What Do Biological Anthropologists Do?
Most biological anthropologists teach and do research at universities and colleges around the country. Some teach in high schools, as well. Others work for various state and federal government agencies, and still others are privately employed.
At colleges and universities, they can be found in departments of anthropology, anatomy, biological sciences, human biology, zoology, in medical school departments, and also in combined departments of sociology and anthropology or social sciences. Those who study primates are often in departments of biology or psychology or on the staffs of zoos or zoological research institutes. Human paleontologists may be employed in departments of paleontology, prehistory, or geology, or as staff members of natural history museums, such as the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Biological anthropologists who work with living peoples may work at medical schools, or be found in departments of physiology, nutrition, or genetics, or programs of physical education and athletics.
Besides teaching and research, biological anthropologists may do forensic (medical/legal) consultation (skeletal identification or DNA fingerprinting) for law enforcement agencies to assist in solving crimes. There are many and varied professional opportunities for biological anthropologists.
Why is Biological Anthropology an Exciting and Rewarding Profession?
A profession that is stimulating and satisfying can make an individual's life an extremely enriching experience. Several things make the lives of professional biological anthropologists very exciting. There is the enjoyment of scientific research, with endless questions to be answered and discoveries to be made. Second, there is the opportunity to write and communicate the findings of your research to audiences of all kinds and all ages. Third, teaching, while hard work, is very rewarding; students provide a constant source of stimulation.
Finally, most biological anthropologists do research in what is called the "field," outside of the conventional laboratory. Field research can take place in relatively exotic places such as Latin America, Africa, and the Pacific, or in hospitals and zoological parks, for example--anywhere an interesting biological problem has been identified. The "field" is really worldwide and wide open!
What Opportunities are there to Study Biological Anthropology?
There are many opportunities for individuals who wish to become biological anthropologists. While few high schools offer courses specifically in biological anthropology, many have courses in anthropology or cover anthropology in social studies classes. Programs in anthropology are available at hundreds of universities and colleges around the country, and most have courses in biological anthropology.