How To Become A Molecular Biology Professor: What It Is and Career Path

What is a molecular biology professor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Roy Carriker Ph.D.

The center of all programs in molecular biology is topical seminars, academic study, and hands-on laboratory experiments. Studies in this area may lead to careers in a lab or school setting. Molecular biology professors offer lessons in this field so students can understand the importance of this subject and enable them to reach the career that they want. This includes teaching students who are involved in teaching and research, or both.

On a daily basis, molecular biology professors analyze the student's laboratory work and assignments in order to give them feedback and ratings according to the grading system. They also prepare and give lectures on subjects that focus on molecular biology to undergraduate or graduate students. They prepare classroom work and instructional tools such as syllabi and handouts as well.

Aside from their typical day, molecular biology professors often act as advisers to student organizations. Many of them oversee the laboratory work of students. Responsibilities for this role can vary depending on the organization or work environment but certain professors hold regular operating hours to help counsel and assist students. They can expect to work more than 40 hours a week in an average work week.

What general advice would you give to a molecular biology professor?

Roy Carriker Ph.D.

Visiting Professor, Drexel University

The best advice I can give a graduate at the beginning of their career is to keep looking ahead and assessing the path forward. Just because you started your career as a chemist or in supply chain management doesn't necessarily mean you have to stick with that path the rest of your life.

In fact, the pace of change in the world suggests you may have several careers in your lifetime. I have practiced what I preach - starting life as a physicist, pivoting to an entrepreneurial endeavor, pivoting again to a global corporate career, pivoting again to venture capital, and finally giving back through education. Each of these steps grew me as a person and were exciting, as well as rewarding. Remember in pivoting, you don't lose what you have learned and experienced; you have it to build on.

ScoreMolecular Biology ProfessorUS Average

Salary

5.9

Avg. Salary $75,849

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

3.5

Growth rate 12%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.64%

Asian 17.21%

Black or African American 2.66%

Hispanic or Latino 7.43%

Unknown 5.12%

White 66.94%

Gender

female 44.23%

male 55.77%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

3.5

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.6

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a molecular biology professor

Explore molecular biology professor education requirements

Most common molecular biology professor degrees

Bachelor's

58.5 %

Master's

22.0 %

Doctorate

14.6 %

Start to develop specific molecular biology professor skills

Skills	Percentages
Molecular Biology	81.36%
Cell Culture	7.63%
PCR	5.65%
RNA	3.67%
Blot	1.69%

Complete relevant molecular biology professor training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New molecular biology professors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a molecular biology professor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real molecular biology professor resumes.

Research molecular biology professor duties and responsibilities

Manage externally fund genome sequencing projects as a principal investigator.
Used RNAseq to sequence brain tissue RNA samples from autistic patients.
Characterize recombinant human CPP32 to understand processing and activation by western blot analysis and activity assays.
Prepare PowerPoint presentations with TurningPoint questions and lecture students.

Apply for molecular biology professor jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a molecular biology professor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams