At colleges and universities, they can be found in departments of anthropology, anatomy, biological sciences, human biology, zoology, and in medical school departments, and also in combined departments of sociology and anthropology or social sciences. Those who study primates are often in departments of biology or psychology or on the staffs of zoos or zoological research institutes. Human paleontologists may be employed in departments of paleontology, prehistory, or geology, or as staff members of natural history museums, such as the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Biological anthropologists who work with living peoples may work at medical schools, or be found in departments of physiology, nutrition, or genetics, or programs of physical education and athletics. There are many and varied professional opportunities for biological anthropologists. A profession that is stimulating and satisfying can make an individual's life an extremely enriching experience.
Several things make the lives of professional biological anthropologists very exciting.
There is the enjoyment of scientific research, with endless questions to be answered and discoveries to be made. Second, there is the opportunity to write and communicate the findings of your research to audiences of all kinds and all ages. Third, teaching, while hard work, is very rewarding, students provide a constant source of stimulation. There are many opportunities for individuals who wish to become biological anthropologists. While few high schools offer courses specifically in biological anthropology, many have courses in anthropology or cover anthropology in social studies classes.