The Science Department

The Science Department aboard a starship is usually subdivided into smaller departments listed below. Most of the power lies in the hands of these department heads and the senior researchers directly below them.

On a large ship or base, where there are enough resources and personnel, some of the departments may be divided up even further into subdepartments. At the first stage of this division, a subdepartment head is created, which is subordinate to the full department head. On starbases and starships larger still, this large subdepartment may be expanded into a full fledge independent department, in which case the subdepartment head is a full department head and subordinate to no one. Such departments/subdepartments may include Anthropology, Linguistics and History, Physics and Astronomy and Particle Physics and Stellar Physics, to name a small few.

Science Department Position Descriptions

Chief Science Officer

The Chief Science Officer is responsible for all the scientific data the ship/facility collects, and the distribution of such data to specific section within the department for analysis. S/he is also responsible with providing the ship's captain with scientific information needed for command decisions.

S/he also is a department head and a member of the Senior Staff and responsible for all the crew members in her/his department and duty rosters.

Assistant Chief Science Officer

The Assistant Chief Science Officer assists Chief Science Officer in all areas, such as administration, and analysis of scientific data. The Assistant often take part in specific analysis of important data along with the Chief Science Officer, however spends most time overseeing current project and their section heads.

Chief Research Officer

Responsible for the management and supervision of all ship-wide research and development projects.

Assistant Chief Research Officer

Responsible for the management and supervision of all ship-wide research and development projects. Reports directly to the Chief Research Officer.

Science Officer

There are several general Science Officers aboard each vessel. They are assigned to their duties by the Chief Science Officer and his Assistant. Assignments include work for the Specialized Section heads, as well as duties for work being carried out by the Chief and Assistant. Alien Archaeologist/Anthropologist Specialized Science Officer in charge of the Alien Culture Section. This role involves the study of all newly discovered alien species and life forms, from the long dead to thriving. Their knowledge also involves current known alien species. Has close ties to the Historian. Answers to the Chief Science Officer and Assistant Chief Science Officer.

Biologist

Specialized Science Officer in charge of the Biology Section. This role entails the study of biology, botany, zoology and many more Life Sciences. On larger ships there many be a number of Science Officers within this section, under the lead of the Biologist.

Astrometrics Officer

Specialized Science Officer in charge of the Astrometrics Section. This role entails the maintaining, correction and production of new stellar maps. Has close ties with the the Physicist and Stellar Cartographers.

Language Specialist

Specialized Communications Officer in charge of the Linguistics section. This role involves the study of new and old languages and text in an attempt to better understand and interpret their meaning. Answers to the Chief and Assistant Chief Communications Officer (if present) or the Chief and Assistant Chief Science Officer.

Stellar Cartographer

Specialized Science Officer in charge of the Stellar Cartography bay. This role entails the mapping of all spatial phenomenon, and the implications of such phenomenon. Has close ties with the Physicist and Astrometrics Officer.

Bioengineer

Responsible for the application of concepts and methods of biology (and secondarily of physics, chemistry, mathematics, and computer science) to solve problems in life sciences, using engineering's own analytical and synthetic methodologies.

Biochemist

Responsible for the study of chemical processes and chemical transformations in living organisms.

Biotechnologist

Responsible for the study of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bio products.

Nanoengineer

Responsible for the study and development of nanotechnology.

Chemical Engineer

Responsible for engineering that deals with physical science (e.g., chemistry and physics), and life sciences (e.g., biology, microbiology and biochemistry) with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms.

Exobiologist

Specialized science officer in charge of studying life on other planets. This role entails the study of biology, botany, zoology and several other Life Sciences.

Neurobiologist

Responsible for the study of the molecular, cellular, developmental, structural, functional, evolutionary, computational, and medical aspects of the nervous system.

Nanobiologist

Responsible for the study and development of biological research with various fields of nanotechnology.

Chemist

Responsible for the study of the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity.

Geoengineer

Responsible for the terraforming and geological maintenance of celestial bodies.

Psychologist

Responsible for studying and applying psychological research and theories.

Sociologist

Responsible for the study of society, using various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about social activity.

Virologist

Virology is the study of viruses - submicroscopic, parasitic particles of genetic material contained in a protein coat - and virus-like agents. Experts in this field are highly knowledgeable of genetics, cell metabolism and associated biological pathways.

Astrophysicist/Cosmologist

A branch of astronomy responsible for the study of the physics of the universe. Also includes a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made (particle physics) to the behavior of the material universe as a whole (cosmology).

Molecular Biologist

Responsible for studying the interactions between the various systems of a cell, including the interactions between the different types of DNA, RNA and protein biosynthesis as well as learning how these interactions are regulated.

Ecologist

Responsible studying ecology, the distribution and abundance of living organisms and how they are affected by interactions between the organisms and their biophysical environment.

Geologist

Responsible for studying the solid and liquid matter which constitutes planets as well as the processes and history that have shaped them.

Hydrologist

Responsible for the study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water resources and environmental watershed sustainability.

Oceanologist

Responsible for studying the ocean, including marine organisms and ecosystem dynamics; ocean currents, waves, and geophysical fluid dynamics; plate tectonics and the geology of the sea floor; and fluxes of various chemical substances and physical properties within the ocean and across its boundaries.

Botanist

Responsible for the study of plant life, including structure, growth, reproduction, metabolism, development, diseases, chemical properties, and evolutionary relationships among such life.

Marine Biologist

Responsible for the study of organisms in the ocean or other bodies of water.

Microbiologist

Responsible for investigating the growth and characteristics of microscopic organisms such as bacteria, algae, or fungi.

Xenobiologist

Responsible for the designing of forms of life with a different biochemistry or different genetic code on Earth.

Zoologist

Responsible for studying the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct.