How difficult is it to pursue a career in marine mammal science?

Working with marine mammals is appealing because of strong public interest in these animals and because the work is personally rewarding. However, competition for positions is keen.

There are no statistics available on employment of students trained as marine mammal scientists. However, in 1990 the National Science Board reported some general statistics for employment of scientists within the U.S.: 75% of scientists with B.S. degrees were employed (43% of them held positions in science or engineering), 20% were in graduate school, and 5% were unemployed.

Marine mammal scientists are hired because of their skills as scientists, not because they like or want to work with marine mammals. A strong academic background in basic sciences, such as biology, chemistry, and physics, coupled with good training in mathematics and computers, is the best way to prepare for a career in marine mammal science. Persistence and diverse experiences make the most qualified individuals. Often developing a specialized scientific skill, such as acoustics analysis, biostatistics, genetic analysis, or biomolecuIar techniques, provides a competitive edge.