Molecular and Cellular Biologists
Official O*NET title: Molecular and Cellular Biologists (19-1029.02)
Also called: cell biologist, molecular biologist, research scientist
Do you do this at work?
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Do you do this at work?
Prepare or review reports, manuscripts, or meeting presentations
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing molecular and cellular biologists work
7 of 19 measurable main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Amber (some AI use) — 37%.
This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Prepare or review reports, manuscripts, or meeting presentations (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Write grant applications to obtain funding (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Conduct applied research aimed at improvements in areas such as disease testing, crop quality, pharmaceuticals, and the harnessing of microbes to recycle waste (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Instruct undergraduate and graduate students within the areas of cellular or molecular biology (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Design molecular or cellular laboratory experiments, oversee their execution, and interpret results (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Perform laboratory procedures following protocols including deoxyribonucleic acid sequencing, cloning and extraction, ribonucleic acid purification, or gel electrophoresis (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Evaluate new technologies to enhance or complement current research (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Maintain accurate laboratory records and data (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Conduct research on cell organization and function (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Direct, coordinate, organize, or prioritize biological laboratory activities (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Compile and analyze molecular or cellular experimental data and adjust experimental designs as necessary (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Provide scientific direction for project teams regarding the evaluation or handling of devices, drugs, or cells for in vitro and in vivo disease models (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Supervise technical staff and postdoctoral research fellows (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Monitor or operate specialized equipment (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Develop guidelines for procedures such as the management of viruses (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Develop assays that monitor cell characteristics (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Coordinate molecular or cellular research activities with scientists specializing in other fields (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Verify all financial, physical, and human resources assigned to research or development projects are used as planned (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Evaluate new supplies and equipment to make sure operability in specific laboratory settings (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Participate in all levels of bioproduct development — some recorded AI use
- Talk with vendors to evaluate new equipment or reagents or to discuss the customization of product lines to meet user requirements — no recorded AI use
- Design databases — no recorded AI use
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Prepare or review reports, manuscripts, or meeting presentations”. Try the prompt for: “Write grant applications to obtain funding”.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. The first 2 weeks are free; Premium (coming soon) adds weeks 3–12. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and molecular and cellular biologists
Will AI replace molecular and cellular biologists?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 7 of the 19 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Amber rating (some AI use). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 14 of the 22 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which molecular biologist tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: prepare or review reports, manuscripts, or meeting presentations; write grant applications to obtain funding; conduct applied research aimed at improvements in areas such as disease testing, crop quality, pharmaceuticals, and the harnessing of microbes to recycle waste.
Which molecular biologist tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: maintain accurate laboratory records and data; conduct research on cell organization and function; direct, coordinate, organize, or prioritize biological laboratory activities. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 78% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a molecular biologist start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.
See how this job ranks
Molecular and Cellular Biologists ranks #218 of 572 jobs for the share of main tasks with AI use (#1 = most), and #32 of 45 in Science & Research.
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