Biological Technicians

People in this career often have these skills:

• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
• Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

People in this career often know a lot about:

• Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

People in this career often have talent in:

• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• 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 that there is a problem.
• Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
• Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

People in this career often do these activities:

• Collect biological specimens.
• Monitor operational procedures in technical environments to ensure conformance to standards.
• Research microbiological or chemical processes or structures.
• Interpret research or operational data.
• Record research or operational data.

• Prepare biological samples for testing or analysis.
• Set up laboratory or field equipment.
• Clean objects.
• Care for plants or animals.
• Analyze chemical compounds or substances.
• Examine characteristics or behavior of living organisms.
• Order materials, supplies, or equipment.
• Manage agricultural or forestry operations.

• Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists

• Agricultural Technicians

• Chemical Technicians

• Food Science Technicians

• Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians

• Forensic Science Technicians

• Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health

• Social Science Research Assistants

• Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians