Writer: Carol Dolan BS RN BSN CDE
Defining “Physiologist”
What is a Physiologist?
Physiology is a broad area of science that studies the physical actions that take place for a living system to function. As a physiologist you can study anything from single celled life forms to Aspen trees. Typically, as a physiologist you will specialize in a particular area of expertise. You will further narrow your field of study and treatment within that area.
As a Physiologist you will be highly trained in medical sciences with a master’s degree or doctoral degree. Professionals study how humans, plants, animals and cells function. This field is growing as the demand for their scientific knowledge increases. As the need to better understand how living things function and improve the health and well-being of humans increases, this field will continue to grow.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov), Medical Scientists in general can expect a higher-than-average expected job growth. Jobs are projected to grow at 10 percent from 2022 to 2032. This is much faster than the average for all occupations. You can expect a median income of $99,930 per year as of May 2022. You can expect this income to vary according to:
- specialty
- experience
- education
- geographical location.
What Types of Physiologists Are There?
There are many different types of physiologists, with areas of specialization within each area. Physiology fields include:
- Clinical Physiology
- Animal Physiology
- Plant Physiology
- Cell Physiology
- Exercise Physiology
As a Physiologist you may become an expert with a narrow or broad focus in each area.
- Animal Physiologists study the cell and organ structure of animals. They also study and research animal functions including reproduction, movement, and growth, with both animals in captivity and those in natural habitats.
- Clinical Physiologists work with humans as medical professionals working alongside doctors to diagnose, treat, and anticipate health problems. As a Clinical Physiologists you may work in sub-fields such as:
- audiology
- cardiac physiologists
- gastro-intestinal physiologists
- neurophysiologists
- respiratory physiologists
- sleep physiologists
- Plant Physiologists study living plants and their physical, chemical, and biological functions. As a Physiologist in this field you will study:
- plant cells
- genes
- molecules
- You may work to improve food production and pest control.
- Cell Physiologists study everything from the structure of ion channels and transporters to the role of cells in human behavior and disease. As a cell physiologist you will study what happens when cells don’t work properly. You will help discover new treatments for diseases such as cancer, or new methods to repair tissue through stem cell research.
- Exercise Physiologists work to analyze a patient’s fitness level to help them work toward improved health. They help patients with chronic conditions regain health and physical function to improve their quality of life.
Physiologists Who Work in Medicine
Working as a Physiologist in the medical field often provides opportunity for insight into normal body function and physiology. This provides lessons on what can go wrong in a particular state of disease. For example, physiologists developed an understanding of the different types of cells in the pancreas that release hormones to control levels of blood sugar. This information helps doctors understand and treat diabetes.
As a Physiologist working in the medical field you may work in a wide variety of areas pertaining to humans and their health. Clinical physiologists in the medical field examine and monitor organs and systems such as respiratory, cardiac, and nervous systems. This helps them treat:
- physiological diseases
- disorders
- long-term illnesses
These physiologists may work with medical doctors to assist in diagnosis and treatment of diseases. They can also help to anticipate health concerns. Your training, area of specialization, and job setting will determine what your day-to-day work looks like.
Physiologists in medicine often work in:
- hospitals
- long-term care
- sports medicine offices
- doctor’s offices
These professionals provide important insight into how the human body works and how to help it work most efficiently.
Physiologists Who Work as Animal Physiologists
Animal physiologists may have a number of titles, including:
- wildlife biologist
- biophysicist
- zoologist, among others.
These physiologists study the functions of animals during reproduction, growth, and movement, both in natural habitats and man-made animal environments. As an animal physiologist you may research factors affecting:
- animal nutrition
- reproduction
- general health.
As an animal physiologist you may find employment with:
- pharmaceutical companies
- museums
- zoos
- research organizations
- universities
- governmental agencies
Animal physiologists are often consulted before housing is built for humans or livestock, as their expertise can have an effect on animal health. They may also work in the higher education system, providing instruction to:
- future veterinarians
- animal scientists
- physiologists
The professional association for animal physiologists is the Animal Physiologists Association, which provides professional support and continuing education for those in this field.
Physiologists Who Work as Plant Physiologists
Plant physiologists typically research:
- breeding plants
- plant physiology
- increasing crop yields
- agricultural plants, trees, shrubs, and nursery stock.
These scientists also examine soils and determine means of pest control. They study the physical, biological, chemical, and mineral composition of soil and how it influences plant growth. Researching alternative soil and crop management processes may be part of what a plant physiologist does.
As consultants, plant physiologists can provide information and recommendations to farmers on how they can best use their land. They sometimes provide solutions to growing problems and land problems such as erosion.
Typical work environments include:
- universities
- private industry
- botanical gardens
- government agencies
- plant conservation organizations
- research and laboratory environments
These professionals are often part of the American Society for Horticultural Science or the American Society of Plant Scientists. These professional organizations provide support and continuing education for people in this important field.
