Entry Level Qualification 

Graduate

Career Fields 

Mathematics & Science

For Specially Abled 

Career Entrance Exam 

CUET UG, CUET PG

About Career 

Entomologist’s research and study about how various insects interact with each other and with the environment they live in. They research, study and experiment insects’ habitats and how they evolve, how they interact with other insects and living organisms (including plants, animals, and humans). They also study and develop ways to control and identify insect-borne diseases; how they affect animals and living organisms; how they can be beneficial to the surroundings and other living beings.

Let us first understand what exactly Entomology is and why even study these odd insects?

Have you ever wondered where does the honey come from? Or how do the crops in the fields pollinate? Or why do we need to keep our food, crops, and houses protected? Why do we get our pets vaccinated? Well, you must know that we are talking about the insects that surround us every day and almost everywhere.

Not only these insects surround us everywhere but they are also important for various natural processes such as pollination, recycling organic matter, producing honey, silk, lac, medicines, food, etc. You may find insects as small and odd-looking creatures but they are indeed one of the most important and significant contributors in the food chain and in sustaining the ecosystem.

So what will you as an Entomologist?

As an Entomologist, you would be involved in studying about the physical and biological structure and life processes of insects; how they interact with other insects; how they evolve; how they react to invasive species; how they act as vectors of diseases; how they adapt to climate change; how they benefit or destroy agriculture and farming practices; how they act as conservers or destructors of biodiversity and so on.

As an Entomologist, you would study a range of aspects of species, examine what their life processes are; how they would behave in changed climatic conditions; what are their natural characteristics; how they reproduce; who are their predators and what are their reflex mechanisms. You would study and research these aspects about various groups of insects such as Bees, beetles, wasps, termites, crickets, butterflies, moths, and bugs, among many others.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

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

1. You would be discovering and cataloging new species of insects

2. You would be preparing publications that help identify different insect species

3. You would be studying the evolution of insects and classifying them

4. You would also be involved in conducting research about the control and impact of pest problems

5. You would be investigating the role of insect pests in agriculture, forests, human health, and the environment

6. You would be involved in developing methods for preventing the importation and spread of destructive insects

7. You would also be responsible for multiplication of insects & testing new active ingredients against several insect species for the purpose of advancing the identified leads from the discovery to pre-development / development of innovative chemicals for crop protection /crop growth

8. You would also be involved in developing and implementing pest management programs for both urban and agricultural locations

9. You would also be conducting field and lab tests of pesticides to understand their effect on different insect species

10.You would tabulate results, analyse and extrapolate results data to develop theories for explaining observed phenomenon.

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/ Entomology/ Life sciences/ Zoology /Wildlife Science/ Animal Sciences or similar field – Master’s degree in Life Sciences/ Zoology/ Biosciences/ Wildlife Science/ Animal Sciences or similar field or similar field – Ph.D. in Entomology or similar Discipline

After Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry and Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies, you can pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Biology/ Entomology/ Life sciences/ Zoology /Wildlife Science/ Animal Sciences or similar field. After graduation you need to go for a Master’s degree in Life Sciences/ Zoology/ Biosciences/ Wildlife Science/ Animal Sciences. In order to become an Entomologist you must pursue a Ph.D. in Entomology 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 Zoology/ Entomology/ Wildlife Science/ or similar field – M.Sc. in Wildlife Science/ Zoology/ Entomology or similar field – Ph.D. in Entomology or similar Discipline

After Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry and Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies, you can go for B.Sc. in Zoology/ Entomology/ Wildlife Science/ or similar field. After graduation you must pursue M.Sc. in Wildlife Science/ Zoology/ Entomology or similar field followed by a Ph.D. in Entomology or similar Discipline.

Required Qualification & Competencies 

After completing graduation and post-graduation in your areas of specialization, 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/specialization in which you can take up your masters or Ph.D.:

1. Entomology

2. Insect Biodiversity

3. Insect Morphology

4. Insect Physiology

5. Insect anatomy

6. Parasitology

7. Zoology

Compentencies Required

Interest

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 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. 

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

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

4. 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.

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

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

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

4. Mental Stamina: The ability to sustain prolonged mental effort.

5. 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.

6. Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

7. Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a long period of time without being distracted.

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

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

10. Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Personality

1. You are always or mostly a soft-hearted person.

2. You are always or mostly helpful to others

3. You are always or mostly caring, supportive, sympathetic and kind to others.

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

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

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

Career - Job Opportunities & Profiles 

As an Entomologist, you may find work in:

1. Universities/ institutions under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) such as: Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Indian Institute of Maize Research, National Centre for Integrated Pest Management, National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology, National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, etc.

2. Agricultural Sciences Institutions such as Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Tropical Forest Research Institute, Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Indian Institute of Pulses Research (IIPR), National Institute of Plant Health Management, etc.

3. Research Institutes/Universities such as Forest Research Institute, Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research, National Centre for Biological Sciences, etc.

4. Some Medical Research institutes under Indian Council of Medical Research such as: National Animal Resource Facility for Biomedical Research, (NARF-BR), National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), National Institute of Traditional Medicine (NITM), National Institute of Pathology (NIP), National Institute of Medical Statistics (NIMS), Vector Control Research Centre (VCRC), Centre for Research in Medical Entomology (CRME), etc.

As an Entomologist, 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 PhD 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. or Post-Doctoral.

Specialisation Tracks In This Career

Entomologist (Ecology)

Ecology Entomologists are involved in the study and research of insects and their environments, how they adapt to their environment and how changes in their native environment effects and influences their behaviour and natural life processes. The ecology entomologist analyses the effect of certain insects in the ecosystem; how and where they are the most beneficial to the ecosystem and how much can they contribute to preserve the ecosystem.

Entomologist (Morphology)

Morphology Entomologists are involved in the study and research of the structure and body parts of the insects and other physical aspects of the insects’ body. The entomologists specializing in the area of morphology would also study the recent developments and changes in the body of the insects and how would they adapt to changes in the environment or climate in the future.

Entomologist (Pathology)

Pathology Entomologists are involved in the study and research of the causes and effects of diseases in insects. They study how these insects get affected from pathogens/ bacteria or other disease carrying agents and analyse the methods that can be used to diagnose these diseases.

Entomologist (Physiology)

Physiological Entomologists are involved in the study and research of the behavioural functions and systems of the insects. They analyse and experiment how certain insects behave and react to altered environments and changed conditions.

Entomologist (Taxonomy)

Taxonomy Entomologists are involved in naming and classifying specific groups of insects on the basis of similar characteristics and body traits. The ecologists specializing in taxonomy usually analyse and then classify the insects into specific domain, kingdom, division, class, order, family, genus, and species.

Career Growth

1. After the Master’s degree, if you have started as a Research Associate/ Research Assistant then you can become a Senior Research Associate. You need to have a Ph.D. to progress further as an Entomologist in your area of research.

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 growth would be limited as you would not grow designation wise. Your tenure would be 1-3 or more years.

4. After Ph.D., if you begin as a Scientist, then you will progress as: Scientist – Lead Scientist or 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 – 30,000 per 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 per month.

3. If you begin your career after a Ph.D. as a Post-Doctoral Fellow, you will earn around Rs.42, 000 – 49,000 a month.

4. If you begin your career after a Ph.D. as a Scientist, you will earn around Rs.51, 294 – 2, 78,236 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.