Molecular and Cellular Biologists

Research and study cellular molecules and organelles to understand cell function and organization.

What They Do

Molecular and cellular biologists investigate the fundamental building blocks of life by examining how cells function at the molecular level. They spend their days conducting laboratory experiments to understand how proteins, DNA, RNA, and other molecules interact within cells and influence everything from growth to disease development. Their work involves using sophisticated equipment like electron microscopes, spectrophotometers, and gene sequencers to observe cellular processes that are invisible to the naked eye.

Programs That Prepare You

College programs linked to this occupation, ranked by graduate earnings

Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology(masters)University of Pennsylvania, PA
$185,874
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences(masters)Duke University, NC
$171,112
Biology(masters)Johns Hopkins University, MD
$153,622
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology(masters)University of Washington-Seattle Campus, WA
$150,114
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology(masters)Harvard University, MA
$142,377
Applied Mathematics(masters)Vanderbilt University, TN
$134,475
Applied Mathematics(masters)Johns Hopkins University, MD
$121,262
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology(doctoral)University of California-San Francisco, CA
$117,339
Applied Mathematics(bachelors)Harvard University, MA
$114,279
Pharmacology and Toxicology(professional)Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus, NJ
$113,264
Biology(doctoral)Rutgers University-New Brunswick, NJ
$106,354
Biology(doctoral)Rutgers University-Newark, NJ
$106,354
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology(masters)New York University, NY
$100,602
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology(masters)Columbia University in the City of New York, NY
$100,512
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology(masters)University of Chicago, IL
$99,193
Applied Mathematics(bachelors)Brown University, RI
$99,193
Applied Mathematics(masters)University of Washington-Seattle Campus, WA
$98,796
Applied Mathematics(bachelors)Stevens Institute of Technology, NJ
$97,700
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology(grad-cert)Columbia University in the City of New York, NY
$97,522
Biology(doctoral)Johns Hopkins University, MD
$96,695
Applied Mathematics(bachelors)Northwestern University, IL
$94,684
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology(masters)Oregon Health & Science University, OR
$93,583
Pharmacology and Toxicology(masters)Michigan State University, MI
$93,234
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology(doctoral)Johns Hopkins University, MD
$91,570
Applied Mathematics(bachelors)Columbia University in the City of New York, NY
$91,559

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