Starting a career as an entomologist offers numerous opportunities to research various species and how they interact with their environment. This career can be a good choice if you have a scientific interest in insects and the environment. Starting a career as an entomologist plays a vital role in areas such as agriculture, public health and conservation. They are involved in more industries beyond what most people know.

Entomology is the study of insects, as well as their interactions with other creatures, their habitats, and humans. They study insects, such as ants, bees, and beetles. Additionally, they also study insect activity to comprehend how it affects many fields such as agriculture and ecology. They study these insects in the wild and in laboratories. If you have a passion for insects and would like a scientific study, you could thrive as an entomologist.

In this piece, I will discuss the qualifications needed to start a career as an entomologist.

How to Start a Career as an Entomologist

1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

   You need to have a bachelor’s degree before you can start a career as an entomologist. You can obtain a bachelor’s degree in disciplines such as ecology, zoology, biology or a related field. Additionally, you can acquire skills that can help you carry out research effectively. You can take additional courses such as mathematics, statistics and computer technology.

2. Gain Practical Experience

   You can gain experience through internships or entry-level roles. You can apply to a zoo, research centres or your university. Additionally, you can also gain experience through fieldwork or laboratory work. This will allow you to gain skills such as insect identification, data collection and analysis.

3. Pursue Advanced Education

   Some positions in this field will require you to have an advanced degree. You need a master’s or PhD for positions in areas such as academia, or research. Additionally, this degree can enable you to have leadership roles on a research team.

4. Build Professional Skills

   As an entomologist, you need specific skills to help you excel in your career. You should develop your soft skills as well as your technical skills. You can build skills such as communication, critical thinking, observation and problem-solving. Additionally, you can build skills such as molecular biology, statistics, or geographic information systems (GIS).

5. Obtain Certifications

   Earning a certification can reflect a high level of knowledge and commitment to this field. Additionally, it can help you develop your skills in certain areas of your interest.

6. Join a Professional Association

   Networking with other entomologists and joining workshops and conferences can help you create professional contacts while learning about new research and career prospects. Additionally, it can enable you to have access to job opportunities as well as current research.

Types of Entomologists

1. Agricultural Entomologists: Agricultural entomologists research the relationships involving insects and crops to create techniques for managing insect pests and increasing the quality of crops.
2. Veterinary Entomologists: They work to develop defences against insect pests and diseases that they spread to farm animals, wild animals, and zoo animals.
3. Forensic Entomologists: These scientists use insects in the resolution of criminal cases. Furthermore, they employ insects to establish the time and place of death which they use to produce evidence in court situations.
4. Taxonomic Entomologists: Taxonomic entomologists specialise in the categorization and characterization of insects. Additionally, they research the anatomy, genetic makeup and behaviour of insects to identify new species as well as comprehend the connections between them.
5. Medical Entomologists: These scientists research insects that can cause illnesses in humans. Furthermore, they study the biology and behaviour of these insects to regulate their populations and avoid disease spread.
6. Urban Entomologists: Urban entomologists research the relationships of insects and humans in urban areas.

Universities that Offer Ecology or related Degrees in Africa

1. Cairo University, Egypt
2. University of Lagos, Nigeria
3. Ain Shams University, Egypt
4. University of Johannesburg, South Africa
5. Alexandria University, Egypt
6. University of Witwatersrand, South Africa
7. Mansoura University, Egypt
8. University of Cape Town, South Africa
9. Assiut University, Egypt
10. University of Monastir, Tunisia
11. Sohag University, Egypt
12. University of Nigeria, Nigeria
13. Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria
14. University of Ibadan, Nigeria
15. Assiut University, Egypt
16. Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria
17. University of Carthage, Tunisia
18. University of Pretoria, South Africa
19. Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
20. University of Gondar, Ethiopia
21. University of Ilorin, Nigeria
22. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
23. University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
24. Jimma University, Ethiopia
25. University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
26. University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
27. Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria
28. University of Annaba, Algeria
29. Hawassa University, Ethiopia
30. Makerere University, Uganda

Starting a Career as an Entomologist begins with acquiring the right education and related experiences. Secondly, you should work on building scientific skills and research skills that can help you thrive effectively. As an entomologist, you can work in places such as universities, government agencies or non-private organisations.

Good luck!

Click to discover an extensive list of local and international schools offering courses and programs in various career path