Employers

Opportunities for bioenergy and biofuels workers are available throughout the United States, although certain areas of the country may offer better opportunities than others. For example, the majority of ethanol production takes place in the Midwest. Top states for ethanol production include Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Indiana. Scientists, biologists, and researchers work for universities, laboratories, and research institutes, as well as government agencies and private firms. According to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), there are about 80,500 environmental scientists employed in the United States. Twenty-six percent of environmental scientists work for state government agencies. About 21 percent work for management, scientific, and technical consulting services; 14 percent are employed by local government agencies, 10 percent work for engineering services, and 6 percent for the federal government. Others work for consulting firms.

The DOL reports that 133,050 biological scientists are employed in the United States. (This number does not include the many who hold biology faculty positions in colleges and universities, as these are categorized as postsecondary teaching jobs.) Federal, state, and local governments employ a large percentage of all biological scientists. The U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Interior, and Defense and the National Institutes of Health are the main employers of federal biological scientists. The remainder work in scientific research and testing laboratories, the pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing industry, or colleges and universities.

Agricultural and food scientists hold 35,400 positions. They work for federal, state, and local agencies; agricultural service companies; commercial research and development laboratories, seed companies; wholesale distributors; and food products companies.

Agricultural and food science technicians hold 38,800 jobs, and biological technicians hold 81,400 jobs. Government agencies and scientific and technical service firms are their main employers.

There are approximately 47,300 environmental engineers, 1,600 agricultural engineers, and 20,800 chemical engineers employed in the United States. Many work in manufacturing industries and in the professional, scientific, and technical services sector. And of the 222,100 industrial production managers employed in the United States, most work in manufacturing industries.

Starting Out

Internships, part-time jobs, and volunteer gigs are great ways to explore the bioenergy and biofuels field and see if this type of work suits you. Visit the Web sites of professional associations in the areas that interest you and see if there are opportunities to volunteer and get involved. You can also find useful information about the renewable and clean energy industry by visiting the U.S. Department of Energys Clean Energy Jobs section at https://www.energy.gov/eere/education/eere-stem-and-education.

Scientists and biologists can advance to more senior-management positions, such as department directors or regional supervisors. Plant and product managers with years of experience and proven track records can advance to regional manager, vice president, or a similar position of higher authority. Some workers may decide to freelance as consultants or start their own companies. Others can advance by teaching in colleges and universities, speaking at conferences held by industry associations, and writing papers and books on their area of specialty. Obtaining certification may not be required for some positions, but it can be attractive to prospective employers as it demonstrates knowledge in that subject. Getting a masters degree or Ph.D. can also help boost a candidates chances for employment in certain areas of the bioenergy and biofuels field.

Read publications such as Biofuels International (https://biofuels-news.com) and Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts (https://biotechnologyforbiofuels.biomedcentral.com) to learn more about trends in the industry and potential employers.

Visit the following Web sites for job listings:

• https://www.energy.gov/eere/education/clean-energy-jobs-and-planning
• https://www.midwestrenew.org/jobs
• https://www.nspe.org/resources/career-center
• https://www.science.org/careers
• https://environmentalcareer.com
• https://biotech-careers.org/biotech-jobs
• https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Jobs/Entry-Level-Biofuel

Visit https://www.biotech-careers.org/biotech-companies for a list of biotechnology employers by state.

Attend the Renewable Fuels Association’s annual National Ethanol Conference and other industry events to network and interview for jobs.