Entry Level Qualification 

Graduate

Career Fields 

Agriculture & Food Science

For Specially Abled 

Career Entrance Exam 

CUET UG, CUET PG

About Career 

Ecologist’s research and study about how the various living organisms (including animals, plants, and microorganisms) interact among themselves and with their biological and physical environment. They study the habitats of living organisms and ecosystems. Interactions could involve a range of biological habits, events, and phenomenon such as - an animal or plant may eat or consume other animals; a particular species of animals may communicate with one another; their social behavior; their sexual behavior and other ways of reproduction; their ways of coping up with changes in ecosystem and adaptation; their evolution; and their interactions with humans and so on.

Ecosystems are dynamically interacting systems consisting of living organisms, communities of organisms, microorganisms, their habitats, as well as non-living components such as soil, water, air, etc. Ecosystems often include interactions with humans as well.

Let us understand briefly what is ecology?

In order to know what Ecology is, we need to understand that Ecology is a branch of Biology which examines, observes and calculates new findings/interpretations of the interactions among the organisms and the factors that influence, affect and change their survival instincts, their developmental growth as well as their evolution from a set period of time.

As we know Biology is the study of living organisms which is in reference to their physical structure, physiology, physiological systems, functions, and processes as well as biochemical and biophysical processes that take place inside an organism. Biology studies how organisms evolve, how they adapt to changing biological and physical environments, and how they reproduce.

So, what will you do as an Ecologist?

So as an Ecologist you would study how these organisms complete their life process, how they interact with the environment they live in along with other species, and how they adapt to new climatic conditions; new environments and foreign species. You would also study and research about the origin of foreign species, how they grew in a specific environment and how would they react or interact with other native species. Your job would not only be limited to research and study about the existing species or organisms but you would also indulge your time in studying and researching about hypothetical climatic conditions that would influence behavior change in the particular species (this would happen in cases where you have reached expert level of experience as an Ecologist).

As an Ecologist, you would study a range of aspects of organisms or species, examine what their food sources are, how they reproduce, what are their natural characteristics, who are their hunters or predators and how they interact with other species and the species from a foreign community, etc. You would study and research about these aspects of humans, varied animals, plants as well as micro-organisms.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

As an Ecologist, you would be involved in the following key roles and responsibilities:

1. You would be required to curate and analyze the spatial and quantitative ecological data of plant and animal collections, map their distribution patterns, write reports and prepare articles.

2. You would be involved in conducting detailed in-depth field studies to understand the nature of human-wildlife conflict, evaluate mitigation measures and policy frameworks.

3. You would be involved in conducting field research to sustain and enhance agricultural production with neutral to positive impacts on environmental quality for rangeland agro-ecosystems.

4. You would be responsible for maintaining and calibrating instrumentation to examine ecological process and mechanism responses to adaptive management, seasonal weather variability, extreme events, and predicted climatic variability on agricultural production and ecosystem services for representative rangeland agro-ecosystems.

5. You would be providing essential support to a research team through collection, data quality, research, and assurance and control using highly specialized and sophisticated sensor equipment and infrastructure primarily related to water, energy and carbon fluxes and balances.

6. You would also assess the biodiversity of ecosystems and examine influencing factors like pollution.

7. You would be involved in writing technical reports that detail methods used and interpretation of results.

8. You would also develop and test hypotheses about populations, communities, and ecosystem function.

9. You would conduct field, lab, and theoretical research in your areas of specialization.

Career Entry Pathway 

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry, and Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies – Bachelor’s degree in Biology/ Life sciences/ Botany/ Zoology/ Forestry/ Environmental Sciences/ Wildlife Science/ Ecology/ Plant Sciences/ Animal Sciences or similar field – Master’s degree in Life Sciences/ Zoology / Biotechnology / Biochemistry / Microbiology/ Biology/ Life sciences/ Botany/ Forestry/ Environmental Sciences/ Wildlife Science/ Ecology/ Conservation Biology/ Plant Sciences/ Animal Sciences or similar field – Ph.D. in Ecology/ Botany/ Forestry/ Conservation Biology/ Wildlife Science/ Environmental Science or similar Discipline

