Professional opportunities
Functions:
The highly qualified, multidisciplinary training enables graduates in Ecobiology to perform:
- positions of high responsibility in professional and project fields in the scientific, biological, and environmental fields;
- organizational roles in dissemination activities of biological and environmental sciences.
The Ecobiologist is a professional with high scientific training capable of identifying environmental problems, even at an early stage, analyzing their causes, and identifying solutions, including experimental ones, primarily aimed at: environmental management and monitoring, pest control, conservation of wild species populations, recovery or restoration of habitats and ecosystems, and improvement of the quality of natural and human-made habitats (including agricultural and urban ones). They will be able to assess the impacts of activities and/or projects and propose alternative or offsetting solutions for environmental impacts. This professional works within or for public entities or private companies.
In large public or private organizations, the role of Environmental Consultant (ECO) is capable of organizing and complementing other professional profiles with diverse technical expertise, such as geologists, engineers, and architects.
Skills:
- Advanced ability to collect and analyze biological data, including the physiological status of living organisms, with particular reference to the state of biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and the efficiency of ecosystem services for humans.
- Ability to manage information systems related to biological data, including in conjunction with abiological environmental parameters.
- Ability to create thematic biological-naturalistic maps using geographic information systems, remote sensing data, and related databases.
- Ability to develop and implement environmental monitoring technologies based on living organisms as indicators.
- Knowledge of the design and implementation of environmental impact assessment plans for production processes.
- Knowledge of the design of biological and naturalistic redevelopment interventions aimed at reducing or
mitigating anthropogenic impacts.
- Knowledge of environmental genomics and transcriptomics, as well as molecular systematics, and the principles of wildlife and land conservation for natural resource management.
- Knowledge of mathematical, statistical, and IT tools for environmental data analysis.
- Knowledge of conservation biological pest management for improving food production in agriculture and habitat management.
- Knowledge of environmental microbiology for the restoration of degraded areas.
Career Opportunities:
Biology is a professional profile recognized by the National Association of Biologists, and graduates in Ecobiology may join after passing a state exam. Due to their training and ability to address and solve problems, Ecobiologists may find employment in:
- public and private research laboratories; - agencies for scientific research, experimentation, and technological innovation in the environmental, agricultural and agro-industrial, forestry, marine, and fisheries sectors;
- certification laboratories for environmental quality and its resources;
- environmental protection agencies and local, regional, and national public bodies overseeing environmental control and monitoring;
- parks, reserves, or other types of protected areas, and aquaculture facilities;
- organizations of EU and international importance;
- freelance professionals in relevant sectors;
- scientific consulting and environmental monitoring companies and agencies;
- planning activities for environmental impact assessment and impact assessment, restoration, and management of the natural environment; Wildlife management and biodiversity conservation, for the application of those aspects of environmental legislation that require biological expertise.
- Training, dissemination, and education activities on the principles of environmental protection.
Ecobiologists will also be able to teach in schools, if they have the required credits and have completed the teacher training courses for middle and high schools required by current legislation.
The master's degree in EcoBiology also provides the knowledge necessary to pursue study and research in the various fields of environmental biology, allowing access to PhD programs, second-level master's degrees, and other advanced and specialized programs necessary for a research and management career in both the public and private sectors.