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Staff biologist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Lara Pacifici Ph.D.,

Joseph Kezele

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical staff biologist skills. We ranked the top skills for staff biologists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 8.5% of staff biologist resumes contained fda as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a staff biologist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 staff biologist skills for your resume and career

1. 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 staff biologists use fda:

Supported COX-2 franchise and submitted annual non-clinical pharmacology updates to regulatory group for FDA submission.
Ensured facilities and personnel compliance with FDA and OSHA guidelines and regulations.

2. Wetland

Wetland is a kind of environment with numerous swamps, marshes, and other kinds of water-dense land. The wetlands are common in warmer climates and tend to be very humid, making it a great environment for many mosses, reptiles, fish, and insects. Wetland areas can be found in the southern United States, such as the Florida everglades.

Here's how staff biologists use wetland:

Project required review of existing environmental data, identification of permitting requirements, wetland identification/delineation and sensitive and endangered species issues.
Conduct wetland delineations, Potential Jurisdictional Determinations and Permit Applications for various projects such as pipeline and infrastructure expansions.

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 staff biologists use species act:

Assisted NRCS State Biologist with wetland delineations and consultation with listed species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Monitored road construction and timber-thinning contractors to ensure minimal disruption to habitats and compliance with Endangered Species Act.

4. Molecular Biology

Here's how staff biologists use molecular biology:

Trained lab personnel in various molecular biology and separation chemistry assays.
Provided molecular biology support for several ion channel programs * Developed stable cell lines for use in high throughput screening.

5. GLP

GLP stands for "good laboratory practice." This refers to the integrity and quality measures that non-clinical laboratories have in place to ensure accurate research and market testing. GLP is most often used in pharmaceutical companies where new drugs must be tested before being approved for sale, but the practice can also be used in food packaging and preparation test centers.

Here's how staff biologists use glp:

Conducted GLP and Non-GLP studies for Toxicology and safety assessment.
Designed and executed GLP protocols for technology transfer from academic to private companies.

6. Water ACT

Here's how staff biologists use water act:

Provided technical support and guidance to staff and clients for NEPA and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act compliance.
Enforced Clean Water Act Section 404; delineated wetlands and made jurisdictional determinations in Central and Northern Mississippi

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7. 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 staff biologists use gps:

Work included use of survey grade GPS equipment and laser to plot stream contours at twelve locations throughout the watershed.
Navigated to remote project sites using GPS, topo maps, aerial photographs, and GIS layers.

8. Harvest

Here's how staff biologists use harvest:

Organized and participated in elk population helicopter survey, utilizing census data to determine big game harvest values for upper management.
Provided wildlife habitat management and biodiversity input for forest planning and harvest prescriptions.

9. Nepa

Here's how staff biologists use nepa:

Participated in interdisciplinary team meetings during the NEPA process as a subject matter expert in hydrology and wildlife biology.
Reviewed environmental impact reports(CEQA)/statements(NEPA).

10. GMP

GMP stands for Good Manufacturing Practice. It is a system that ensures that all products like food, beverages, and medicinal drugs that are produced comply with the quality standards. It helps in minimizing the risks and hazards that cannot be eliminated after the testing of final products.

Here's how staff biologists use gmp:

Coordinated in vivo studies; animal tracking, dosing, blood collection, and study close-out in a GMP environment.
Authored the Assay Procedure for Osmolality of Adeno based vectors for release of GMP products.

11. Cell Culture

Here's how staff biologists use cell culture:

Converted small scale PCR and cell culture experiments into 96-well high-throughput assays.
Managed cell culture; maintenance, plant and viral infection.

12. Technical Reports

Technical reports are a type of document that is used to indicate either the progress, result, or process of scientific research or the state of problems occurring within such research. A technical report may also showcase the report's overall conclusion and may also include recommendations. This kind of report does not require a peer review and isn't published officially but distributed within the organizations where it was formed.

Here's how staff biologists use technical reports:

Analyze data, create technical reports.
Communicate complex technical information through PowerPoint presentations, technical reports, fact sheets, and SOPs to clients and non-technical staff.

13. Environmental Compliance

Environmental compliance means to fulfill official environmental requirements. It comprises environmental rules, laws, and regulations, and permits regarding which sites to operate. Environmental concerns have raised compliances across the globe. Environmental compliance includes managing and monitoring the required permits for correct parameters, performing and processing calculations, generate daily compliance reports, and record data with compliance to any risk alert

Here's how staff biologists use environmental compliance:

Interact directly with BLM representatives and submit daily environmental compliance inquires on construction activities, compliance issues and mitigation resolutions.
Reviewed projects for environmental compliance.

14. Assay Development

Assay development is a process in molecular biology to test or measure the activity of a drug or biochemical substance in an organic sample or organism and to screen putative compounds to determine the interaction and/or modification of the target. The aim is to standardize the assay and to be able to use it repeatedly and reproducibly.

Here's how staff biologists use assay development:

Assay Development and Screening for multiple HIV and neuroscience targets.
Conducted assay development, optimization and validation for cAMP, -arrestin and PathHunter assays for GPCR and tyrosine kinase drug targets.

15. Water Quality

Here's how staff biologists use water quality:

check water quality and health of farm-raised fish
Work included three electrofishing passes, channel measurements, macroinvertebrate collection, and water quality readings.

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What skills help Staff Biologists find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on staff 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 staff 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 staff biologists?

Joseph Kezele

Associate Professor of Biology, Arizona Christian University

Microscope work

What staff 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 staff 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 staff biologist stand out to employers?

Shahir Rizk Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Indiana University South Bend and Indiana University School of Medicine

Any research experience will be an important asset to have as you go into the job market. Beyond the ability to conduct and design experiments, it shows that you have had experience in problem-solving, analytical skills. Another very important aspect is writing and oral communication. In virtually all sectors of science jobs, the ability to communicate information to different levels of audiences is crucial to success. In some cases, experience in business administration or public policy can be an added benefit to success in scientific fields.

Do you want to know more?

List of staff biologist skills to add to your resume

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

FDA
Wetland
Species ACT
Molecular Biology
GLP
Water ACT
GPS
Harvest
Nepa
GMP

Cell Culture
Technical Reports
Environmental Compliance
Assay Development
Water Quality
GIS
Management Plans
Helicopter Safety
Water Samples
Data Analysis

RT-PCR
Data Collection
RNA
Biomarkers
Process Improvement
Elisa
DNA
ASTM
Drug Development
PowerPoint

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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Staff Biologist Skills

Updated January 8, 2025

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