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Senior biologist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

Quoted experts

Lara Pacifici Ph.D.,

Joseph Kezele

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical senior biologist skills. We ranked the top skills for senior biologists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 28.3% of senior biologist resumes contained renewable energy as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a senior biologist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 senior biologist skills for your resume and career

1. Renewable Energy

Here's how senior biologists use renewable energy:

Managed biological teams on renewable energy generation and transmission projects throughout the Great Plains, Rocky Mountains, and Desert Southwest.
Developed outline for potential renewable energy (wind farm) impacts as well as addressing fish and fisheries-related impacts.

2. Data Collection

Data collection means to analyze and collect all the necessary information. It helps in carrying out research and in storing important and necessary information. The most important goal of data collection is to gather the information that is rich and accurate for statistical analysis.

Here's how senior biologists use data collection:

Managed and supervised data collection and field investigations of animal and plant distribution, recreation impacts, and public input.
Tested, validated, and wrote the SOP for the new computerized learning and memory data collection system.

3. Species ACT

The Species Act refers to the Endangered Species Act, which determines whether a particular species is endangered or threatened. If the species qualifies for the categorization, then any hunting, gathering, or selling of the species is prohibited and protected under federal law. In addition to entire species, the act can protect certain subspecies as well as habitats that are critically endangered.

Here's how senior biologists use species act:

Prepare technical biological reports to include biologicalreviews, biological evaluations/assessments and informal Endangered Species Act (ESA)consultations.
Assisted NRCS State Biologist with wetland delineations and consultation with listed species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

4. Research Projects

Here's how senior biologists use research projects:

Direct funded research projects as principal investigator.
Managed all aspects of protocol driven research projects conducted under Standard Operating Procedures and the Good Laboratory Practices guidelines.

5. Sops

A standard operating procedure or simply SOP is a particular operation that needs to be done in accordance with the rules and guidelines of a company or an industry. It is an important way for a company to run smoothly, especially in small businesses. It is like a practice wherein everything an individual or an employee is under a particular standard that is implemented.

Here's how senior biologists use sops:

Assisted in writing and review of relevant SOPs.
Assist in the development of instructions, procedures, protocols, SOPs, and batch records for manufacturing use.

6. Cell-Based Assays

Here's how senior biologists use cell-based assays:

Perform various immunological and cell-based assays to support client research.
Developed bioassay protocols for bacterial and mammalian cell-based assays.

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7. GIS

A geographic information system (GIS) is a tool for capturing, storing, manipulating, analyzing, managing and presenting various forms of geographic data.

Here's how senior biologists use gis:

Used CAD and GIS to assist in land planning and development, specifically in soil and watershed mapping.
Provide support to senior biologist Preparing reports Database management GIS

8. Laboratory Practices

Here's how senior biologists use laboratory practices:

Reviewed and prepare Work Instructions and Standard Operating Procedures that govern laboratory practices and equipment maintenance.

9. FDA

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a division of the US Department of Health and Human Services that regulates the production and sale of food, pharmaceutical products, medical equipment, and other consumer goods, as well as veterinary medicine. The FDA is now in charge of overseeing the manufacture of products like vaccines, allergy treatments, and beauty products.

Here's how senior biologists use fda:

Identified several of FDA approved drugs using systems biology tools for repurposing asTGF- signaling modulators for cancer treatment.
Supported COX-2 franchise and submitted annual non-clinical pharmacology updates to regulatory group for FDA submission.

10. GPS

GPS stands from Global Positioning System. It is a navigation system comprising of satellites that helps in determining the location, velocity, and synchronize time data for different modes of travel like air, sea, or land.

Here's how senior biologists use gps:

Assisted in development of the GPS data dictionaries used for the project.
Perform biological surveys using handheld GPS units for threatened, endangered and sensitive species, to include botanical species.

11. Cell Culture

Here's how senior biologists use cell culture:

Initiate a cell culture facility to support and carry out development and screening.
Cultured various virus strains, cell cultures, plasmid DNA, and nucleic acids as directed by a NIAID contract.

