How to Become a Pharmaceutical Scientist

Pharmaceutical science can, in broad terms, be classified into four distinct branches: quality analysis, biotechnology, clinical sciences and drug design. To become a pharmaceutical scientist, you'll need to combine a relevant college degree with as much laboratory experience as you can amass to advance up the career ladder. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• 4-year college degree

Understand Pharmaceutical Science

1. Remember that there are a great many different areas of specialization within the four broad fields of pharmaceutical science. Understand what each branch deals with to help you decide which you're most interested in.
2. Learn about quality analysis. This branch deals with product assurances and helps regulate the drug manufacturing process.
3. Do additional research on the other three branches of pharmaceutical science. Biotechnology is heavily based in genetics, clinical sciences deal primarily with drug trials and studies and the drug design branch regulates the actual creation of the pharmaceutical drug itself.
4. Choose which of these fields, in broad terms, you're most interested in. Understand that while a good education will provide you with the skills to stay flexible, a specialized education will make you a more attractive job candidate.

Gain the Knowledge You'll Need to Succeed as a Pharmaceutical Scientist

5. Enroll in a 4-year college to get a Bachelor's degree in the field of science most applicable to your chosen branch of specialization. Relevant degree programs will include genetics, pharmacy, biochemistry or pre-med.
6. Work in the pharmaceutical field during your summer breaks, if possible.
7. Remain open to the possibility of acquiring an advanced degree (Master's or Doctorate) in your chosen field. You'll need one if you want to become a top scientist, though a Bachelor's degree will generally suffice to get your foot in the door at a pharmaceutical company.

Land a Pharmaceutical Scientist Job

8. Make sure you have clinical experience to combine with your college training.
9. Attend a pharmaceutical career fair, or a general career fair that pharmaceutical companies will be attending. You can find these online or through your college's career services department.
10. Apply for as many jobs as you qualify for. The pharmaceutical industry is growing rapidly, and job prospects are generally good.
11. Take an entry-level job to get you started. Don't expect that you'll become a top-ranking scientist right out of college.
12. Continue working to gain experience. You'll move up as your skills develop.

Tips & Warnings

• Do internships at pharmaceutical labs while you're completing your college degree. Before you know it, you'll have quietly gathered the kind of work experience pharmaceutical labs look for when hiring at the entry level.

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