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Science & Research · Updated Aug 2026

Biologists

Research or study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and functions.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
AI Exposure
73/100
High

How much of this occupation’s work can be materially affected by current AI systems.

Replacement Risk
58/100
Moderate

How likely exposure is to translate into reduced human demand.

Includes provisional estimates for AI adoption pressure and labour-market resilience. How this is measured

Evidence quality
Confidence83/100
Task coverage85%

Confidence reflects task coverage, mapping and capability-evidence quality, and how much of the score rests on provisional inputs.

Task-level evidence

What is driving the score?

Occupation scores are built from the task mix—not a single prediction about a job title.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
TaskImportanceAI impactExposure
Program and use computers to store, process, and analyze data.High
76
Supervise biological technicians and technologists and other scientists.High
75
Study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and function.Medium
75
Identify, classify, and study structure, behavior, ecology, physiology, nutrition, culture, and distribution of plant and animal species.Medium
74
Research environmental effects of present and potential uses of land and water areas, determining methods of improving environmental conditions or such outputs as crop yields.High
75
Teach or supervise students and perform research at universities and colleges.Medium
67
Collect and analyze biological data about relationships among and between organisms and their environment.Medium
76
Review reports and proposals, such as those relating to land use classifications and recreational development, for accuracy, adequacy, or adherence to policies, regulations, or scientific standards.Medium
76
Develop and maintain liaisons and effective working relations with groups and individuals, agencies, and the public to encourage cooperative management strategies or to develop information and interpret findings.High
75
Study aquatic plants and animals and environmental conditions affecting them, such as radioactivity or pollution.Medium
74
Prepare technical and research reports, such as environmental impact reports, and communicate the results to individuals in industry, government, or the general public.High
75
Develop pest management and control measures, and conduct risk assessments related to pest exclusion, using scientific methods.Medium
74
Measure salinity, acidity, light, oxygen content, and other physical conditions of water to determine their relationship to aquatic life.Medium
57
Develop methods and apparatus for securing representative plant, animal, aquatic, or soil samples.Medium
62
Plan and administer biological research programs for government, research firms, medical industries, or manufacturing firms.Medium
75
Communicate test results to state and federal representatives and general public.Medium
75
Write grant proposals to obtain funding for biological research.Medium
76
Most exposed

Where AI can do more

Routine, digitized, and highly repeatable tasks face the greatest pressure.

  1. Program and use computers to store, process, and analyze data.76
  2. Collect and analyze biological data about relationships among and between organisms and their environment.76
  3. Review reports and proposals, such as those relating to land use classifications and recreational development, for accuracy, adequacy, or adherence to policies, regulations, or scientific standards.76
  4. Write grant proposals to obtain funding for biological research.76
Hardest to automate

Where people still matter

These tasks score lowest on automation feasibility—physical presence, judgement, accountability and real-world variability all resist end-to-end automation.

  1. Measure salinity, acidity, light, oxygen content, and other physical conditions of water to determine their relationship to aquatic life.01
  2. Develop methods and apparatus for securing representative plant, animal, aquatic, or soil samples.02
  3. Program and use computers to store, process, and analyze data.03
  4. Supervise biological technicians and technologists and other scientists.04
  5. Study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and function.05
Where else this work leads

Related occupations

Occupations O*NET links to this one. Relatedness reflects shared work, not a claim that these roles are safer.

See all rankings →
Beyond AI capability

Adoption and labour-market outlook

Structural factors are kept separate from raw capability so you can see what actually resists automation. Adoption pressure and labour-market resilience are still provisional models—25% of this occupation’s replacement-risk weight rests on them.

Human dependency67
Physical dependency47
Adoption pressure58
Labour-market resilience63
Methodology & sources

O*NET 30.3 occupational data interpreted through the JobsVsAI capability, automation and structural-constraint models.

Confidence83/100
CalculatedAug 21, 2026
Read methodology →