Life science and biotech careers study living things to improve health, food, and the environment. This course covers the science and lab habits these roles depend on, the safety and documentation that real labs require, and the routes in — from two-year technician roles to research degrees. It builds on the STEM Foundations course.

Biology, chemistry, the lab mindset, and how to get into research.

Foundations for Life Science & Biotech Careers

Life science sits where **biology** (how living things work) meets **chemistry** (what they're made of and how they react). Add **statistics** to tell real results from random noise, and you have the core.

But the skill that defines lab work is the **lab mindset**: patience, precision, and honesty. Experiments fail often; good scientists record exactly what happened — including the failures — because that's where the learning is. A result you can't reproduce isn't yet a result.

The sciences behind life science work — and the mindset that matters most.

Biology, chemistry, and the lab mindset

Working in a lab means working **safely and traceably**:

- **Safety** comes first — chemicals, biological samples, and equipment all carry risks, so labs have strict procedures. Following them is part of the professionalism, not a side task.
- **Instruments** (microscopes, pipettes, analyzers) only give good data when used correctly and calibrated.
- **The lab notebook** records every step so another person could repeat your work. It's also legal evidence in regulated and patent work.

These habits are exactly what employers and graduate programs look for.

Real labs run on safety rules, careful technique, and the lab notebook.

Lab safety, instruments, and documentation

Biology, chemistry, and the careful habits of the lab.

How Life Science Works

Life science has routes at every level:

- **Technician roles** (like biological or lab technicians) are often reachable with a **two-year associate degree** plus hands-on training — a great way in.
- **Research roles** (biochemist, medical scientist) usually need a four-year degree and often a **graduate degree**.
- **Clinical and regulated roles** (like medical laboratory work) require specific degrees and **certifications**, because patient health depends on them.

Match the route to the target job: check the real requirements before committing years.

From two-year technician paths to research degrees — and where rules apply.

Degrees, certifications, and regulated roles

Your evidence in life science is your **documented lab work**:

- A clean **lab notebook** and written **protocols** (step-by-step procedures).
- **Research assistantships and internships** — even volunteering in a lab counts.
- **Posters or short reports** summarizing what you investigated and found.

**Try it:** write a simple protocol for an everyday "experiment" (for example, which paper towel brand absorbs the most water). List your materials, your steps, your measurements, and how you'd keep the test fair.

Evidence: lab notebooks, protocols, and internships

Degrees, certifications, regulated roles, and evidence.

Foundations for Life Science & Biotech Careers

About this course

Course content

How Life Science Works

Getting Into the Lab