There are countless mysteries about planets and moons, solar systems, galaxies, and the space between them. Humans are trying for ages to get the answers for our curiosity about its existence and life on it.
We are too curious about Aliens and UFOs, Asteroids and Black holes, time gaping and mapping, and can there be a possibility of other Solar systems like ours. If you want to relish the company of heavenly bodies and research its various unlimited aspects, then a Degree in Astrobiology will feed your interest.
Astrobiology is relatively a new stream that studies the origin of life, early evolution, distribution, and future of experience in the Universe. It also deals with questions related to the existence of Extraterrestrial life. It requires a comprehensive, integrated understanding of biological, planetary, and cosmic phenomena.The astrobiology program helps the student explore planetary Science, the origin of life, and extra solar planets. At the same time, students take a solid core of mathematics, physics, and biology courses, allowing them to pursue a wide range of interests.
Career Scope In Astrobiology
Students with a degree in Astrobiology can look forward to a career in:
- Astronomy.
- Geology.
- Space Sciences Research.
- Biomedical Research.
- Environment Research.
- Post-Secondary Teaching.
- University-based Research
Students often participate in Seminars and internships with local and national companies to prepare for an astrobiology career. Some of these companies are:
- NASA
- The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
- Sandia National Labs
- The American Institute of Physics
These internship opportunities allow them to gather the necessary experience and put them ahead of the competition when searching for an astrobiology career.
Education Required for Astrobiology Course
- To be a NASA scientist, you must have a bachelor's degree in physics, astrophysics, astronomy, geology, space science, or a similar field.
- If you want to pursue this degree after the 10+2 level, few colleges offer the Astrobiology Program for Undergraduates. The candidate applying for an undergraduate from this field must be from the science stream and must-have basics of mathematics.
- For Masters in Astrobiology minimum qualification required is the Bachelor's degree in any Science, astronomy, Space Science, geology, Chemistry, Biology, or related field from a recognized university.
- Candidates with their Bachelor's in subjects like Biogeochemistry, Microbiology, Geological Science, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, etc., also can pursue a specialized course in Astrobiology.
- There are even online courses that help the Aspirants to become Astrobiologists.
How Much Salary You Will Receive
It is a new stream, and it isn't easy to range the salary for astrobiology jobs. Taking California as the location (NAI headquarters), the salary-comparison website Vault.com estimates astrobiologists earn anywhere from $25,000 to $100,000-plus per year, depending on experience.
BiologySalary says $50,000 to $110,000, with an average of about $60,000 to $95,000. CareerBuilder has $90,000 as the average.
NASA considers the level of work and the responsibility you handle in determining and increasing salaries. The median wage stated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and those advertised by NASA, as shown in the education section, is over $100,000, which is level GS-14 and above.
Growth Opportunity in Astrobiology
Opportunities for physicists, astrophysicists, and astronomers may grow 14 percent from 2016 to 2026, which is significantly faster than employment in general. Entry-level jobs are always tough to break.
A high GPA, an advanced degree, and internships or work experience involving unusual or cutting-edge research could be a plus that sets you apart from other candidates.