12. Water ACT

Here's how senior biologists use water act:

Enforced Clean Water Act Section 404; delineated wetlands and made jurisdictional determinations in Central and Northern Mississippi
Mitigated for dust control to comply with the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act.

13. Water Quality

Here's how senior biologists use water quality:

water quality, filtration and hemispheric photoperiod.
Water quality testing using Hach Spectrophotometer, refractometer, YSI DO meter, Hach pH meter.

14. DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, or only DNA, which is considered the king of molecules, is a macromolecule that contains the main component of chromosomes. Shaped like a double helix, DNA is usually found in the nucleus of a cell. It is a type of material that transports characteristics in many forms, developed in nucleotides around one another.

Here's how senior biologists use dna:

Developed phage DNA purification process and brought collection up to date in three months.
Participated in the design and implementation of genetic DNA contract research with NCI.

15. ISO

Here's how senior biologists use iso:

Involved in accreditation studies according to ISO 17025 Performed studies to achieve food safety research objectives.
Contributed in ISO audits and authoring BPD.

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What skills help Senior Biologists find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on senior biologist resumes?

Lara Pacifici Ph.D.

Teaching Associate Professor, North Carolina State University

Skills that require specific training and practice to develop can really set apart an applicant. Expertise with Geographic Information Systems, R coding,, mist netting and bird banding are some examples from the field of wildlife management and conservation. Additionally, we look for internship and volunteer activities, undergraduate research, presentations, publications, and contributions and memberships in professional societies and student clubs.

What soft skills should all senior biologists possess?

Joseph Kezele

Associate Professor of Biology, Arizona Christian University

The ability to think and reason logically. Too many young people cannot do so because they were spoon-fed and then expected to regurgitate that back.

What hard/technical skills are most important for senior biologists?

Joseph Kezele

Associate Professor of Biology, Arizona Christian University

Microscope work

What senior biologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Nicole Browning Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Biology, Biology Coordinator, Brenau University

A gap year should be filled with efforts to gain hands-on experience in the specific job field the candidate is hoping to enter. This may include volunteer work, internships, shadowing, or research work. A great place to look for these opportunities is with faculty at your alma mater. Faculty are often looking for cheap (or free) labor from graduates in the form of TAs, research assistants, lab assistants, and so on. This can provide invaluable experience, make you more competitive in the job market, and allow the graduate with real-world experience to ensure this is the position (or not).

What type of skills will young senior biologists need?

Dr. Douglas Capone Ph.D.

Professor, University of Southern California

In addition to the essential skill set of an oceanographic discipline (biological, chemical, physical or geological fields) - being adaptable, having a breadth of knowledge and ability to cross disciplinary boundaries and communication skills e.g., the ability to talk to regulators, policymakers, and the general public will all help.

What technical skills for a senior biologist stand out to employers?

Fin Ouweleen

Carleton College class of 2020 Biology major

Regarding technical skills, for the positions I applied for in field biology, most jobs were looking for people that had the most experience specifically for that job, making it hard for someone without that experience to find an entry point into the field. It definitely gives someone an edge if they have writing skills and know some knowledge of coding languages, data sheets, and other software like ArcGIS.

Do you want to know more?

List of senior biologist skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a senior biologist resume and required skills for a senior biologist to have include:

Renewable Energy
Data Collection
Species ACT
Research Projects
Sops
Cell-Based Assays
GIS
Laboratory Practices
FDA
GPS
Cell Culture
Water ACT
Water Quality
DNA

ISO
GMP
Regulatory Compliance
Extraction
Stem Cells
Cell Lines
Environmental Assessments
Environmental Policy
Protein Expression
RNA
GLP
Assay Development
Biological Surveys
Environmental Planning

EPA
RT-PCR
Elisa
Data Analysis
Cost Estimates
Management System
Lims
Biological Assessments
Gene Expression
Biomarkers
Rare Plant
OWL
Tissue Culture

Updated January 8, 2025

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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Updated January 8, 2025

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