Life Science Career Options
British scientists recently developed genetically modified chickens that can not spread bird flu, an innovation that could reduce the risk of avian flue spreading and causing an epidemic. Life science practitioners such as those who developed the chickens are changing our world, as are the scientists who develop new cancer treatments or medical devices. if you have an inquisitive mind and like solving problems, a life science career may offer a highly satisfying work life.
Other People Are Reading
-
Life Science Career Tracks
-
Life science professions cover everything from agronomist to zoologist. Several ways of making sense of the field exist for the lay person to understand it. Life science jobs sometimes are cataloged by what professionals in the field do: research, health care or environmental management and conservation. Another system classifies professions by what type of life they look at: 1) particular groups of organisms such as trees or whales, 2) particular systems such as tissues or endocrine glands, or 3) the chemical, physical or medical aspects of living things. No one system can adequately classify this large and expanding field.
Educational Requirements
-
Most life science jobs require at least a bachelor's degree in science and many jobs require graduate degrees in a particular specialty such as biochemistry. Nursing and laboratory technician careers may not require a four-year college degree, but graduation from an accredited program is usually necessary. For research positions in which the life science practitioner may be researching new drugs, an advanced degree is typically required. Whatever the career track or the amount of education a practitioner has before she obtains her first job after school, she must make the effort to keep up in her field. Life science knowledge is growing rapidly.
-
Research Careers
-
Research biologists try to understand how living systems work . They work in both laboratories and outdoors. Their findings help us understand biology and their findings can sometimes be put to practical us. An example is a forester who looks for ways to re-forest land with faster growing fir trees to keep up with the demand for paper products.
Health Care Careers
-
Biologists working in health care develop campaigns to combat diseases such as AIDS or swine flu. Others are involved in developing new surgical techniques for heart patients or new ways of replacing hip joints. Careers also include veterinarians, doctors, dentists and nurses.
Environmental Careers
-
Life science professionals with an environmental focus are interested in preserving the natural world. Zoo biologists help preserve endangered species while park rangers protect our nation's natural park system.
-
References
- Photo Credit young researcher image by Nadezda Karaseva from Fotolia.com
