Medical research scientist

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A medical research scientist, also referred to as a biological scientist, is a researcher interested in medicine.^[1] The job's goal is "to increase the body of scientific knowledge on topics related to medicine."^[2] Research scientists study disease, drugs, and other topics related to human health. Their role is to develop or improve treatments, vaccines, equipment, and techniques involving health care.^[2][3]

Contents 1 Description 2 Education and training 3 Areas of specialization 4 Salaries and work conditions 5 Job growth 6 See also 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Description

Research scientists study aspects of living organisms, such as reproduction, growth, and development to develop medicines, prevent disease, and promote health.^[4] Their research can investigate health (basic) or investigate how to prevent disorders (applied). Scientists may use human volunteers or models. Workplaces include institutes, hospitals or industries, laboratory-based.^[2]

People in this field may:^[2]

• experiment and interpret results
• keep records of data and use computers to analyze them
• teach and supervise students
• apply for grants
• collaborate with others in the same field
• consider potential of research products
• share results with colleagues
• give presentations at conferences
• write papers for publication
• keep up to date via the Internet and scientific meetings

[edit] Education and training

A PhD in science is required for many research and teaching positions, which most colleges and universities offer.^[4] These graduate degree programs may include classroom and fieldwork, research at a laboratory, and a dissertation.^[3] Although a degree in a medical or life science is common, recent research projects also need graduates in statistics, bioinformatics, physics and chemistry.^[2] Abilities preferred for entry in this field include: technical, scientific, numerical, written, and oral skills.^[2]

Students who complete a bachelor's degree can work in non-research positions like biological, science, or engineering technicians. When in high school, students should prepare themselves for this field by taking science and health-related courses such as biology, chemistry, and mathematics.^[4]

[edit] Areas of specialization

Research scientists specialize in the following areas, which are explained:^[3][4]

• Anatomist: studies animals' organ structures and relates them to medicine
• Bacteriologist: studies bacteria^[5]
• Biochemist: studies how substances affect organisms and how organisms use substances
• Biophysicist: studies mechanical and electrical energy in living cells and tissues
• Cell biologist: studies cell-level organization and processes
• Embryologist: investigates infertility^[6]
• Epidemiologist: studies causes and spread of and how to prevent diseases
• Geneticist: studies traits of humans and animals
• Histopathologist: studies how disease affects tissues
• Immunologist: studies the immune system
• Marine biologist: studies marine organisms
• Microbiologist: studies characteristics of microorganisms
• Molecular biologist: studies biology at the molecular level
• Neuroscientist: studies on function and structure the nervous system, including brain
• Parasitologist: studies parasites
• Pharmacologist: studies effects of drugs on biological systems
• Virologist: studies viruses and viral diseases^[7]

[edit] Salaries and work conditions

Research scientists are employed by federal and state governments, are consultants for chemical and pharmaceutical business firms, or work in laboratories where they perform tests and experiment.^[4][3] In the United States, the average salary for research scientists is $66,393.^[1] In the United Kingdom, they are paid anywhere from £20,000 to £40,000, depending on experience, education, and position.^[2]

Biological scientists work regular hours — 40 hours per week. Although they work in field research, hours do vary with activities and work is physically demanding.^[2][4] Work is mainly in the laboratory with some time spent in the office planning and writing up experiments. More experience makes the work more office-based for writing grant applications, collaborating, supervising, planning, and publishing and reviewing papers.^[4] Travel is rare unless collaboration requires it or there are conferences. This also becomes more frequent with career progression.^[2]

Laboratory experiments often include toxic or radioactive materials and dangerous organisms.^[2][3] Safety procedures must be followed to avoid contamination.^[3] Ethical issues are brought up when research scientists work with animals and animal products, like stem cells.^[2]

[edit] Job growth

Job growth[1]
10-year job growth	17.05%
Total jobs (2004)	29,442
Forecast (2014)	34,461
Average annual growth	1,424

[edit] See also

• Animal testing: the use of animals in experiments
• Biology: the study of life
• Health profession: profession in which a person exercises skill or provides a health-related service
• Human experimentation: medical experiments performed on human beings
• Medical research: basic research or applied research conducted to aid the body of knowledge in the field of medicine
• Medicine: a branch of the health sciences concerned with maintaining or restoring human health
• Research: a process of inquiry aimed at discovering, interpreting, and revising facts
• Scientist: an expert in at least one area of science who uses the scientific method to do research

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c} MONEY Magazine's Best Jobs (2004). Retrieved on March 10, 2007.
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k} Research scientist (medical) at Prospects (February 2006). Retrieved on March 11, 2007.
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Hot Jobs. Retrieved on March 11, 2007.
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Health Careers. Retrieved on March 11, 2007.
5. ^ Bacteriology at The Free Online Dictionary. Retrieved on March 11, 2007.
6. ^ NHS Careers. Retrieved on March 11, 2007.
7. ^ Virology at The Free Online Dictionary. Retrieved on March 11, 2007.

[edit] External links