Molecular and Cellular Biologists
Research and study cellular molecules and organelles to understand cell function and organization.
$98,920 a year (for the broader BLS group this job sits in).
of the working time. Estimate.
- 40%
- 7%
- 53%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 3%. Today's estimate: 5%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 22 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design molecular or cellular laboratory experiments, oversee their execution, and interpret results.Done daily by most who do it. | 12% | 1.7 work days3.3 h to 4.2 work days | 2%Half by Feb 2028 | |
| Conduct research on cell organization and function, including mechanisms of gene expression, cellular bioinformatics, cell signaling, or cell differentiation.Done daily by most who do it. | 12% | 1.7 work weeks2.1 work days to 3.5 work weeks | Stays with people | |
| Conduct applied research aimed at improvements in areas such as disease testing, crop quality, pharmaceuticals, and the harnessing of microbes to recycle waste.Done yearly or less by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 12% | 1.7 work weeks1.7 work days to 1.5 work months | Stays with people | |
| Participate in all levels of bioproduct development, including proposing new products, performing market analyses, designing and performing experiments, and collaborating with operations and quality control teams during product launches.Done more than yearly by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 12% | 1.7 work weeks1.7 work days to 1.9 work months | Stays with people | |
| Develop assays that monitor cell characteristics.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 10% | 4.2 work days6.7 h to 3.3 work weeks | Stays with people | |
| Write grant applications to obtain funding.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 8% | 1.7 work weeks4.2 work days to 3.3 work weeks | 0%Half by Dec 2028 | |
| Perform laboratory procedures following protocols including deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequencing, cloning and extraction, ribonucleic acid (RNA) purification, or gel electrophoresis.Done daily by most who do it. | 6% | 3.3 h50 min to 6.7 h | Stays with people | |
| Compile and analyze molecular or cellular experimental data and adjust experimental designs as necessary.Done daily by most who do it. | 5% | 6.7 h2.5 h to 1.7 work days | 10%Half by May 2027 | |
| Provide scientific direction for project teams regarding the evaluation or handling of devices, drugs, or cells for in vitro and in vivo disease models.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 4% | 3.3 h1.7 h to 1 work day | 43%Half by Oct 2026 | |
| Prepare or review reports, manuscripts, or meeting presentations.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 3% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 4.2 work days | 6%Half by Jan 2028 | |
| Instruct undergraduate and graduate students within the areas of cellular or molecular biology.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 3% | 1.7 h50 min to 4.2 h | Stays with people | |
| Develop guidelines for procedures such as the management of viruses.Done yearly or less by most who do it. | 3% | 1 work day3.3 h to 3.1 work days | 6%Half by Sep 2027 |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025). Counts are for the broader BLS group this job sits in.
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025). Counts are for the broader BLS group this job sits in.