Professor, Life Sciences

Working Schedule

Life Science Professors typically work full-time during the academic year, often teaching several classes each week. Beyond scheduled lectures or labs, they spend time prepping lessons, advising students, writing papers, running experiments, and attending meetings.

Many professors also work early mornings or late evenings—especially when research deadlines, grant proposals, or exam weeks come around. Summers may be lighter on teaching but are often busy research seasons.

Typical Duties

• Develop and teach courses in biology, life sciences, and related fields.
• Lead lab sessions and guide students through hands-on experiments.
• Conduct independent or collaborative scientific research.
• Write and publish scientific papers, reports, and grant proposals.
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students on academic and career pathways.
• Review assignments, grade exams, and provide student feedback.
• Stay updated on scientific advancements in their specialty area.

Additional Responsibilities

• Overseeing laboratory safety protocols.
• Managing research budgets, laboratory equipment, and grant funds.
• Participating in departmental meetings and committees.
• Advising student research groups or academic clubs.
• Representing the university at conferences or outreach events.

A Life Science Professor might begin the morning prepping slides for an 8:00 AM lecture on cell processes. After class, they meet with students during office hours—answering questions, reviewing research proposals, and offering academic guidance.

Midday might be spent in the lab checking on experiments, taking samples, or analyzing data with research assistants. Later in the afternoon, they may attend a faculty meeting or review a student’s draft thesis. By evening, they could be reading scientific literature, writing a grant proposal, or preparing tomorrow’s lab activities.

“Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.” — Theodosius Dobzhansky

Soft Skills:

• Clear communication
• Patience
• Empathy
• Curiosity and continuous learning
• Strong organization
• Problem-solving
• Time management
• Collaboration
• Perseverance during long research phases

Technical Skills:

• Laboratory techniques (PCR, microscopy, culturing, etc.)
• Data analysis and scientific writing
• Research design and statistical methods
• Knowledge of safety protocols and lab management
• Grant writing
• Use of scientific software and databases
• Academic presentation and publication skills

• Teaching Professors / Lecturers – Focus mainly on instruction and student support.
• Research Professors – Spend most of their time conducting experiments and publishing.
• Tenure-Track Faculty – Balance teaching, research, and service responsibilities.
• Adjunct Professors – Part-time instructors often teaching specific courses.
• Specialized Faculty – Focus on areas like microbiology, ecology, plant sciences, marine biology, genetics, and more.

• Colleges and Universities
• Research Institutions
• Government Research Agencies
• Hospitals
• Medical Schools
• Biotechnology Companies
• Pharmaceutical Companies
• Scientific Societies and Professional Associations

Life Sciences Professors work in an environment that demands curiosity, stamina, and a genuine passion for teaching and research. While the role might look flexible from the outside, the reality is that balancing classroom responsibilities with ongoing scientific research can be challenging and time-consuming.

Scientific progress in academia rarely happens quickly. Research projects can span months or even years before producing publishable results, and many experiments fail before they succeed. Professors must learn to navigate these setbacks while continuing to mentor students, revise course materials, and keep up with new discoveries in their field.

The workload can be intense. During peak periods—like grading seasons, conference deadlines, or lab experiments—professors may put in long hours, including evenings and weekends. They often juggle multiple roles: instructor, researcher, advisor, committee member, and sometimes even department administrator. Each role comes with expectations that can pile up fast.

Securing research funding is another major pressure point. Grant writing can be repetitive and stressful, especially since funding is limited and competition is fierce. A single project may require multiple proposals before receiving approval, which means professors must constantly justify the value of their ideas while still managing their teaching load.

Despite these challenges, many Life Sciences Professors say the rewards—the breakthroughs in the lab, the excitement of students discovering new concepts, and the chance to contribute to scientific knowledge—make the sacrifices worthwhile.

• AI and automation in research: Professors are using artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automated lab tools to analyze massive biological datasets faster than ever before.
• Hands-on, inquiry-based teaching: Colleges are moving away from memorization-heavy courses and toward active learning, where students design experiments, analyze real data, and solve real-world problems.
• Growth of STEM equity and inclusion initiatives: Many life science departments are creating programs to support underrepresented students, making science more accessible and diverse.
• Global collaboration: Research is increasingly international, with professors partnering with labs around the world on shared projects—especially in climate science, epidemiology, and genomics.
• Sustainability-focused research funding: Governments and foundations are investing in research related to conservation, renewable energy, agriculture, and climate resilience.
• Remote and hybrid research tools: Cloud-based platforms now allow students and researchers to access data, run simulations, and collaborate even when they’re not physically on campus.
• Rise of citizen science: Professors are involving the public in large-scale data collection projects—such as wildlife counts, biodiversity tracking, and environmental monitoring.
• Entrepreneurship in science: More life science faculty are launching startups or partnering with biotech companies to bring scientific discoveries to the marketplace.
• Emphasis on communication skills: Universities are encouraging scientists to improve their ability to communicate research to the public, policymakers, and media.
• Ethical training in emerging technologies: With rapid advancements in gene editing, synthetic biology, and AI, professors are integrating bioethics discussions into their courses and research programs.

Future Life Science Professors often loved activities that sparked curiosity about nature and how things work. They might have enjoyed exploring tide pools, growing plants, caring for animals, building science fair projects, or watching STEM videos online. Many read books about wildlife, human biology, or space. Others spent time helping classmates understand homework or leading school science clubs.

These early interests usually reflect a desire to ask questions, experiment, observe patterns, and share knowledge with others—skills that become central to their future careers.