Oncology Research Careers

Oncology is thought of as the study of cancer. Actually, it is the study of tumors, how they grow, and prevention and treatment of them. You can see how the study of oncology gives way to many jobs in research and development. Oncology research jobs, however, are the basis for many advances in not only drug development, but also cancer treatment. Here are just a few of those jobs.

Medical Director of Oncology Research

The medical director oversees the lab and all of its projects. This includes gathering funding.

Oncology Research Scientist

This is the worker bee of the lab. The oncology research scientist works on a particular problem, like tumor growth involving a particular cell on a particular organ. The scientist performs the tests and records the results.

Oncology Research Associate

A research associate usually works in commercial research for a particular company. Research associates assist the scientist in testing and recording.

Oncology Research Nurse

This type of nurse is needed only when human trials are being performed. They draw blood and take other samples from patients, administer medication, and check vital signs. The findings from their samples are key in tracking the results of a particular treatment in a human subject.

Oncology Research Clinician

The clinician is another name for a medical professional, like a doctor or medical intern performing his rotations through the hospital. In oncology, they handle the human aspect of the research alongside the nurse, but do not actively participate in the experimentation.