Physiologists Who Work as Cell Physiologists
As a Cell Physiologist you study all the activities that happen in a cell to keep it alive. These are studied for a wide range of purposes:
- Animal cells
- human cells
- microorganism cells
- plant cells
Cell Physiologists working with humans help understand organ systems and their function. Cell Physiologists often help in the discovery of disease processes on the cellular level. This helps to develop cures for things like:
- cancer
- tuberculosis
- AIDS
- many other diseases.
This field of work can affect human health as well as the health of animals and plants.
The American Society for Cell Biology provides professional support for the careers and continuing education of cell physiologists.
Physiologists Who Work as Exercise Physiologists
Work as an exercise physiologist can be a rewarding field if you are interested in human performance and helping people reduce injuries and recover faster from them. As a professional exercise physiologist you will often work directly with patients to help them improve their fitness level and their health. They often help those with chronic conditions to improve or regain their ability to function.
In addition, it is common for exercise physiologists to work with athletes of all kinds and on all levels to improve their athletic performance. These health professionals use tools to evaluate their patients’ needs, and to design programs to build endurance, strength, fitness, and flexibility.
Exercise physiologists often work:
- at sports medicine and athletic training facilities creating programs to improve athletes’ performance and to help them recover from sports-related injuries
- as athletic performance consultants
- as sports directors
- as coaches
- as trainers
- rehabilitation specialists
- program coordinators
Exercise physiologists have completed their education in the field and may seek certification from the American Society of Exercise Physiologists. This is the professional organization for exercise physiology professionals, providing career and job guidance and continuing education.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are seeking to enter the challenging field of physiology you will typically begin by building a foundation with a bachelor’s degree in physiology, biology, physics, math, or engineering. This is often followed by an master’s degree (M.S.) in physiology to gain specialized training and increase your physiological research skills. Students in graduate school often participate in internships and gain lab experience to build experience in the field. Doctoral programs provide opportunities to specialize and individualize career interests in physiology, helping students to fulfill full-time faculty positions and publish works in academic journals in the field of physiology.
Strong courses in:
• biology
• math
• chemistry
• cellular biology
• organic chemistry
• calculus
• introductory courses in anatomy and immunology
• lab experience
If you are fascinated by the field of biology and are interested in solving problems, you may find physiology is a fit for your future career. As a budding scientist you likely have a strong desire to help people improve their health and lives. In addition, those considering entering the field of medicine as a physician or other medical field may find studying physiology to be a flexible and meaningful field of study that can take them toward that career goal as well.
Depending on your area of work, you may work as a Physiologists in:
• higher education
• government health agencies
• healthcare facilities
• publicly- or privately-run research facilities
• physician offices
• pharmaceutical manufacturing companies
• medical or surgical hospital
• other health-related organizations
• specialized equipment companies
• pharmaceutical companies
• fitness centers
• rehabilitation facilities
• medical & dental institutions
• biotechnology companies
• exercise physiology
• diagnosis physiology
• neurophysiology
• pharmacology
• toxicology
• pulmonary physiolog
• nephrology
• vascular biology
As a Physiologist you are considered an expert in medical sciences. You won’t often work directly with patients, animals, plants, and cellular-level research. As an expert you will analyze interactions between tissues, cells, and sub-cellular components, and may spend your days studying research subjects to find ways to improve efficiency, cure ailments, or treat disease.
When you become a Physiologist you will work with the human body to investigate human diseases, develop instruments for application in medicine, analyze biological samples, write grant proposals to further your research, and work with doctors and health departments to improve community health outcomes.
As a physiologists you may work full-time in an office or laboratory setting studying, analyzing data, or observing research. Exercise physiologists use specialized equipment to observe motion, track systems in the human body, and develop treatment plans to improve physical mobility and health. As part of the medical profession, you can be involved as a physiologist in providing healthcare services, from diagnosis to treatment of patients.
Finding a degree program that has internship opportunities, as well as meaningful capstone projects can help you in the career decision-making process. Internships in hospitals will help build the skills needed for working with patients. Internships in a lab setting will help determine if research is your thing. Seek a program that is in a good geographical area and has strong relationships with providers of internship programs in areas that may interest you.
The field of physiology promotes research studies that are aimed at improving the understanding of the mechanisms of all living things. This science focuses on discovering how molecules, cells, organs, muscles, and systems work together. Research in human physiology and medical physiology helps solve many problems related to the world around us and within us. Check out these careers, and consider if you could have the drive necessary to promote advances in this field.
By Carol Dolan BS RN BSN CDCES:
Updated December 2023
Carol graduated with her BS in Nutrition from Montclair State University and her BSN in Nursing from Rowan University. She is a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) with experience working with adults and children living with diabetes in both outpatient and inpatient settings.
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