Can Agents Work?

Jobs / Science and research / 19-1029.04

Biologists

Research or study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and functions.

US jobs
55,850 (SOC 19-1029 group, "Biological Scientists, All Other")
Median wage
$98,920 a year
Job family
Science and research

Can agents do the work of biologists?

We read the evidence for the whole job family, Science and research: Some tasks (no change in 12 months)

Agents complete 20% or more of the tasks (or projects) on a direct benchmark.

Evidence: CORE-Bench, declared solved.

1% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark (figures for the SOC 19-1029 group).

  • 14%Research biological or ecological phenomenaNot measured
  • 10%Design computer or information systems or applicationsNot measured
  • 6%Analyze biological or chemical substances or related dataNot measured
  • 6%Prepare proposals or grant applicationsNot measured
  • 5%Maintain current knowledge in area of expertiseNot measured
  • 5%Supervise personnel activitiesNot measured
  • 5%Present research or technical informationNot measured
  • 5%Direct scientific or technical activitiesNot measured

Benchmarks for this occupation

These benchmarks name this occupation in their job mapping.

Direct evidence

Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.

  • CORE-Benchby Princeton UniversityTask level · CORE-Bench-Hard accuracy (public test set)
    95.5%Claude Code + Claude Opus 4.5 (after manual regrading) · 3 Dec 2025
    Solved

Benchmarks for the job family

These cover work in science and research, not always this occupation's tasks.

Also relevant

These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • Program and use computers to store, process, and analyze data.
  • Prepare technical and research reports, such as environmental impact reports, and communicate the results to individuals in industry, government, or the general public.
  • Supervise biological technicians and technologists and other scientists.
  • Develop and maintain liaisons and effective working relations with groups and individuals, agencies, and the public to encourage cooperative management strategies or to develop information and interpret findings.
  • Identify, classify, and study structure, behavior, ecology, physiology, nutrition, culture, and distribution of plant and animal species.
  • Study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and function.
  • Collect and analyze biological data about relationships among and between organisms and their environment.
  • Review reports and proposals, such as those relating to land use classifications and recreational development, for accuracy, adequacy, or adherence to policies, regulations, or scientific standards.
  • Write grant proposals to obtain funding for biological research.
  • Teach or supervise students and perform research at universities and colleges.
  • Prepare requests for proposals or statements of work.
  • Communicate test results to state and federal representatives and general public.
Other job titles for this occupation (38)

Aquatic Biologist · Biological Scientist · Biologist · Botanist · Fisheries and Wildlife Biologist · Fisheries Biologist · Marine Biologist · Research Biologist · Research Scientist · Scientist · Aquatic Scientist · Bioanalytical Scientist · Biological Operations Scientist (Biological Ops Scientist) · Biology Scientist · Cell Biologist · Cell Culture Scientist · Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Clinical Lab Scientist) · Clinical Researcher · Computational Biologist · Computational Scientist · Dolphin Researcher · Endangered Species Specialist · Entomologist · Field Biologist · Forest Botanist · Marine Scientist · Molecular Biology Scientist · Molecular Research Biologist · Mycologist · Nematologist · Neurobiologist · Neurophysiologist · Ocean Biologist · Physiologist · Postdoctoral Associate (Postdoc Associate) · Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Postdoc Research Fellow) · Rare Species Specialist · Research Fishery Biologist