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Science & Research · Updated Aug 2026

Molecular and Cellular Biologists

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

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
65/100
High

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
Confidence82/100
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
Perform laboratory procedures following protocols including deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequencing, cloning and extraction, ribonucleic acid (RNA) purification, or gel electrophoresis.High
80
Conduct research on cell organization and function, including mechanisms of gene expression, cellular bioinformatics, cell signaling, or cell differentiation.High
78
Direct, coordinate, organize, or prioritize biological laboratory activities.High
72
Supervise technical personnel and postdoctoral research fellows.High
79
Compile and analyze molecular or cellular experimental data and adjust experimental designs as necessary.High
80
Provide scientific direction for project teams regarding the evaluation or handling of devices, drugs, or cells for in vitro and in vivo disease models.High
80
Instruct undergraduate and graduate students within the areas of cellular or molecular biology.High
62
Prepare or review reports, manuscripts, or meeting presentations.High
80
Monitor or operate specialized equipment, such as gas chromatographs and high pressure liquid chromatographs, electrophoresis units, thermocyclers, fluorescence activated cell sorters, and phosphorimagers.Medium
62
Design molecular or cellular laboratory experiments, oversee their execution, and interpret results.High
40
Evaluate new technologies to enhance or complement current research.High
80
Conduct applied research aimed at improvements in areas such as disease testing, crop quality, pharmaceuticals, and the harnessing of microbes to recycle waste.Medium
78
Verify all financial, physical, and human resources assigned to research or development projects are used as planned.Medium
79
Coordinate molecular or cellular research activities with scientists specializing in other fields.Medium
78
Participate in all levels of bioproduct development, including proposing new products, performing market analyses, designing and performing experiments, and collaborating with operations and quality control teams during product launches.Medium
79
Develop guidelines for procedures such as the management of viruses.Medium
79
Evaluate new supplies and equipment to ensure operability in specific laboratory settings.Medium
79
Confer with vendors to evaluate new equipment or reagents or to discuss the customization of product lines to meet user requirements.Low
79
Most exposed

Where AI can do more

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

  1. Perform laboratory procedures following protocols including deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequencing, cloning and extraction, ribonucleic acid (RNA) purification, or gel electrophoresis.80
  2. Compile and analyze molecular or cellular experimental data and adjust experimental designs as necessary.80
  3. Provide scientific direction for project teams regarding the evaluation or handling of devices, drugs, or cells for in vitro and in vivo disease models.80
  4. Prepare or review reports, manuscripts, or meeting presentations.80
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. Design molecular or cellular laboratory experiments, oversee their execution, and interpret results.01
  2. Monitor or operate specialized equipment, such as gas chromatographs and high pressure liquid chromatographs, electrophoresis units, thermocyclers, fluorescence activated cell sorters, and phosphorimagers.02
  3. Instruct undergraduate and graduate students within the areas of cellular or molecular biology.03
  4. Direct, coordinate, organize, or prioritize biological laboratory activities.04
  5. Conduct research on cell organization and function, including mechanisms of gene expression, cellular bioinformatics, cell signaling, or cell differentiation.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 dependency57
Physical dependency36
Adoption pressure62
Labour-market resilience54
Methodology & sources

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

Confidence82/100
CalculatedAug 21, 2026
Read methodology →