Zoologist
Study animals, their habits and the places they live. Ready to create a greener world for wildlife?
Also known as: wildlife expert, parasitologist, paleozoologist, ornithologist, herpetologist, entomologist, ecologist, wildlife biologist
About the job
What it's like
You would study animals, their habits and the places they live. You could use your skills to:
study animals in the wild or in a zoo or laboratory
assess the overall health of ecosystems by studying animals and their habitats
use manual and computerised methods to look at cells, fertilise eggs and more
write technical reports
give presentations and publish information in journals and books
develop strategies to help protect endangered animals
restore damaged ecosystems, such as wetlands, forests or coral reefs
study how climate change affects animal behaviour, migration patterns and reproduction
educate the public about the importance of biodiversity and the need for sustainable practices
You could become an expert in one area, for example reptiles, insects, fossils, or the environment.
Green job
In this job you'll be doing work to help the environment. Find out more about green jobs.
Hours
In industry, research and higher education you would usually work regular hours from Monday to Friday. As a field researcher you would work variable hours. For example you would need to work at night if you are studying nocturnal animals. If you work in conservation you may have to work evenings, weekends and public holidays, for example to attend evening meetings, supervise volunteers or host public open days.
Environment
You could work indoors in a lab or office, or outdoors researching the behaviour of animals in the wild.
Travel
Some research posts and jobs may require living overseas for periods of time.
Explore more information about this job
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Life sciences
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- entomology
- process development
- standard operating procedure
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- understanding
- analysing
- attention to detail
- researching
- observation
- working with numbers
- written communication
- verbal communication
- cooperating
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Biology
Environmental Science
Science
You would need a degree (SCQF level 9/10) in a subject such as:
Zoology
Animal ecology
Animal behaviour
Conservation
Many people who do this job also have postgraduate qualifications such as a Master of Science (MSc) (SCQF level 11) or a doctoral degree (SCQF level 12) in relevant subjects.
Most undergraduate courses ask for at least four Highers at B or above (SCQF level 6). Some universities may require AABB (first sitting) for entry.
The University of Dundee offers a BSc Life Sciences course which requires Highers in Biology and Chemistry plus National 5 Mathematics. This course has been developed for those with high academic potential who experienced disadvantage.
You will normally have to get some voluntary experience before getting any work in this area, possibly volunteering on field survey trips or working in a research lab.
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