Most biologists are employed by the government, a university or a private industry laboratory. Many biologists at universities are also professors, so they spend part of their time teaching students research methods and assist with the development of the students' projects and part of the time working on their own projects. Most biological scientists employed in the private industry and by the government are able to focus more on their projects and those assigned by their superiors. Some examples of biologists likely to be working in private industry are zoologists and ecologists, who could be employed by zoos and environmental agencies.

As for the physical workplace, depending on the type of biology, the scientist could spend all of their time in the lab, or most of their time in the field. Botanists, ecologists, and zoologists, for example, spend a lot of their time in the field, studying plants and animals in various climates while often living in primitive conditions. Marine biologists could spend a lot of time on or in the water. They often need to dive and study coral reefs and various other locations that could potentially be dangerous.

In general, most biological scientists do not experience much in the way of dangerous situations. Those studying dangerous or toxic organisms have a series of special precautions they take to prevent contamination and any possibility of spreading the virus or bacteria.