Conflict situations	Very low	Lower on conflict situations than 85% of occupations compared	65% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month”
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people	Very low	Lower on dealing with unpleasant or angry people than 90% of occupations compared	52% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month”
Consequence of error	Moderate	Lower on consequence of error than 55% of occupations compared	31% of surveyed respondents chose “Fairly serious”

Work-pressure profile

Time pressure: very low
Conflict situations: very low
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people: very low
Consequence of error: moderate

Each part is shown on its own. There is no combined stress score, and conditions vary by employer and role.

Full answer distributions