After completing Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry, and Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies you can pursue Bachelor’s degree in Biology/ Life sciences/ Botany/ Zoology/ Forestry/ Environmental Sciences/ Wildlife Science/ Ecology/ Plant Sciences/ Animal Sciences or similar field. After graduation you can go for a Master’s degree in Life Sciences/ Zoology / Biotechnology / Biochemistry / Microbiology/ Biology/ Life sciences/ Botany/ Forestry/ Environmental Sciences/ Wildlife Science/ Ecology/ Conservation Biology/ Plant Sciences/ Animal Sciences or similar field after which you must go for a post-doctoral degree or Ph.D. in Ecology/ Botany/ Forestry/ Conservation Biology/ Wildlife Science/ Environmental Science or similar Discipline. After Ph.D. you can also go for Post-Doctoral Fellowship.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry, and Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies – B.Sc. in Wildlife Science/ Agro ecology/ Animal Sciences/ Bio based Sciences/ Climate Studies/ Environmental Sciences/ Forest and Nature Conservation/ Geo-information Science/ Statistical Science or similar field – M.Sc. in Wildlife Science/ Agro ecology/ Animal Sciences/ Bio based Sciences/ Climate Studies/ Environmental Sciences/ Forest and Nature Conservation/ Geo-information Science / Statistical Science or similar field – PhD in Ecology/ Botany/ Forestry/ Conservation Biology/ Wildlife Science/ Environmental Science or similar Discipline

After completing Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry, and Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies you can pursue B.Sc. in Wildlife Science/ Agro ecology/ Animal Sciences/ Bio based Sciences/ Climate Studies/ Environmental Sciences/ Forest and Nature Conservation/ Geo-information Science/ Statistical Science and Behavioural Sciences or similar field. After graduation you need to pursue M.Sc. in Wildlife Science/ Agro ecology/ Animal Sciences/ Bio based Sciences/ Climate Studies/ Environmental Sciences/ Forest and Nature Conservation/ Geo-information Science / Statistical Science and Behavioural Sciences or similar field. After masters you need to go for a Ph.D. in Ecology/ Botany/ Forestry/ Conservation Biology/ Wildlife Science/ Environmental Science or similar Discipline. You can also pursue Post-Doctoral Fellowship after Ph.D.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry, and Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies – Bachelor’s in Zoology/ Botany/ Agricultural Science/ Plant Science/ Environmental Science/ Ecology/ Wildlife Science/ Forestry / Similar – Master’s in Zoology/ Botany/ Agricultural Science/ Plant Science/ Environmental Science/ Ecology/ Wildlife Science/ Wildlife Biology/ Forestry / Similar – Ph.D. in Conservation Science/ Environmental Science/ Wildlife Biology/ Ecology/ Biodiversity/ Conservation Biology/ Wildlife Ecology/ Forestry/ Wildlife Science/ similar

After completing Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry, and Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies you must pursue Bachelor’s in Zoology/ Botany/ Agricultural Science/ Plant Science/ Environmental Science/ Ecology/ Wildlife Science/ Forestry or similar field. After graduation you need to go for Master’s in Zoology/ Botany/ Agricultural Science/ Plant Science/ Environmental Science/ Ecology/ Wildlife Science/ Wildlife Biology/ Forestry or similar field followed by Ph.D. in Conservation Science/ Environmental Science/ Wildlife Biology/ Ecology/ Biodiversity/ Conservation Biology/ Wildlife Ecology/ Forestry/ Wildlife Science or similar field.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics along with any other subject as per scheme of studies – Bachelor’s in Physics/ Chemistry/ Environmental Science/ Similar – Master’s in Environmental Science – Ph.D. in Environmental Science

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After completing Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics along with any other subject as per scheme of studies you can go for Bachelor’s in Physics/ Chemistry/ Environmental Science/ Similar. After graduation you need to go for Master’s in Environmental Science followed by Ph.D. in Environmental Science

Required Qualification & Competencies 

After completing graduation and post-graduation in your areas of specialisation, you would need to pursue a Post-Doctoral study or research in the area you want to specialize in. You can find the following subjects/specialisation in which you can take up your masters or Ph.D.

1. Ecology and Functional Biodiversity

2. Ecological and Evolutionary Genomics

3. Environmental Biology

4. Ecosystem Sustainability

5. Earth Surface Science

6. Renewable Materials

7. Animal behaviour

8. Biogeography

9. Community Ecology

10. Theoretical and Quantitative Ecology

11. Entomology

12. Forest Science

13. Animal Ecology

14. Wildlife Ecology

15. Marine Ecology

16. Evolutionary Ecology

17. Human Ecology

18. Tropical Biology

19. Marine Biology

20. Zoology

21. Botany

22. Plant Sciences

23. Environmental Sciences

24. Forestry Sciences

25. Conservation Biology

26. Biodiversity

27. Wildlife Sciences

28. Marine Sciences

29. Microbiology

Compentencies Required

Interests

1. Investigative: You should have interests for Investigative Occupations. Investigative occupations involve working with ideas and quite a lot of thinking, often abstract or conceptual thinking. These involve learning about facts and figures; involve the use of data analysis, assessment of situations, decision making and problem-solving.

2. Realistic: You should have interests for Realistic Occupations. Realistic occupations involve more practical and hands-on activities than paperwork or office work. Realistic occupations often involve physical activities for getting things done using various tools and equipment. 

