Alternative Careers in Science

In addition to traditional research and experimentation, there are many alternative career choices available to individuals who have advanced degrees in a variety of scientific fields, including chemistry, biology and physics. These positions offer exciting opportunities outside the realm of what many scientists anticipate for their career path. These fields provide options for prospective students interested in any branch of science who may have a great love for their discipline but prefer an alternative to careers solely in the laboratory.

Law

Because the field often requires advanced technical or scientific knowledge, intellectual property and patent law both have a high demand for qualified scientists. For those interested in practicing law, scientists have an edge in the intellectual property, which deals in the protection of people's ideas and innovations. By receiving a law degree and passing the bar exam for their respective state, scientists have the opportunity to argue the complicated aspects of an inventor's concept, protecting his interests from those who wish to illegally infringe upon his work. For those who do not wish to pursue a legal career, work is available through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as a patent examiner. Patent examiners have the responsibility of analyzing and evaluating applications for patents to determine whether or not the idea is original. This often requires a thorough knowledge of science, making those with a degree in a particular discipline uniquely qualified to perform the task.

Technology Transfer

Technology transfer involves taking technology or innovation developed in a public arena, such as a university or research institute, and releasing it to a private corporation that will develop and implement the technology. Scientists who work in technology transfer claim the dual role of both academic and business and can be employed either in the public or the private sector. Being employed by the public institution involves translating its findings into terms both understandable and appealing to the industry that will best utilize the technology. The scientist then markets the technology and actively works to sell it in the private sphere. Those who are employed on the private side of the transaction have the responsibility of reading materials provided by institutions and analyzing the feasibility of the described technologies for the company the scientist represents.

Public Policy

Where technology transfer involves the dissemination of ideas from the public to private sector, scientists involved in public policy introduce technologies from both arenas to the United States government. Oftentimes, Congress is asked to decide upon legislation that involves industries or new technologies. It is the responsibility of law makers to thoroughly understand the intricate scientific details involved in these decisions, and scientists who work in public policy help make this possible. They provide objective information to the government in the form of written reports and sworn testimony.

Journalism and writing

Scientists who have excellent written communication skills may choose to work as scientific or medical writers. Journalists in these areas are often employed by both national and local publications to cover stories about new innovations or crises in the scientific or medical arenas. Online scientific and medical websites also require journalists to work on their staff or perform freelance work, composing articles on a variety of topics relating to science, technology and medicine. Additionally, scientific and medical writers can find freelance work preparing proposals, annual reports and other official documents for various companies.

Education

Scientists may choose to pursue a career in the field of education. Those with a dual degree or certification in secondary education may choose to work with junior high and high school students, teaching both scientific theory and experimentation. Others can find work at the postsecondary level, working as a professor in a variety of scientific fields. These positions can involve traditional lecturing or laboratory work, overseeing graduate students' research and development or teaching in a nontraditional environment, such as online or through video-conferencing. Many scientists enjoy teaching as it also allows them to continue their own research, often with some funding from their university.

Biocomputing and Bioinformatics

Biocomputing is a growing field of scientific inquiry that involves constructing a computer to mimic the function of the human body, including DNA, biochemistry and molecular biology. These specialized computer systems can then be studied to determine the causes and effects of a multitude of human conditions, illnesses and diseases. Bioinformatics uses the computational and analysis abilities of computers to solve scientific problems in the fields of biochemistry. Scientists involved in biochemistry and cellular or molecular biology with experience and expertise in computers can find work in biocomputing or bioinformatics research labs.