There are several kinds of typical days. The morning is spent in and out of the water, setting up experiments, which include transplanting soft corals from one place to another, measuring growth and sampling tissue. In the afternoon the group either returns to the field or moves into the lab to process samples. Night is devoted to bookkeeping chores such as making journal entries and sorting samples. A typical day at the university might be to review lecture notes, give a lecture, answer student questions, and meet with individual graduate students.
Biologists also spend time writing papers and grant proposals.
Communication skills are very important, because as scientists we have an obligation to communicate our findings. Some include working for consulting firms conducting impact studies or conducting assessments for government agencies involved in resource management. For example, a student may combine a law degree with a Ph.D. in biology.