Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Biology Expert

🎯 Role Definition

The Biology Expert is a scientifically grounded specialist who leverages advanced biological knowledge to design, execute and interpret research activities, inform organisational strategy and translate biological insights into actionable outcomes. As a key contributor to cross-disciplinary teams, you will ensure scientific rigour, maintain high standards of data integrity and contribute to innovation in biology-driven projects. The role suits individuals comfortable working independently and collaboratively in dynamic environments, with strong communication, analytical thinking and domain expertise.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Biology Research Associate
Senior Laboratory Scientist – Biology
Biology Specialist (mid‐level)

Advancement To:

Senior Biology Expert / Principal Scientist – Biology
Biology Strategy Lead or Team Manager
Director of Biological Research & Development

Lateral Moves:

Bioinformatics Specialist
Product Development Scientist – Biology
Regulatory Science Expert – Biology

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design, plan and execute advanced biological experiments (molecular, cellular, ecological or organismal) to test hypotheses and generate novel insights. (based on templates from biologist & molecular biology roles)
Collect, curate and analyse biological data from laboratory and/or field studies, applying statistical and computational methods to derive valid conclusions.
Develop and optimise laboratory workflows, protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to improve efficiency, reproducibility and scientific quality.
Maintain rigorous documentation of methods, raw data, results, and metadata to ensure transparency, reproducibility and regulatory compliance.
Present biological findings to scientific and non-scientific stakeholders through reports, presentations, posters or publications, translating complex concepts into clear insights.
Stay current with the latest advances in biological science (literature review, attending conferences, internal workshops) and integrate best practices into projects.
Collaborate cross-functionally with teams such as R&D, product development, bioinformatics, regulatory affairs and external partners to align biological objectives with business goals.
Supervise, mentor or train junior scientists, research associates or lab technicians, fostering a culture of high performance and scientific integrity.
Manage biological reagents, cell lines, animal models, sample inventories and laboratory equipment, ensuring they are maintained, validated and operated correctly.
Conduct peer review of internal scientific work, ensure the accuracy of experimental design, and provide feedback for improvement of experiments and methods.
Participate in or lead grant writing, funding applications, and strategic planning of biology-driven research programmes.
Evaluate and implement cutting-edge techniques and technology platforms (e.g., next-generation sequencing, CRISPR, flow cytometry) to advance the biological agenda.
Ensure compliance with laboratory safety standards, ethical guidelines, and regulatory requirements relevant to biological research and data handling.
Provide expert interpretation of biological results and recommend next-steps or strategic direction based on data insights.
Translate biological research findings into business-relevant outputs (commercialisation, product development, regulatory submissions).
Drive continuous improvement and innovation within the biology function: identify bottlenecks, propose enhancements and adopt emerging methods.
Manage complex biological projects, timelines and budgets, tracking progress, mitigating risk and reporting to senior management.
Independently author scientific manuscripts, technical reports and white-papers that communicate findings and support organisational positioning as a scientific leader.
Lead or support field-based studies, ecological sampling or biological monitoring as relevant to organisational research aims.
Curate, annotate and structure large sets of biological questions, problems or datasets (especially in data-driven or AI-training contexts) to ensure scientific quality and domain-relevance.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc biological modelling, simulation or exploratory data analysis tasks to inform strategic or operational decisions.
Contribute to the organisation’s biological science strategy and future roadmap, advising on emerging areas and scientific investment.
Collaborate with business units or product teams to translate biological insights into engineering requirements or product specifications.
Participate in agile-style planning, retrospective and sprint ceremonies where applicable to cross-functional biology-engineering or data teams.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Advanced expertise in biological sciences: molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, ecology, physiology.
Proficiency with laboratory techniques and instrumentation (PCR, gel electrophoresis, flow cytometry, microscopy, NGS, CRISPR).
Competence in designing experiments, developing protocols, optimising assays and bibliometric/literature review.
Strong data analysis and interpretation skills: statistical methods, bioinformatics tools or computational biology.
Experience with managing biological samples, reagents, cell lines, animal models or field specimens.
Excellent scientific writing and presentation skills, including drafting manuscripts, reports or technical documents.
Familiarity with regulatory, safety and ethical standards governing biological research.
Ability to use electronics/automation or advanced lab equipment and stay current with emerging biological technologies.
Project management skills: ability to scope, deliver, track and report on biology projects.
Ability to independently curate, annotate or develop domain-specific content (for example, AI-training datasets) with strong accuracy and quality.

Soft Skills

Exceptional communication and collaboration: able to articulate complex biological concepts clearly to diverse audiences.
Analytical thinking and problem-solving mindset: comfortable tackling ambiguity and designing thoughtful solutions.
Attention to detail, precision and organizational discipline in experimental design, documentation and analysis.
Initiative and self-motivation: able to work independently, prioritise responsibilities and meet deadlines with minimal supervision.
Flexibility and adaptability: thrive in dynamic environments and adjust focus as scientific priorities evolve.
Leadership and mentorship: comfortable guiding junior team members and elevating team output consistently.
Strategic thinking: able to contribute to broader research strategy, scientific vision and organisational goals.
Integrity and ethical mindset: committed to responsible science, accurate reporting and data ethics.
Customer/Stakeholder orientation: able to align scientific work with organisational and end-user needs.
Lifelong learning mindset: keen to stay abreast of scientific trends, tools and methods and drive continuous improvement.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Biological Sciences, Biotechnology, Biochemistry or a related field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree or PhD in Biology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Ecology or a related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Biology
Biochemistry
Molecular Biology
Biotechnology
Ecology
Genetics

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2-5 years of relevant experience in biological research, laboratory or field work.

Preferred:

Several years of independent research or applied biology experience, evidence of publications or domain-specific accomplishments.
Experience working in cross-functional teams, managing biological projects, contributing to organisational strategy or product development.