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Scientific database curator education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a scientific database curator. Scientific database curators usually study biology, microbiology, or biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology. 47% of scientific database curators hold a bachelor's degree, and 28% hold an doctoral degree. We analyzed 42 real scientific database curator resumes to see exactly what scientific database curator education sections show.

The most common colleges for scientific database curators are the Baylor University and the Baylor University.

There are also many online scientific database curator courses to help get the education required to be a scientific database curator.

What education do you need to become a scientific database curator?

What degree do you need to be a scientific database curator?

The most common degree for scientific database curators is bachelor's degree, with 47% of scientific database curators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are doctoral degree degree at 28% and doctoral degree degree at 16%.
  • Bachelor's, 47%
  • Doctorate, 28%
  • Master's, 16%
  • Diploma, 9%

What should I major in to become a scientific database curator?

You should major in biology to become a scientific database curator. 20% of scientific database curators major in biology. Other common majors for a scientific database curator include microbiology and biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology.

Most common colleges for scientific database curators

Scientific database curators often get their degrees at Baylor University, Miami University, and Northwestern University. Here are the most common colleges for scientific database curators in the US based on their resumes.
Scientific database curator common collegePercentages
Baylor University5.56%
Miami University5.56%
Northwestern University5.56%
Purdue University5.56%
University of Vermont5.56%

Best majors for scientific database curators

Best colleges for scientific database curators

The best colleges for scientific database curators are Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, and Johns Hopkins University.

A scientific database curator with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for scientific database curators. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become scientific database curators.

1. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

3. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

4. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$54,104

Enrollment

7,089

5. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

6. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$53,740

Enrollment

5,567

7. Tufts University

Medford, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,382

Enrollment

5,597

8. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

9. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

10. University of California, Irvine

Irvine, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$13,700

Enrollment

29,722

20 best online courses for scientific database curators

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1. AI for Scientific Research

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In the AI for Scientific Research specialization, we'll learn how to use AI in scientific situations to discover trends and patterns within datasets. Course 1 teaches a little bit about the Python language as it relates to data science. We'll share some existing libraries to help analyze your datasets. By the end of the course, you'll apply a classification model to predict the presence or absence of heart disease from a patient's health data. Course 2 covers the complete machine learning...

2. SQL: A Practical Introduction for Querying Databases

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Much of the world's data lives in databases. SQL (or Structured Query Language) is a powerful programming language that is used for communicating with and manipulating data in databases. A working knowledge of databases and SQL is a must for anyone who wants to start a career in Data Engineering, Data Warehousing, Data Analytics, Data Science or Business Intelligence. The purpose of this course is to help you learn and apply foundational and intermediate knowledge of the SQL language, and...

3. MySQL Database Administration: Beginner SQL Database Design

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4.6
(2,750)

Learn Database Design with My SQL Workbench. SQL DBA for Beginners: A Relational Database Management System Introduction...

4. Complete Microsoft SQL Server Database Design Masterclass

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4.6
(2,090)

Database Design SQL Server T-SQL Database Tables Foreign Keys SQL CRUD Views Triggers Stored Procedures...

5. Data Warehousing with Oracle: Design a Database

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This Guided Project Data Warehousing with Oracle: Design a Database for Business Intelligence is for learners who have database administration and data warehousing experience but want to learn more about designing databases and models for business intelligence. In this 1.5-hour long project-based course, you will learn how to evaluate the guiding principles of data warehousing, summarize data from multiple sources, and apply data warehouse business intelligence tools. To achieve this, we will...

6. Experimental Methods in Systems Biology

coursera

Learn about the technologies underlying experimentation used in systems biology, with particular focus on RNA sequencing, mass spec-based proteomics, flow/mass cytometry and live-cell imaging. A key driver of the systems biology field is the technology allowing us to delve deeper and wider into how cells respond to experimental perturbations. This in turns allows us to build more detailed quantitative models of cellular function, which can give important insight into applications ranging from...

