CAREER FILE:

MEDICAL RESEARCHERS

· NATURE OF THE WORK

     Biological and medical scientists study living organisms and their relationship to their environment. Most specialize in some area of biology such as zoology (the study of animals) or microbiology (the study of microscopic organisms). Virtually all medical scientists work in research and development. Medical scientists who conduct research usually work in laboratories and use microscopes, computers, thermal cyclers, or a wide variety of other equipment. Some medical scientists work in management or administration. They may, for example,  plan and administer programs for testing food and drugs. Biochemists study the chemical composition of living things. They try to understand the complex chemical combinations and reactions involved in metabolism, reproduction, growth, and heredity. Medical microbiologists study the relationship between organisms and disease, or the effect of antibiotics on microorganisms.

     Biological scientists who do biomedical research are usually called medical scientists. Medical scientists may try to identify the kinds of changes in a cell, chromosome, or even gene, that signal the development of medical problems, such as different types of cancer. After identifying structures of or changes in organisms that provide clues to health problems, medical scientists may then work on the treatment of problems.

· WORKING CONDITIONS

     Biological and medical scientists generally work regular hours in offices or laboratories and are not usually exposed to unsafe or unhealthy conditions. Medical scientists also spend time working in clinics and hospitals administering drugs and treatments to patients.

· EMPLOYMENT

     Biological and medical scientists held about 118,000 jobs in 1994. In addition, many biological and medical scientists held biology faculty positions in colleges and universities. About six percent of medical scientists worked in research and testing laboratories, with most of the remainder found in hospitals and the drug industry.

· TRAINING, OTHER QUALIFICATIONS AND ADVANCEMENT

     For biological scientists, the Ph.D. degree is generally required for college teaching, independent research, and for advancement to administrative positions. A master’s degree is sufficient for some jobs in applied research. Some college graduates may work as research assistants. Others become biological technicians, medical laboratory technologists, or, with courses in education, high school biology teachers. Curriculums for advanced degrees often emphasize a sub-field such as microbiology or botany, but not all universities offer all curriculums. Advanced degree programs include classroom and field work, laboratory research, and a thesis or dissertation. Biological scientists should be able to work independently or as part of a team and be able to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

 The Ph.D. degree in a biological science is the minimum education required for prospective medical scientists because the work of medical scientists is almost entirely research oriented. Medical scientists who administer drug or gene therapy to human patients, or who otherwise interact medically with patients must have a medical degree. It is particularly helpful for medical scientists to earn both Ph.D. and medical  degrees. In addition to the formal education, medical scientists are usually expected to spend several years in a post-doctoral position before they are offered permanent jobs.
 
· JOB OUTLOOK
 
    Employment of biological and medical scientists is expected to increase faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2005. Bio/Med. scientists will also help develop and produce products developed by new biological methods. Expected expansion in research related to health issues, such as AIDS, cancer, and the Human Genome project, should also result in growth. In addition, Bio/Med. scientists are less likely to lose their jobs during recessions because most are employed on long-term research projects or in agricultural research.

· EARNINGS

     For medical scientists, median annual earnings were about $36,300; the middle 50% earned between $27,800 and $56,700. In the federal government in 1994, microbiologists averaged $52,250; ecologists $46,570; physiologists $58,880; and geneticists $58,490.

· SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
     For information on careers in biotechnology, contact: Biotechnology Industry Organization, 1625 K St., NW., Suite 1100, Washington, DC 2006

     For information on careers in biochemistry, contact: American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814.

     For information on careers in microbiology, contact: American Society for Microbiology, Office of Education and Training- Career Information, 1325 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D. C. 20005


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