Molecular and Cellular Biologists
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Most of the work happens at the bench: following protocols for DNA sequencing, cloning and extraction, RNA purification, or gel electrophoresis, then interpreting what the results say about gene expression, cell signaling, or how cells differentiate. They design the experiments, keep detailed lab records, and write up findings as reports, manuscripts, or talks. Grant writing is part of keeping the research funded, and many also instruct students and organize the lab's day-to-day work. Suits people who like careful, protocol-driven lab work and who can both solve scientific problems and write clearly about what they found.
Typical education: Bachelor’s Degree (4-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$98'920
Median Wage Market Position
$98'920
What you might do
- Research gene expression and cell signaling
- Sequence DNA, clone genes, and purify RNA
- Design molecular lab experiments and interpret results
- Keep records of molecular lab procedures
- Write grant applications for cell biology work
- Teach students cellular and molecular methods
Skills that matter
- Sequencing, cloning, and extracting DNA
- Purifying RNA and running gel electrophoresis
- Researching cell signaling and gene expression
- Writing grants and research manuscripts
- Teaching cellular and molecular biology students
- Organizing and prioritizing laboratory work
AI & the future of this role
Imaging review, literature scans, and assay readout analysis could increasingly lean on automated tools. Wet-lab technique, careful experimental design, and interpreting unexpected cell behavior still rely on trained judgment that is harder to automate.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details