Science career paths? (1 Viewer)

[rosesandrivers]

I'm considering a science degree but I'm not sure about what jobs a science degree can lead to. What other things can you do besides research and teaching?

My interests are in biology and genetics. I enjoy other areas of science as well but am probably not as good in those.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Winn]

I think you can always be a health person if you like bio...can also be a forensic scientist (I would become one if I liked bio)!
I am sure there is a lot you can do, and it also depends on your major wouldnt it?

 

[rosesandrivers]

Thanks for replying Winn.

Yeah my major would most likely be genetics or something like biology/defence. I'd probably change my mind once I get into these subjects - never know what I'll find out about my actual interests.

Can you elaborate on "health person"? There are so many jobs out there and a lot of course brochures give very vague descriptions. What exactly could I become?

 

[withoutaface]

I think you can always be a health person if you like bio...can also be a forensic scientist (I would become one if I liked bio)!
I am sure there is a lot you can do, and it also depends on your major wouldnt it?

Thanks '09er!

You could look at pharmacology or medical science which have fairly certain and clear career paths and broadly fit in with your interests.

Also have a look here: GraDS Online

 

[spiffyjen05]

I'm also interested in a similar area of science, but with no real idea about what I'll do after I get my degree. *shrugs*

 

[Joel8945]

I'm considering a science degree but I'm not sure about what jobs a science degree can lead to. What other things can you do besides research and teaching?

My interests are in biology and genetics. I enjoy other areas of science as well but am probably not as good in those.

Thanks in advance.

If you like biology you could do a science degree and major in biochemistry and molecular biology, animal health and disease (a way into veterinary science), bioengineering (developing medical equipment), biotechnology (this is a great area for people into biology - especially genetics as you look at stem cell research), Cell and developmental biology (probably a lab research subject), domestic animal science, ecology and evolutionary biology, genetics (somewhere else that would look at stem cell research), human structure and function (a way into physio), marine biology, microbiology, infection and immunology, neuroscience, pathology, pharmacology, physiology (microbiology - physiology would allow you to do some form of work at a hospital), plant science or zoology.

 

[rosesandrivers]

Thanks Joel. That was a good and straight forward summary. Although, again, the range is so wide, I still have no idea. Biotech sounds good, as does the last couple you mentioned that lead to hospital jobs.

I see you're doing Science at the moment. How are you enjoying it? Also, are maths and physics required courses, or did you choose them because you liked them?

 

[Joel8945]

Thanks Joel. That was a good and straight forward summary. Although, again, the range is so wide, I still have no idea. Biotech sounds good, as does the last couple you mentioned that lead to hospital jobs.

I see you're doing Science at the moment. How are you enjoying it? Also, are maths and physics required courses, or did you choose them because you liked them?

I did maths and physics because I enjoy them! With science I loved chemistry and biology, but, I made the mistake of not doing bio 3/4 in year 11 so my biology knowledge is quite restricted. I also love chemistry probably just as much as physics but I had no room for chemistry at uni and I was always stronger at physics than chemistry so I chose to do physics, whilst also experimenting with engineering to see if applying science to creating new things would interest me.

At the moment I'm considering majoring in either maths, physics, mechanical engineering or electrical engineering (chemical if I could somehow do chemistry on the side). At uni the difficulty level has jumped up a fair bit, so the work definately isn't easy. People interested in most biology things may need to do a first year maths subject (i.e. calculus 1 and statistics), but, if your wanting to do a technology subject doing some form of physics and more maths may be needed.

With physics and maths the two have never seemed to be a chore to do, rather a hobby! Well I did advanced physics and a mid level maths so maths has been fine and physics was intense (so I'm going back to standard physics). My adviced is if you are passionate about something so much don't not considering studying it whilst having other areas open. With me working on technology, maths problems or even with radiation seems less yuck than dissecting an animal (My weakness in biology).

 

[rosesandrivers]

So maths and physics are sort of needed. Ohh it's okay - I suppose I could manage it, hopefully!

Sounds like you're really doing what you enjoy then.

PS: Dissecting animals is cooler than maths problems, I reckon!