Abilities

1. Abstract Reasoning: The ability to understand ideas that are not expressed in words or numbers; the ability to understand concepts that are not clearly expressed verbally or otherwise.

2. Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules and common logic to specific problems to produce answers that are logical and make sense. For example, understanding the reasons behind an event or a situation using general rules and common logic

3. Flexibility of Closure: The ability to identify or detect a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden among other distracting materials.

4. Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information from various sources, concepts, and theories to form general rules or conclusions. For example, analyzing various events or situations to come out with a set of rules or conclusions

5. Inter-Personal: The ability to build and maintain good relationships with others at workplaces and elsewhere.

6. Naturalistic Intelligence: The ability to recognize different flora and fauna of the world; sensitivity towards nature and natural surroundings; sensitivity towards the needs of different flora and fauna.

7. Verbal Reasoning: The ability to think and reason with words; the ability to reason out ideas expressed in words.

8. Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Knowledge

Biological Sciences: Knowledge of plants and animals, their anatomical structure, cell structure, tissues, physiological functions, evolution, and all other related aspects.

Skills

1. Active Learning: Focused and continuous learning from various sources of information, observation and otherwise for application in getting work done.

2. Communication in English: Skills in communicating effectively in writing as well as verbally with others in English language.

3. Coordination: Skills in working together with other people to get things done.

4. Critical Thinking: Skills in analysis of complex situations, using logic and reasoning to understand the situations and take appropriate actions or make interpretations and inferences.

5. Judgment and Decision Making: Skills in considering the pros and cons of various decision alternatives; considering costs and benefits; taking appropriate and suitable decisions.

6. Problem Solving: Skills in analysis and understanding of problems, evaluating various options to solve the problems and using the best option to solve the problems.

7. Reading Comprehension: Skills in understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

8. Scientific: Skills in using various scientific rules and methods to get things done or solve problems.

Personality

1. You are somewhat organized in your day-to-day life and activities.

2. You are somewhat careful about your actions and behavior.

3. You are imaginative sometimes.

4. You prefer to experience new things and have new experiences sometimes.

5. You act independently sometimes but do not do so in some other times.

6. You are always practical or in most situations.

Career - Job Opportunities & Profiles 

As an Ecologist, you may find work in:

1. Government organizations and Autonomous Institutions which are involved in research and study in the areas of Ecology/Environment/Botany/Forests/Geology/ Oceanography/ Fisheries etc.such as Indian Institute of Ecology and Environment (IIEE), Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Forest Survey of India (FSI), Fishery Survey of India (FiSI), Geological Survey of India (GSI), National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Indian Institute of Forest Management, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Wildlife Institute of India (WII), etc.

2. Environmental/Forest Research Institutes such as Center for Environmental Nuclear Research (CENR), Center for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT), Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Forestry Research Institute, etc.

3. Research laboratories under Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) such as Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR), National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), etc.

4. Research Institutes/ Autonomous Institutions/ Organisations/ Education centres such as Centre for Environment Education, C. P. R. Environmental Education Centre, Centre for Animals and Environment, Centre of Excellence in Environmental Economics, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystem, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, etc.

5. National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Biosphere reserves, Reserved and protected forests, Conservation and community reserves or major authorities such as National Tiger Conservation Authority(NTCA), National Institute of Animal Welfare (NIAW), Andaman & Nicobar Islands Forest and Plantation Development Corporation (ANIFPDCL), etc.

As an Ecologist, you may find job opportunities as follows:

1. After Master’s degree, (i) as a Research Associate/ Research Assistant; or (ii) as a Doctoral Fellow; or (iii) as a Project Officer (Minimum two years of experience)

2. After a Ph.D. as a Post-Doctoral Fellow

3. After Ph.D., as a Scientist

4. In university departments and colleges, as an Assistant Professor after Ph.D.

Specialisation Tracks In This Career

Ecologist (Population)

Population Ecologists are involved in the study and research of the increase and decrease in the number of species in a particular area. The ecologists specialising in population tend to focus on issues like how a particular species population would react to an area that lacks food resources as compared to an area that has abundance of food resources.

Ecologist (Behavioural)

Behavioural Ecologists are involved in the study and research different ways in which organisms evolve and adapt to changes in their environment or natural habitat. They also study how they interact with other species or how their behaviour changes while with other organisms of their own species.

Ecologist (Landscape)

Landscape Ecologists are involved in the study and research of all the organisms and species on the basis of their distribution over a particular area, their behaviours and patterns and the impact of development over them.

Ecologist (Microbial)

Microbial Ecologists are involved in the study and research of cellular microorganisms. They study the DNA and RNA structures of the organisms that helps define the genesis and origin of the species involved. The ecologists studying microbial ecology research at a cellular level that supports in understanding how DNA and RNA affects the evolution and extinction of certain species.

