Table 1Transition record

biologisttobiophysicist

A biologist already meets 68% of what the biophysicist role asks for. The move turns on 13 required skills not yet in the profile.

From biologist

68%

Overlap1

To biophysicist

46 Skills carried over

13 Required, not held

48.4 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 48.4

This move: 48.4 of 100 · moderate

1 Share of the biophysicist role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the biologist profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 46 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A biophysicist role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a biologist background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held conduct genome research information skills
already held synthetic biology natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
already held conduct research on flora information skills
already held proteomics natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
already held computational biology natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
already held conduct research on fauna information skills

All 46 carried skills, including the 34 the biophysicist role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 28 missing skills fall into 10 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 communication, collaboration and creativity 4 required, 2 supplementary

required, not held manage intellectual property rights required
required, not held mentor individuals required
required, not held speak different languages required
required, not held think abstractly required

optional, not held apply blended learning optional
optional, not held teach in academic or vocational contexts optional

02 information skills 3 required, 3 supplementary

required, not held analyse experimental laboratory data required
required, not held integrate gender dimension in research required
required, not held manage findable accessible interoperable and reusable data required

optional, not held analyse medication's impact on brain optional
optional, not held apply statistical analysis techniques optional
optional, not held execute analytical mathematical calculations optional

03 natural sciences, mathematics and statistics 2 required, 3 supplementary

required, not held protein required
required, not held physics required

optional, not held alternative fuels optional
optional, not held computational chemistry optional
optional, not held organic chemistry optional

04 working with machinery and specialised equipment 1 required, 4 supplementary

required, not held examine cell specimens microscopically required

optional, not held calibrate laboratory equipment optional
optional, not held operate scientific measuring equipment optional
optional, not held operate telescopes optional
optional, not held use measurement instruments optional

05 engineering, manufacturing and construction 1 required

required, not held spectroscopy required

06 generic programmes and qualifications 1 required

required, not held multidisciplinary research required

4 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a biophysicist role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 46 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held analyse cell cultures skill
already held apply for research funding skill
already held apply research ethics and scientific integrity principles in research activities skill
already held apply scientific methods skill
already held biology knowledge
already held communicate with a non-scientific audience skill
already held conduct research across disciplines skill
already held conduct research on fauna skill
already held conduct research on flora skill
already held demonstrate disciplinary expertise skill
already held develop professional network with researchers and scientists skill
already held disseminate results to the scientific community skill
already held draft scientific or academic papers and technical documentation skill
already held evaluate research activities skill
already held gather experimental data skill
already held genomics knowledge
already held increase the impact of science on policy and society skill
already held interact professionally in research and professional environments skill
already held life sciences knowledge
already held manage open publications skill
already held manage personal professional development skill
already held manage research data skill
already held perform laboratory tests skill
already held perform project management skill
already held perform scientific research skill
already held promote open innovation in research skill
already held promote the participation of citizens in scientific and research activities skill
already held promote the transfer of knowledge skill
already held proteomics knowledge
already held publish academic research skill
already held scientific literature knowledge
already held scientific research methodology knowledge
already held synthesise information skill
already held write scientific publications skill
already held biological chemistry knowledge
already held collect biological data skill
already held collect samples for analysis skill
already held computational biology knowledge
already held conduct genome research skill
already held cryopreservation knowledge
already held microbiology-bacteriology knowledge
already held molecular biology knowledge
already held stem cells knowledge
already held synthetic biology knowledge
already held virology knowledge
already held write research proposals skill

The 4 learning areas not shown above

Skill to acquire Tier

07 working with computers 1 required

required, not held operate open source software required

08 arts and humanities 1 supplementary

optional, not held osteology optional

09 information and communication technologies (icts) 1 supplementary

optional, not held supercomputing optional

10 social sciences, journalism and information 1 supplementary

optional, not held quantitative analysis optional

15 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held alternative fuels optional
optional, not held analyse medication's impact on brain optional
optional, not held computational chemistry optional
optional, not held osteology optional
optional, not held supercomputing optional
optional, not held apply blended learning optional
optional, not held apply statistical analysis techniques optional
optional, not held calibrate laboratory equipment optional
optional, not held execute analytical mathematical calculations optional
optional, not held operate scientific measuring equipment optional
optional, not held operate telescopes optional
optional, not held organic chemistry optional
optional, not held quantitative analysis optional
optional, not held teach in academic or vocational contexts optional
optional, not held use measurement instruments optional

52 held skills the biophysicist role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role analyse blood samples skill
not needed by the target role animal welfare legislation knowledge
not needed by the target role applied zoology knowledge
not needed by the target role aquatic species knowledge
not needed by the target role archive scientific documentation skill
not needed by the target role assess environmental impact in aquaculture operations skill
not needed by the target role biosecurity knowledge
not needed by the target role biotechnology in aquaculture knowledge
not needed by the target role botany knowledge
not needed by the target role chemistry knowledge
not needed by the target role collect fish samples for diagnosis skill
not needed by the target role communicate by telephone skill
not needed by the target role conduct ecological research skill
not needed by the target role conduct fish mortality studies skill
not needed by the target role conduct fish populations studies skill
not needed by the target role conserve natural resources skill
not needed by the target role create natural science taxonomies skill
not needed by the target role develop aquaculture breeding strategies skill
not needed by the target role develop scientific research protocols skill
not needed by the target role ecology knowledge
not needed by the target role ecosystem management knowledge
not needed by the target role entomology knowledge
not needed by the target role fish anatomy knowledge
not needed by the target role fish biology knowledge
not needed by the target role fish identification and classification knowledge
not needed by the target role habitat restoration knowledge
not needed by the target role herpetology knowledge
not needed by the target role identify poisons skill
not needed by the target role inspect fish stock skill
not needed by the target role laboratory techniques knowledge
not needed by the target role lepidoptery knowledge
not needed by the target role mammalogy knowledge
not needed by the target role marine biology knowledge
not needed by the target role medical parasitology knowledge
not needed by the target role monitor fish health status skill
not needed by the target role mycology knowledge
not needed by the target role oceanography knowledge
not needed by the target role ornithology knowledge
not needed by the target role pathology knowledge
not needed by the target role perform field research skill

12 further entries not listed here

10 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held protein required
required, not held spectroscopy required
required, not held multidisciplinary research required
required, not held physics required
optional, not held alternative fuels optional
optional, not held computational chemistry optional
optional, not held osteology optional
optional, not held supercomputing optional
optional, not held organic chemistry optional
optional, not held quantitative analysis optional

Index

Other moves recorded from biologist

Full index of moves from biologist

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.