If you’re interested in a biomedical scientist career, you might be wondering where to start. The first step is to decide what jobs are available in this sector. Biomedical scientists usually work in laboratories and research centers where they conduct medical research, experiments, and tests.
These professionals are bright, hardworking, willing to take calculated risks, and scientifically solve complex problems. So, grab your chair, and let’s discover where biomedical scientists typically do their research!
What do Biomedical Scientists do, and Where do They Work?
Biomedical scientists are a vital part of the medical field. They work in clinical settings, researching and developing tools and equipment to improve patient care. A typical career path may begin as a lab technician, a researcher at a research facility within the hospital or clinic, or a pharmaceutical company focusing on developing new technologies like artificial intelligence applications!
Do you want to work in a field that has diverse career options, medical implications, job satisfaction, and requires laboratory research and clinical skills? If so, then biomedical science may be right for you!
1. Biomedical Scientists do Specialized Laboratory Work
Biomedical professionals aim to develop knowledge and understanding of treatments and clinical devices in the healthcare industry.
Among the subfields are
- Microbiology,
- Virology,
- Epidemiology, and
- Biomedical engineering.
Many Biomedical scientists do most of their work in a laboratory setting. It may involve analyzing body fluid and tissue samples to determine their chemical composition using highly automated equipment with significant computerization.
Biomedical scientists frequently work in research and development positions in academic institutions. In most cases, some also work in clinical pathology labs within hospitals.
2. Clinical Settings
Biomedical researchers frequently work in clinical settings. Or in most cases, they work in research laboratories at universities where they also teach courses in addition to conducting research.
As well as that, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries require biomedical scientists.
Some biomedical scientists find significant job satisfaction in professional opportunities, excellent salaries, and continued education while contributing to human civilization.
3. High Salary and Career Options in Biomedical Science
People passionate about medicine and related sciences may find fulfillment in biomedical and laboratory work.
As stated by the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical scientists make an average yearly salary of $95,310.
Top careers in Biomedical Science Include,
- Audiologists,
- Biotechnology
- Pediatricians,
- Clinical Psychologists,
- Biomedical Technician
- Optometrists,
- Physicians,
- Veterinary science
- Dietetics
- Psychiatrists,
- Clinical Pharmacists, and
- Biostatisticians.
Moreover, other benefits include good health insurance, retirement accounts, and paid time off. Learn more about how to get into Biomedical Science!
4. Enthusiasm for Technology and Science
Studying biomedical science allows you to increase your scientific knowledge and various abilities, such as problem-solving, teamwork, data handling and analysis, organization skills, and communication.
In this field, you have the power to change the world. Biomedical scientists are at the forefront of all medical advancements, disease cure research, and environmental studies.
Generally, as long as your interest in technology and science is raging, this comprehensive skill set will be beneficial regardless of your chosen career path.
5. Bachelor’s Degree in a Biological Science
To become a biomedical scientist, a four-year bachelor’s degree in a scientific field, such as Biology, Biomedical Sciences, or Chemistry, is required.
Alternatively, partaking in a medical program at a medical college requires seven to eight years of study and could be another pathway.
Studying to become a Biomedical Scientist is highly challenging. Still, if you study hard and choose suitable courses, you’ll be fine and adapt to the dynamic environment.
On the other hand, to become a Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician, you must complete an associate degree in Biomedical Equipment Technicians (Cbet).
Fundamental capabilities of being a technician include
- manual dexterity,
- analytical skills
- meticulous work
- written and oral communication skills
- physical stamina,
- time management, and
- autonomy
Learn more about the Biomedical Science degree!
6. Research and Observation
As you can see, working in this industry requires research and laboratory skills. One of the most critical abilities for biomedical scientists is the capacity to direct and manage medical research projects.
Critical personal attributes to succeed in this profession include,
- attention to detail,
- readiness to pose pointed questions and follow-ups, and
- organizational abilities.
These skills enable scientists to organize their research findings and other pertinent information.
Additionally, other vital competencies may include,
- SQL programming,
- statistical programming for huge data sets using languages like Python and R, and
- creating complex machine learning or artificial intelligence algorithms.
7. Placement and Training
When beginning this career, the educational path includes two years of clinical laboratory science coursework and completing a 50-week medical laboratory training course.
Placements provide the student with credentials and the training needed to pursue a job in the scientific field.
For instance, they could work as a research scientist and do research and experiments to advance treatment in fields like medicine.
8. Wide Range of Job Opportunities
Your biomedical science degree can open doors to employment in various occupations, including teaching, research, consulting, sales, medical practice, and hospital and institutional work.
Students can utilize this degree to continue their education in the health sciences and pursue careers as
- Doctors,
- Dentists,
- Podiatrists,
- Health Policy Analysts,
- Toxicologists, and
- Zoologists.
Biomedical Science is highly competitive, emphasizing many different life sciences, such as Human Anatomy and Genetics.
As forecasted, from 2021 to 2031, there will be a 17 percent increase in medical scientists’ employment. Moreover, in the next ten years, there will be 10,000 new positions each year for medical scientists.
9. Extended Working Hours
A biomedical scientist typically works 40 hours per week. They may work extended hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays with or without receiving overtime compensation during urgent situations or critical experiments.
Depending on the industry in which a person works, a typical day can involve multitasking, talking with patients, clients, or doctors, writing reports and procedures, or troubleshooting.
However, most employees in clinical laboratories encounter frequent stress, including the daily endeavor, pressure from supervisors and coworkers to meet expectations, and extra work brought on by staff shortages or increased workload.
10. Research on Work-life Balance in Scientific Careers
Many academic researchers complain they don’t have enough time in the day. For instance, their work includes,
- preparing proposals and obtaining research grants
- preparing for educational lectures, and the
- departmental paperwork
- research
- attending events and doing interviews
However, biomedical scientists are creative individuals. They develop successful strategies to sustain a decent work-life balance.
Professionals demonstrate that it’s possible to lead a satisfying existence outside the laboratory. Even during difficult situations such as,
- mental or physical sickness,
- career disappointments, and
- relationship breakdowns,
11. Workplace Pressure
In this field, a group of Biomedical scientists described their work as relentless, frantic, and stretched.
Aside from workload pressure, three less common occurrences that worry and stress the workforce are
- preparing for regulatory inspections and audits
- the logistics of moving the lab, and
- switching between laboratory information systems
A Biomedical science career might occasionally appear to be all work and no play. The industry views the scientific community as requiring a paradigm shift, not a sabbatical.
To learn more, you can also see our posts on Dermatologists, Food Science, Pharmacy, Horticulture, Radiology, and Nursing.
Conclusion
As demonstrated, Biomedical careers offer a variety of settings outside the laboratory and inside the hospital where biomedical scientists are needed.
Biomedical technicians report being satisfied with the amount of excitement, fulfillment, and achievement that their job provides them.
Suppose you have a knack for science and enjoy helping others. In that case, taking up a career in this enriching, ever-evolving, and advancing field would be worth it!