5 Best Things You Can Do with a Masters in Biomedical Science Degree
There are various angles for biomedical science, including pathology, human biology, molecular biology, genetics, epidemiology, and clinical chemistry. With a masters in biomedical science degree, you can choose a career that suits your personal interests. Biomedical science is a very dynamic and ever-changing area, which is why it offers so many exciting career opportunities in places like specialist laboratory work, research, consultancy work, management, education, and more.
Most biomedical scientists will spend their career primarily in the laboratory. However, a master’s degree in biomedical sciences can open the door to a range of different job opportunities depending on your skills and specialties. You can enjoy a career in various roles in pharmaceuticals, medical equipment manufacturing, and more. Here, we will examine some of the best and most high-paying jobs for those with a master’s degree in biomedical sciences.
# 1 Clinical Laboratory Technician or Technologist
Although these two options might sound alike, the responsibilities for each can be different. Often, a clinical laboratory technologist is a professional tasked with performing a range of complicated laboratory tests. Some of these tests might involve searching for microorganisms and bacteria within a sample of bodily fluids. On the other hand, this professional might test for levels of drugs in a person’s system, and make cultures of tissue samples to help choose a treatment for a patient.
On the other hand, a clinical laboratory technician is usually responsible for less complicated procedures and tests. While many of the duties are complex, they often involve preparing specimens and working with automated devices. Some laboratory technicians will also perform manual tests using careful instructions given to them by a clinical laboratory technologist or manager.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median wage for a clinical laboratory technologist was $50,930 per year as of May 2016. The job growth rate for 2014 to 2024 is 16%, which is much faster than average.
#2 Biomedical Scientist
For those with a biomedical science master’s degree, a job as a biomedical scientist is often very appealing. Typically, the responsibility is to develop new vaccines, treatments, and drugs for human diseases and illnesses. The biomedical research that is require to create new treatment options is often conducted in a government or hospital laboratory. Alongside their lab-based projects, biomedical scientists might also be involved with drug trials that allow them to monitor the reactions that patients have to different dosages of drugs.
In some cases, biomedical scientists will be required to perform invasive patient procedures, such as excising tissue samples and drawing blood. The work of these professionals is crucial to many hospital departments, including A&E and operating theaters. The functions carried out here are wide-ranging too. For instance, you might work on medical conditions like diabetes, or cancer, or screen for a number of different diseases in blood samples.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for a biomedical scientist was $80,530 per year as of May 2016. There’s also an option to go into biomedical engineering, which pays higher salaries.
#3 Epidemiologists or Medical Research Scientists
Epidemiologists are responsible for studying the distribution and frequency of diseases within the human population. Sometimes, they deal with the development of diseases and potential outbreaks by working alongside public health organizations to develop preventative methods and practices for control.
Similarly to biomedical scientists, much of the work that epidemiologists do will be conducted in laboratory environments. Sometimes, they are employed by universities and government agencies, or international organizations, private corporations, and more. Potential government employers might include the National Institutes of Health or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These professionals frequently conduct experiments, and come up with testing solutions that help to increase the knowledge that scientists have when it comes to the nature of diseases. They can even help with developing new drugs for treatments.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, epidemiologists had a median salary of $70,820 per year as of May 2016. The estimated job growth is 6% from 2014 to 2024, which is as fast as the national average.
#4 Forensic Scientist
If you’ve always been interested in law, and you have an inquiring mind, then you could use your master’s degree in biomedical science to pursue a career as a forensic scientist. These professionals need excellent communication skills and a strong approach to methodical work. Your job will include providing a wide range of impartial evidence that people can use in court cases to help support either the defense or the prosecution in criminal or civil investigations.
Most forensic scientists work in laboratories and spend their time examining trace materials that are associated with crimes. Sometimes, they will conduct some work at the crime scene to search for evidence in the form of hairs, bodily fluids, glass and paint fragments, hairs, tire marks, and flammable substances that were used to start fires. Though the evidence provided by a forensic scientist is often given in writing, you may sometimes be asked to attend a court hearing to give your professional opinion on something.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of a forensic science technician was $56,750 per year as of May 2016. The predicted growth rate for this job is 27% from 2014 to 2024, which is much faster than average.
#5 Microbiologists
A career as a microbiologist can be ideal for someone with a master’s degree in biomedical science. These scientists are responsible for studying microbes and microorganisms in order to better understand how these can affect our lives either for the better or worse. Their focus is to find out as much as they can about microorganisms at the cellular and molecular levels, as well as their ecology. They look into bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa, among other things.
Microbiologists work in a range of settings, such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and hospitals. By learning everything they need to know about microbes, microbiologists help to solve a number of problems that affect our environment, health, the climate and agriculture. Sometimes, they can be responsible for helping with the prevention and control of infectious diseases, and may assist with setting up regulations that help to ensure that food is safe to eat.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, microbiologists had a median salary of $66,850 per year as of May 2016. Unfortunately, job growth for 2014 to 2024 is predicted to be just 4%, which is slower than average.
References
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians. (2015, Dec. 17). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-and-clinical-laboratory-technologists-and-technicians.htm
Medical Scientists. (2015, Dec. 17). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/medical-scientists.htm
Epidemiologists. (2015, Dec. 17). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/epidemiologists.htm
Forensic Science Technicians. (2015, Dec. 17). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/forensic-science-technicians.htm
Microbiologists. (2015, Dec. 17). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/microbiologists.htm
