How to become an animal scientist
Official title: Animal scientist
Also called: Animal behaviourist, Animal geneticist, Animal nutritionist, Animal geneticist
Animal scientist conducts research into animal genetics, advanced animal husbandry methods and related matters and applies scientific knowledge to develop improved strains, improved methods of raising animals and higher yields of animal products. He/she conducts experiments to ascertain feed, housing, sanitation and other requirements for production of meat or other animal products of desired quality and for maintenance of health and strength of animals. He/she also develops improved methods of controlling animal parasites and diseases, slaughtering for meat and preparation and storage of animal products.
Main tasks
- Undertaking research in laboratories and in the field to increase scientific knowledge of living organisms
- Designing and conducting experiments and tests to discover new information to solve problems in areas such as the environment, agriculture and health, and to develop new products, processes and techniques for pharmaceutical, agricultural and environmental use
- Gathering human, animal, insect and plant specimens and data, and studying their origin, development, chemical and physical form, structure, composition, and life and reproductive processes
- Examining living organisms using a variety of specialised equipment, instruments, technologies and techniques such as electron microscopes, telemetry, global positioning systems, biotechnology, satellite imaging, genetic engineering, digital imaging analysis, polymerase chain reaction and computer modelling
- Writing scientific papers and reports detailing research and new findings which are then made available to the scientific community in scientific journals or at conferences for scrutiny and further debate
Ways in
- University: Pharmacy degrees, Offered by 2 universities in Singapore
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Generative AI could change some tasks in this job, by the ILO's global estimate.
Related jobs
- Pharmacologist
- Medical laboratory scientist
- Biochemist
- Physiologist
- Medical scientist
- Clinical research professional
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Questions people ask
How do I become an animal scientist?
Ways in include: Pharmacy degrees.
Will AI change the work of an animal scientist?
Generative AI could change some tasks in this job, by the ILO's global estimate.
Sources
- International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
Updated 4 October 2026