A biologist is a scientist who studies living organisms and their interactions with each other and their environments. They may specialize in one or more specific areas, such as botany (the study of plants), zoology (the study of animals), microbiology (the study of tiny organisms like bacteria) or ecology (the study of how living things interact within their environment). Biologists use a variety of methods to conduct research and collect data, including observation, experimentation, and analysis. They may work in laboratories, outdoors in natural habitats, or in other settings where they can observe and learn about the organisms they are studying.