What does a biologist do?

Is it possible to get a job as a biologist? What competences do you get from a degree in biology? You can read interviews with three alumni who have studied Biology below.

Susanna Granström

Susanna works as a Quotation and Sales support at NorthX Biologics outside Sundsvall.

What programme did you study at Uppsala University?

I studied in Bachelor's programme in Biology and then a Master's programme in Infection biology.

What are you working with now?

I am working at a pharmaceutical company in the northern part of Sweden. In the beginning, I worked as a process developer and later became a process head. Now I'm working more with projects, time estimates, etc with customers.

What knowledge did you receive in your programme that you can use in you current work?

I received good microbial knowledge and a lot of practical experience, since it is a lot of labwork in the education. This has been very useful in process development and it has helped me a lot when I was head of prorcesses. Today I'm working more theoretically and then I have good use of my microbial knowledge, because I need to understand what organisms we use and how you can use other organisms.

What competences do you think are most important?

Biologists are curious and want to learn new things. They are also very thorough. Both these competences are very important.

Is there anything you'd like to say to a student who is worried about the future?

If you are intrerested in Biology, don't worry about getting a job. Everyone I studied with and who I am still in contact with got jobs right after getting a degree. Threre are a lot of jobs out there; in Uppsala for instance, there is a big Life Science sector. If you want to study Biology because it's fun, you should do that.

Helen Kahsay Seiron

Helen works as a project leader at Cytiva in Uppsala.

What programme did you study at Uppsala University?

First, I completed the Bachelor's programme in Biology and then I studied on the Master's programme in Applied Biotechnology.

What are you working with now?

She now works as a project leader in production at Cytiva. Before that, she worked as a project engineer, among other things.

What knowledge did you receive in your programme that you can use in you current work?

Mostly, I got the basic knowledge required to understand applications and the company products in biotechnology and chemistry. While studying the Master's programme, she also learned about economics and project management which have been useful, especially understanding economic terms. You also get training in the programme to solve problems and you learn how to read and understand new information. I have also benefitted from learning statistics and writing technical information. Finally, I think the communicaiton training provided useful knowledge.

What competences do you think are most important?

Be able to understand applications and the company products and to have a problem solving mindset. The programme provides a good mix of chemistry, biology math, etc. It provides a broad knowledgebase that can be applied.

Is there anything you'd like to say to a student who is worried about the future?

My advice is to study what you are interested in and have the courage to pursue that interest. Things will work out. Find what it is you are supposed to know and do. Biologists are "or similar" in job ads. The competences isn't strict.

Oskar Bergman

Oskar works as a researcher at Thermo Fisher Scientific in Uppsala

What programme did you study at Uppsala University?

First I earned a bachelor's degree in Biology and then a Master's degree in Applied Biotechnology.

What are you working with now?

I work as a researcher at Thermo Fisher Scientifit in Uppsala and I'm working with allergy tests, development and complaint investigations.

What knowledge did you receive in your programme that you can use in you current work?

Lab experience is important. You should be able to handle standard lab equipment and plan experiments. This is one thing we learned in the education.

What competences do you think are most important?

The most important thing is to be able to understand new areas and methods while simultaneously build on your previous knowledge.

Is there anything you'd like to say to a student who is worried about the future?

Many people worry needlessly about which courses and programmes they should take and study. It will work out. What matters is that you have studied and finished an education. Choose something that seems fun and exciting, it is easier to get through it then. Finishing the education is important and your career can then go in many different directions.