Ecologist (Community)

Community Ecologists are involved in the study and research of community at a whole. They understand how different species and interact, how they all live together as a community and how a change in the community altogether changes the dynamics of the whole community.

Ecologist (Marine)

Marine Ecologists are involved in the study and research of the marine life i.e. the life, habitat, populations and interactions of plants, animals and other microorganisms living under the water.

Ecologist (Ecosystem)

Ecosystem Ecologists are involved in the study and research of biotic and abiotic factors interacting with the organisms. They understand how climate and soil composition affect, influence and change behaviours and interactions of all the different species. Ecologists specialising in area of ecosystem study a wide range of factors and analyse how the living things interact with natural and foreign environments and habitats.

Career Growth

1. After a Master’s degree, if you have started as a Research Associate/ Research Assistant then you can become a Senior Research Associate. But without a Ph.D. further progress opportunity will be almost none.

2. If you have started as Doctoral Fellow, you will first be Junior Research Fellow (JRF) or a Senior Research Fellow (SRF).

3. After a Ph.D. if you start as a Post-Doctoral Fellow, your tenure would be 1-3 or more years. But designation wise, there won’t be any progress.

4. After Ph.D., if you begin as a Scientist, then you will grow through the ranks such as: Scientist – Senior Scientist (in different grades) – Principal Scientist – Director/ Dean, etc.

5. In university departments and colleges, if you begin as an Assistant Professor after Ph.D., then you will grow through the ranks such as: Assistant Professor – Associate Professor – Professor – Dean/Director.

Salary Offered  

1. If you begin your career after a Master’s degree as a Research Associate, you will earn about Rs.15, 000- 25,000 a month.

2. If you begin your career after a Master’s degree as a Doctoral Fellow, you will earn about Rs. 35,000- 38,000 a month.

3. If you begin your career after a Ph.D. as a Post-Doctoral Fellow, you will earn around Rs.40, 000 –45,000 per month.

4. If you begin your career after a Ph.D. as a Scientist, you will earn around Rs. 60,000 – 80,000 per month.

5. If you begin your career in teaching and research, as an Assistant Professor with an experience of 0-3 years, you will earn around Rs. 60,000 – 70,000.

6. As an associate professor with around 12-18 years of more experience, you will earn around Rs.1, 50, 000 – 2, 10,000 per month.

7. As a Senior Scientist with around 12-18 years of experience, you will earn about Rs. 1, 50,000- 2, 10,000 or even more per month.

8. As a Professor with around 15-25 years of more experience, you will earn around Rs. 1, 80,000 – 2, 30,000 per month.

9. As a Dean/Department head with more than 25+ years of experience, you will earn around Rs.2, 40,000 – 2, 50,000 per month.

10. As a Director / Chief Scientist/ similar positions in research, with more than 25+ years of experience, you will earn about Rs. 2, 40,000-3, 00,000 or even more per month.

Monthly Earnings In Indian Rupee

1. Entry level: 0 - 2 years of work experience 

2. Junior Level: From 1 to 12 years of work experience 

3. Mid-Level: From 5 to 20+ years of work experience 

4. Senior Level: From 10 to 25+ years of work experience (there could be exceptions in some high-end technical, financial, engineering, creative, management, sports, and other careers; also in the near future, people will reach these levels much faster in many careers and in some careers, these levels will have no meaning as those careers will be completely tech skill driven such as even now, there is almost no level in a Cyber Security Expert’s job)

Famous Personalities 

Information not available.

Work Activities 

1. Analyzing and interpreting data and information: Analysis of data and information to find facts, trends, reasons behind situations, etc.; interpretation of data to aid in decision making.

2. Communicating with co-workers and others: Communicating with people in writing, verbally or otherwise inside your workplace and various other people who have professional relationships with your place of work including vendors, government officials, etc. or with people at large

3. Decision making and problem-solving: Analysis of data and information; evaluation of alternative decisions and results of decisions; taking the right decisions and solving problems.

4. Getting Information and learning: Observing, hearing, reading, using computers, or otherwise obtaining information and learning from it.

5. Identifying objects, actions, and events: Identifying various characteristics of objects; observing and understanding actions and events; understanding changes in actions and events.

6. Providing advices and consultation to others: Giving advices or consultation to others about various issues, conceptual matters, know-hows, scientific matters, products or services.

7. Training and teaching: Understanding educational and training needs of others, developing training programs and educational programs, conducting training programs, teaching and instructing others.

8. Updating and using relevant knowledge: Keeping updated with the latest knowledge relevant to your fields of work and use of the relevant knowledge in getting things done.

9. Using computers for work: Using computers for day-to-day office work; using computer software for various applications in day-to-day professional work; entering data and process information; for writing.

10. Working in a team: Working in a team of people; developing team; maintaining professional relationships among team members.