7. Database Programming with Python

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4.4
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Learn how to integrate free and enterprise databases into your Python workflow including SQLite, My SQL, and SQL Server...

8. Complete SQL and Databases Bootcamp: Zero to Mastery [2023]

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4.6
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Master SQL, Database Management & Design and learn to work with databases like Postgre SQL, My SQL + more. With Exercises!...

9. Databases for Data Scientists

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Whether you are a beginning programmer with an interest in Data Science, a data scientist working closely with content experts, or a software developer seeking to learn about the database layer of the stack this specialization is for you! We focus on the relational database which is the most widely used type of database. Relational databases have dominated the database software marketplace for nearly four decades and form a core, foundational part of software development. In this specialization...

10. SQL for Beginners: Learn SQL using MySQL and Database Design

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4.5
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Understand SQL using the My SQL database. Learn Database Design and Data Analysis with Normalization and Relationships...

11. Advanced SQL Database Administration with MySQL Workbench

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4.7
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Master SQL database design & advanced database management systems to build and maintain databases w/ real-world projects...

12. SQL Tutorial: Learn SQL with MySQL Database - Updated (2023)

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4.4
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Learn SQL and Database Development to work effectively in DBMS like My SQL, SQL Server, Oracle, Postgre SQL, DB2 etc...

13. C# Database Driven WinForm Apps (step by step projects)

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4.8
(327)

Project-based Learning: how to use C# Windows Forms and Microsoft Access Database to create small database driven apps...

14. Complete Microsoft SQL Server Database Administration Course

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4.5
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Become SQL database certified (MCSA and MTA certification)...

15. Database Design

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4.3
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Learn relational database Design with practical concepts and examples. This series works with any database system!...

16. Microsoft SQL Database Bootcamp: Get Microsoft Certified

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4.3
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Beginner to Intermediate Level - Pass Your Microsoft Technology Associate Database Exam...

17. Oracle Database Administrator DBA

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Oracle Database Administration DBA become Oracle Database Administrator, Oracle DBA and get six figures jobs as DBA...

18. Oracle database utilities - Perform data export / Import

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4.5
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Learn Oracle utilities to move data from one database to another...

19. Learn SQL For Oracle Databases - Using Toad From Scratch

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Learn how to communicate with oracle databases using Toad for Oracle . Learn how to create,read,update and delete data...

20. Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Databases - 70-462

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4.5
(317)

Learn how to build and use databases in SQL Server platform...

Top 10 most affordable universities for scientific database curators

The most affordable schools for scientific database curators are California State University - Long Beach, university of florida, and brigham young university.

If the best universities for scientific database curators are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for scientific database curators.

1. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

3. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

4. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

5. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

6. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

7. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Cost of attendance

25,275

8. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Cost of attendance

25,527

9. California State University - Northridge

Northridge, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,893

Cost of attendance

18,870

10. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for scientific database curators

The hardest universities for scientific database curators to get into are Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, and Johns Hopkins University.

Some great schools for scientific database curators are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for scientific database curators based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

3. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

4. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

5. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

6. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

7. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,456

8. Tufts University

Medford, MA • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,461

9. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

10. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for scientific database curators

The easiest schools for scientific database curators to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, university of houston - downtown, and grand view university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a scientific database curator without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for scientific database curators.

1. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

2. University of Houston - Downtown

Houston, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,012

3. Grand View University

Des Moines, IA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,060

4. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

5. Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,099

6. Curry College

Milton, MA • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,026

7. San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,054

8. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

9. Augusta University

Augusta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

80%

SAT average

1,172

10. Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

1,086

Average scientific database curator salary by education level

Scientific database curators with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $75,233 annually. With a Master's degree, scientific database curators earn a median annual income of $61,050 compared to $54,099 for scientific database curators with an Bachelor's degree.
Scientific database curator education levelScientific database curator salary
Master's Degree$61,050
Bachelor's Degree$54,099
Doctorate Degree$75,233

Scientific database curator education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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