Occupation · SOC 19-1099
Life Scientists, All Other
All life scientists not listed separately.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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Annual openings
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per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone —
Core skills
Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningCritical ThinkingSpeakingWritingComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingActive Learning
Knowledge areas
English LanguageMathematicsComputers and ElectronicsEducation and TrainingBiology
Technology & tools
Computer aided design CAD softwareGeographic information systemData base user interface and query softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite software
Representative tasks
Study nutritional requirements of animals and nutritive values of animal feed materials.Write up or orally communicate research findings to the scientific community, producers, and the pubDevelop improved practices in feeding, housing, sanitation, or parasite and disease control of anima
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Nutritional requirements of common livestock — identify and record under direct supervisor guidance in a research or production facility.Scientific literature on animal feed materials — read and summarize using standard reading comprehension protocols in a supervised laboratory setting.Basic animal feeding schedules and protocols — follow and document according to established procedures on a supervised farm or research station.Research findings on animal health topics — compile and organize into written reports under the direction of a senior scientist.Spreadsheet software — enter and format animal production data under supervision to support ongoing nutrition studies.Sanitation and disease-control checklists — apply consistently to animal housing areas following established protocols in a field or facility setting.Scientific terminology related to biology and chemistry — use accurately when communicating basic observations to supervisors or team members.Office suite software — prepare draft correspondence and simple tables to communicate routine study updates in an agricultural support role.Animal parasite identification guides and reference materials — consult and apply under supervision to flag potential health concerns in a livestock setting.Oral instructions from senior researchers — listen actively and confirm understanding before carrying out assigned data-collection tasks in the field.
developing
Nutritive values of animal feed materials — analyze and compare across multiple feed sources with moderate oversight in a production or research context.Animal feeding and housing improvement recommendations — draft based on study observations and submit for review in a mid-level research support role.Research findings on nutrition and husbandry topics — present clearly to small producer or team audiences using standard presentation software with limited supervision.Database query software — retrieve and cross-reference animal production records to identify trends and anomalies in an ongoing study environment.Disease and parasite control practices — adapt standard protocols to site-specific conditions in a livestock facility with routine but reduced supervisor check-ins.Written research summaries — produce with accurate scientific content and clear structure for distribution to producers and internal stakeholders.Producer inquiries about feeding techniques — respond to using working knowledge of current best practices and product options in an extension or advisory setting.Critical thinking skills — apply when evaluating conflicting data from animal nutrition trials to propose plausible explanations to the research team.Geographic information system tools — use to map animal population distribution or environmental variables in support of field-based life science projects.Animal production improvement options — evaluate using inductive reasoning and prior field experience to recommend feasible changes to facility managers.
proficient
Comprehensive nutritional requirement profiles for multiple animal species — develop and validate autonomously through controlled feeding trials in research or production environments.Non-routine disease or parasite challenges in livestock populations — diagnose probable causes and devise evidence-based control strategies without direct supervision.Research findings — communicate independently to scientific audiences through written reports and oral presentations, adapting technical depth to each audience.Animal housing, sanitation, and feeding program improvements — design and implement across a full production cycle using integrated field and laboratory evidence.Complex datasets from animal production studies — analyze using spreadsheet and database tools, drawing defensible conclusions through deductive and inductive reasoning.Producer advisory sessions — lead independently, translating current research into practical guidance on improved products and techniques for animal production operations.Multifaceted feed formulation problems — resolve by synthesizing biology, chemistry, and economics considerations in real-world farm or research station contexts.Study designs for animal nutrition or health investigations — construct with appropriate controls and data-collection methods suited to a Job Zone 3 field environment.CAD or GIS software — apply to plan facility layouts or habitat assessments that support improved animal management practices across diverse production settings.Scientific integrity and judgment — exercise consistently when reporting equivocal data or recommending interventions that carry risk to animal welfare or producer livelihood.
advanced
Organizational research agenda for animal nutrition and life science programs — set and prioritize based on producer needs, scientific gaps, and available resources.Junior scientists and technicians — mentor in research methodology, critical thinking, and professional communication standards within a life science unit or extension program.Evidence-based guidelines for feeding, housing, and disease control — author and disseminate at industry or regional scale to improve animal production outcomes broadly.Strategic partnerships with producers, universities, and regulatory bodies — cultivate and lead to advance applied life science research and technology adoption.Complex, cross-disciplinary animal health and nutrition challenges — resolve by integrating biology, chemistry, administration, and policy considerations at an organizational level.Program-level quality and integrity standards — establish and enforce across all data collection, analysis, and reporting activities within the life science team.High-stakes findings on animal production practices — present to executive, regulatory, or public audiences, translating nuanced science into clear policy-relevant conclusions.Technology evaluation and adoption processes — lead for emerging tools such as advanced GIS platforms, AI-assisted data analysis, or precision feeding systems across the organization.Funding proposals and strategic plans for life science research initiatives — develop and champion to secure resources that sustain multi-year animal studies.Organizational culture of intellectual curiosity, dependability, and scientific rigor — model and cultivate through leadership decisions, professional development programs, and team accountability structures.
Also known as
12 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Collector of Aquarium SpecimensEmbryologistForensic ScientistLife Science TaxonomistMorphologistOlericulturistOsteologistPaleobotanistPhysiologistPhytopathologistPlant TaxonomistPublic Health Microbiologist