 

[musheer]

Hi every body
Unlike layman’s perception, biotechnology is not just about working in the laboratory wearing white lab coats and preparing medicines to improve the quality of life. The field is so broad that it has a variety of career options from sales and marketing to research and development, to manufacturing and quality management of drugs and medical devices. Now it is upto ones choice which field one choose for his career. more Pakistan Educational Career Resource, Future Planning Guidance. MyCareer

 

[louy]

research can be cool too. Depended who you research for and ehat you research.

Everything around us, from TVs and playstations, to kitchen appliances, to planes in the sky to the food we eat, sports support and training, all comes from research.

Instead of saying what type of science you like i.e. Bio. See what industry you like and what applied science they use.

 

[rama_v]

Being an academic isn't so bad - you get average pay, pretty good hours, not much stress, and you get to do cool research and publish papers in journals. Oh, and you get to travel heaps

 

[louy]

Being an academic isn't so bad - you get average pay, pretty good hours, not much stress, and you get to do cool research and publish papers in journals. Oh, and you get to travel heaps

Plus you get loadsa holidays leave. Well, maybe not as much as an academic student, but you get way loads more than any nine to five office worker

 

[kooltrainer]

if u like science, do an engineerin degree so u can actually find a job... coz whatever is being offered in science degree as its own path in engineering..so if u like biology, u can do biomedical engineering... and so if u like chemistry, u can do chemical engineering...physics, u can do civil/ mechanical engineerng..

 

[kazoospasm]

whatever is being offered in science degree as its own path in engineering..so if u like biology, u can do biomedical engineering

If you like high school biology you would better suited to chem engineering, biomedical is more cencerned with the physical attributes of biological materials.

There are jobs for science grads out there, especially if you go to a Go8 Uni and do well.

 

[Ben1220]

Being an academic isn't so bad - you get average pay, pretty good hours, not much stress, and you get to do cool research and publish papers in journals. Oh, and you get to travel heaps

Don't underestimate how much top academics can be payed, if you are really good you can go to USA, get sucked up by the ivy leauge and make insane amounts, the average for full professors is probably close to 130k for ivy leauge, even higher average for the top of the ivy leauge. Harvard pays an average of 180k for professors??
UNC, Duke among tops in salaries for professors - Triangle Business Journal:
And the very best make insane amounts
The dangerous wealth of the Ivy League - BusinessWeek.com- msnbc.com
400-600k for a physicist???


granted these aren't "average" academics, but the opportunities are out there, just like in any career. I wouldn't advise anyone to become an academic with the sole purpose of making lots of money though, it doesn't work like that.

Apart from being an academic, it depends on what you specialise in. Biology is a massive field of study. Just go to uni and do the courses you enjoy the most, and then you will be able to figure out what specialisations you enjoy the best and what kind of career you would have. In Science, its difficult to give a typical career because everyone is so specialised.

Also maybe try to go to an open day and talk to someone specialising in Genetics. Melbourne Uni has its own genetics building even I think, its serious stuff...

 

[velox]

Im in 3rd yr of a vanilla BSc. Never regretted it at all. Am doing honours or some grad course next year, so will be still studying, but have such a wide range of jobs I can apply for. Dont feel I will be unemployed. (but I network pretty well)

 

[_tsubi_]

I think you can always be a health person if you like bio...can also be a forensic scientist (I would become one if I liked bio)!
I am sure there is a lot you can do, and it also depends on your major wouldnt it?

im interested in doing science at uni and am considering forensics...but isnt the best uni for that monash? id prefer to go to a university here (hopefully USYD) because they're so reputable but i dont know if its the best place for forensics.

other than that i was considering astrophysics, has anyone done any study in that? is there a large job field for that? what are the best unis?

 

[Uncle]

if u like science, do an engineerin degree so u can actually find a job... coz whatever is being offered in science degree as its own path in engineering..so if u like biology, u can do biomedical engineering... and so if u like chemistry, u can do chemical engineering...physics, u can do civil/ mechanical engineerng..

thanks captain obvious

 

[kr73114]

Being an academic isn't so bad - you get average pay, pretty good hours, not much stress, and you get to do cool research and publish papers in journals. Oh, and you get to travel heaps

what's an academic?