Is statistical ornithology a job?

[Khantazm]

Basically, I'm writing a story but I don't think this qualifies for the relevant board. So, I've got a scientist who's holed in a basement room of some university with his computer, and he presumably studies statistics of birds (or something, but using a computer). Is there a name for his job description? I mean as far as I've been able to see, actual ornithologists spend quite a bit of time in the field, and this guy can't go because of a disability.

 

[EBENEZR]

I think you might need to swap the words around to get a job title out of that, ornithological statistician. Considering there are statistics involved in ornithology and you're writing a story, I can't see why you can't make this job up. Worse science has been proposed (2012), I would consider it plausible and if I saw it written in a book, I wouldn't bat an eyelid at the concept.

You'd basically be doing what is done in the world of work all the time, splitting jobs into more specialised fields and let's face it if there's any field that is renowned for specialisation, it's the sciences.

 

[Khantazm]

Thanks a bunch for the input. Regardless of artistic license, I like your wording much better. There's something a bit more job-titley in "ornithological statistician"... If mine was a job title at all.

 

[EBENEZR]

Thanks a bunch for the input. Regardless of artistic license, I like your wording much better. There's something a bit more job-titley in "ornithological statistician"... If mine was a job title at all.

That's quite okay, glad I could be of help :) I'm not a biologist but I'm pretty good at language which is why I made that conclusion. I think maybe statistical ornithology, if a sub-field, would be the field of research and the job would be ornithological statistician, because the generalisation comes second. Theoretical physicists are a type of physicist, for example.