The marine biology colleges in Maine are there to help you develop your career and earn higher-paying marine biology jobs.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics stipulated that there will be a 5% growth rate between 2018 to 2028.
The median pay in 2018 for zoologists, wildlife biologists and other biologists was $63,420 per year.
Furthermore, the typical entry-level education needed is a bachelor’s degree, many marine biology jobs require a PhD.
There are so many different sub-fields and sectors of marine biology and all of them are based on your skills, specialty and education.
The following provides information about the various careers you can find as a marine biologist.
In this article, we will be looking at the marine biology colleges in Maine and give a brief review of each.
What does a marine biologist do?
Marine biologists investigate all kinds of issues and problems. Here are some typical areas of concern:
- Overfishing has led to a reduction of worldwide stocks of certain fish species
- Plastic pollution has led to over 12 million tonnes entering the oceans every year, causing huge implications for biodiversity, ecosystems and threats to food security
- Ocean acidification and warming oceans have resulted in significant levels of coral cover loss and coral bleaching
- The release of hot water and other effluents by various industries has altered the ecological balance of the oceans
- Oil spills wreak long-term havoc on local ecosystems and biodiversity
- Pollution has caused an increase in water-borne infections in humans
- The use of pesticides and artificial fertilisers in farming has had serious consequences on food chains
- Chemicals can cause ‘gender-bending’ and fertility problems in fish, shellfish and other aquatic organisms
On a positive note, marine biologists are able to help address many of these problems.
For instance, they are working for offshore oil and gas companies to reduce the negative impact of their operations on marine life.
They are also involved in developing designated marine reserves and creating artificial reefs/wrecks in order to encourage wildlife into an area.
Concern for the marine environment and an interest in water-based leisure activities have made this area of applied biology a popular career choice.
The opportunity of doing a job that involves outdoor work (perhaps including fieldwork at sea) is one attraction.
But don’t be misled into thinking it’s a soft option as the work may involve lengthy, routine fieldwork and one field trip can generate many weeks of laboratory-based analysis.
Obviously, the balance of time spent outdoors and in the lab varies from one job to another. Most jobs are in research, development and monitoring.
You could be involved in pure research – mapping what species are present in a particular area, surveying the health of coral reefs or trying to better understand marine ecosystems through novel research projects.
Or, you could work in applied research, using the results of pure research to solve practical problems and to aid industries based on marine life.
There are also opportunities for consultancy work, for example, conducting environmental impact assessments, environmental audits or waste management studies on behalf of governments, oil companies and organisations involved in renewable energy etc.
Laboratory assistants and technicians support professional marine biologists in the more routine aspects of their work.
A marine biologist needs
- An affinity with the marine environment and an interest in aquatic life
- Excellent numerical and statistics skills (particularly sought by employers)
- Practical fieldwork skills
- Patience and good observation skills
- Excellent teamwork and personal communication abilities
- Good written and oral communication skills
- To be prepared to work outdoors in all weathers – perhaps at sea
Marine biology is a popular career choice and there are more people trying to work in the area than there are jobs available.
In order to put yourself ahead of other candidates, it is important that you make yourself stand out.
You can achieve this by working on improving both transferrable soft skills and more niche technical skills specific to the marine biology sector, beyond that which you may have learnt in a higher education course. Key skills to develop include:
- Scientific writing skills – including both journalistic writing and science communications
- Knowledge of policy and legislation in the marine sector
- Wider socio-economic contexts and how they impact the marine sector
- Applied maths skills – many marine biologists utilise advanced statistics
- Presentation & public speaking skills
- Leadership qualities
- Project management
Requirements for Marine Biologists
Most marine biology jobs will require a doctoral degree because of the comprehensive knowledge of biochemical, genomic, evolutionary and physiological processes needed.
Completing a PhD program in one of the Marine Biology schools in Maine will also allow you to choose a specialty like microbiology, vertebrate biology or deep-sea biology.
Apart from the PhD program that you might have obtained from the marine biology colleges in Maine, on-the-job training is usually required also.
Furthermore, technical and communication skills are vital parts of marine biology.
This is because a marine biologist may need to speak to teams, the public, scientific organizations, and other researchers.
All these and more are part of the requirements for marine biologists.
The List of Marine Biology Colleges in Maine
- Maine Maritime Academy [Marine Biology] BS
Unity College [Marine Biology] BS
University of Maine [Marine Science + concentrations in Aquaculture or Oceanography] BS, [Marine Biology] MS, PhD
The University of Maine at Machias [Marine Biology] BS
University of New England [Marine Sciences with Marine Biology track] BS, [Marine Sciences] MS
Let us look at these marine biology colleges in Maine in detail.
Maine Maritime Academy [Marine Biology] BS
Maine Maritime Academy [Marine Biology] BS is a marine biology degree program where you are going to be learning from and alongside an experienced faculty.
They will give you a hands-on learning experience in laboratories, on research vessels, and at nearly field sites, all of which are aimed at giving you a solid foundation for a career in marine biology.
Unlike some marine biology college programs, you won’t have to wait to experience life as a marine biologist.
If you want to work in the marine biology field and have an interest in operating small vessels, consider marine biology and small vessel operations as dual major options.
Through this 5-year degree path, you’ll learn how to safely handle and navigate small vessels.
Unity College [Marine Biology] BS
Unity College [Marine Biology] BS: The B.S. in Marine Biology and Sustainable Aquaculture prepares students for a broad range of careers helping protect, preserve, maintain, and grow marine organisms and environments.
This degree provides students with a broad emphasis on both marine biology and aquaculture and encompasses coursework with the rigour to prepare students for further study in graduate school or even starting their own aquaculture enterprise.
University of Maine [Marine Science + concentrations in Aquaculture or Oceanography] BS, [Marine Biology] MS, PhD
University of Maine [Marine Science + concentrations in Aquaculture or Oceanography] BS, [Marine Biology] MS, PhD: The Marine Biology concentration provides training equivalent to a B.S. in Biology, but with a major focus on marine organisms — in the context of an overall appreciation and understanding of the chemical, geological, and physical environment of the ocean.
The University of Maine at Machias [Marine Biology] BS
The University of Maine at Machias [Marine Biology] BS is such that has a geographic information systems lab that allows you to gain skills in mapping and tracking biological phenomena that are of research interest.
Whether you pursue a career in marine education, fisheries science, aquaculture, or decide to continue your studies for a graduate degree, we will help prepare you for a lifetime in marine sciences.
University of New England [Marine Sciences with Marine Biology track] BS, [Marine Sciences] MS
University of New England [Marine Sciences with Marine Biology track] BS, [Marine Sciences] MS: is the ideal place to earn your Marine Sciences degree, introducing you to all facets of life in oceans, freshwater, and estuaries.
Majors can choose between two tracks: Marine Biology or Oceanography.
Marine biologists study the fascinating animal, plant and microscopic life in oceans. An estimated 80% of all life on earth is found under the ocean surface!
Plants and animals act as indicators of the effect of human activities on the planet, including pollution and climate change. Marine biologists play a vital role in studying these effects.
What are your thoughts about these marine biology colleges in Maine? Please share your thoughts below.
Editor’s Pick
- Top Marine Biology Colleges in Ohio|Tuition Details
- Top Marine Biology Colleges in North Carolina|Tuition Details
- Best Marine Biology Colleges in Georgia
- Top Marine Biology Colleges in Alaska
- Marine Biology Colleges in Canada