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CAREER GUIDE

Science & Education

Careers advancing knowledge and inspiring others, from animal science lecturing to field research and science communication.

Why should I consider a career in animal science, research, or education?

If you are driven by curiosity, love working with animals, and want to contribute to a deeper understanding of the animal world, a career in animal science, research or education could be a brilliant fit.

This is a sector that underpins almost everything else in the animal professions: the science that informs veterinary medicine, the knowledge that shapes conservation policy, the understanding of animal behaviour that transforms training and welfare, and the educators who inspire the next generation of people working with animals.

It is intellectually demanding, often collaborative, and deeply purposeful. Whether you want to study animal cognition in a university laboratory, teach animal care at a college, work as a keeper at a farm park with an educational mission, or carry out field research into endangered species, there is a career pathway here that rewards both passion and academic commitment.

 

What kinds of jobs are available?

The range of roles in this category is broader than it might first appear, spanning universities, colleges, schools, research institutes, zoos, farm parks, and charitable organisations.

In research, roles include research scientist, postdoctoral researcher, laboratory technician, animal technician, and research assistant, working across areas such as animal behaviour, physiology, genetics, nutrition, welfare science, and veterinary medicine. The UK life sciences sector employs around 300,000 people and contributes approximately £100 billion to the economy annually, and animal science is a significant component of that. Research takes place in universities, government agencies like the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), pharmaceutical companies, and independent institutes.

In education, roles include animal care lecturer, countryside ranger with an education remit, zoo education officer, farm park educator, environmental educator, and university lecturer or professor in animal-related disciplines. Many animal charities and wildlife organisations also employ dedicated education staff to deliver school programmes, public engagement, and community outreach.

Animal technicians occupy a distinctive and important role: working in licensed research facilities, they are responsible for the daily care, welfare, and health monitoring of animals used in scientific research, and are key to maintaining the ethical and regulatory standards that govern animal research in the UK.

Science communicators and wildlife media researchers work across broadcasting, publishing, and digital media, translating complex animal science for public audiences. Roles exist at natural history production companies, science museums, wildlife charities, and online education platforms.

Do I need qualifications to work in science, education, or research?Qualifications matter significantly in this sector, though the level required varies by role.

For research positions, a degree in a relevant subject such as Animal Science, Zoology, Biological Sciences, Veterinary Science, or Neuroscience is typically the minimum entry point, with many research roles requiring a Masters or PhD.

For those interested in animal research specifically, the IAT (Institute of Animal Technology) offers a structured professional qualification pathway from Technician Certificate through to Fellowship, which is the recognised professional standard for animal technicians in the UK.

For education roles, a teaching qualification such as a PGCE or Diploma in Education and Training is usually required for college-level lecturing.

Zoo and farm park education roles tend to value a combination of subject knowledge, communication skills, and experience working with the public, alongside relevant animal qualifications.

For environmental education roles, experience with youth work, ranger qualifications, or a degree in environmental science or education are all relevant pathways.
Job security and demand: is a career in animal science, research or education stable?Both sectors offer good long-term stability.

The UK life sciences sector is growing: vacancies increased by 5.2% in 2024, and projections indicate a need for approximately 145,000 skilled workers over the next decade, including 70,000 newly created jobs by 2035.

Animal science sits within this broader life sciences growth story, with increasing investment in areas like animal health monitoring, One Health research (which links human, animal, and environmental health), and alternatives to animal testing. In education, the sector employs approximately 3.5 million people across the UK and has grown steadily since the late 1990s.

Animal care and veterinary nursing remain popular course choices at further education level, sustaining demand for qualified lecturers and instructors.

Research funding cycles and academic job markets can be competitive and sometimes precarious in the early career stages, particularly for those on fixed-term postdoctoral contracts, but the long-term demand for skilled researchers and educators in the animal sciences remains strong.

£100 billion

Annual contribution of the UK life sciences sector to the economy, employing around 300,000 people, with animal science a significant part of the picture

70,000

New jobs projected to be created in UK life sciences by 2035, sustaining long-term demand for animal scientists and researchers

866,000+

Educational visits hosted by BIAZA member zoos and aquariums in 2025, with public education a legal requirement under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981

Source: UK Life Sciences Sector Plan, 2025

Source: BioIndustry Association, 2025

Source: BIAZA Annual Report, 2025

£100 billion

Annual contribution of the UK life sciences sector to the economy, employing around 300,000 people, with animal science a significant part of the picture

Source: UK Life Sciences Sector Plan, 2025

70,000

New jobs projected to be created in UK life sciences by 2035, sustaining long-term demand for animal scientists and researchers

Source: BioIndustry Association, 2025

866,000+

Educational visits hosted by BIAZA member zoos and aquariums in 2025, with public education a legal requirement under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981

Source: BIAZA Annual Report, 2025

The good bits

  • Intellectual depth and curiosity. Research and education are careers for people who never stop asking questions, and the animal sciences offer a genuinely fascinating range of problems to explore
  • Contributing to knowledge that matters. Whether you are studying the welfare needs of a species in captivity or developing a new treatment for an animal disease, research work has real downstream impact on the lives of animals and people
  • Inspiring others. Education roles carry the particular reward of seeing students develop a passion for animals and science, and knowing you played a part in shaping their career
  • Collaboration and community. Research environments tend to be collegiate and intellectually stimulating, with regular opportunities to engage with international scientific communities
  • Variety of settings. From university laboratories to farm parks, from field research stations to college classrooms, the environments you can work in are genuinely diverse
  • Growing sector. Life sciences investment and the expansion of animal welfare science as a discipline are both creating new roles and new types of careers in this space

The not-so-good bits

  • The early career research path can be precarious. Many postdoctoral research positions are fixed-term and grant-funded, meaning job security in the early stages of an academic career can be uncertain
  • Salaries in education and research are not always commensurate with the level of qualification required, particularly at university lecturer and early postdoc level
  • The academic job market is competitive. Securing a permanent lectureship or research position at a university requires significant persistence, publication output, and often several years of postdoctoral experience
  • Animal research involves ethical complexity. Working with animals in a research context requires a clear-eyed understanding of the ethical framework governing animal use in science, and not everyone finds that easy to navigate emotionally
  • Education roles can involve significant administrative burden alongside the teaching and animal care work, particularly in further education settings
  • Fieldwork and research can involve irregular hours, travel, and time away from home, particularly for those working on wildlife or international research projects

Watch & Listen

Read

Explore

  • Institute of Animal Technology (IAT) - the professional body for animal technicians, with qualification pathways and career resources
  • APHA Science Blog (Animal and Plant Health Agency) - a government agency employing veterinary and scientific staff across animal health and disease research
  • Understanding Animal Research - useful background on the regulatory and ethical framework for animal research in the UK
  • RSPCA Science Group - provides the scientific basis that helps enable the Society to advance animal welfare effectively

Where can I find animal focussed jobs in science, education or research jobs?

You're already in the right place! Browse our Science & Education jobs to see the latest roles from across the UK.

If you are intellectually curious, passionate about animals, and motivated by the idea of contributing to knowledge or inspiring others, a career in animal education or research offers genuine depth and long-term reward. The path in requires academic commitment, but the work is among the most stimulating and impactful you can do in the animal sector. Take a look at our current listings and see what is out there.

We also recommend checking:

  • jobs.ac.uk - the definitive source for university and research institute positions
  • APHA Careers 
  • Countryside Jobs Service  - for environmental education and ranger roles
  • Individual university websites - many research and technician roles are advertised directly on university careers pages before appearing on general job boards

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