Life Sciences Career Options
Many PhD-level scientists are curious about the various career paths available to them. Below is a categorized list of career paths and job titles that PhD-level biomedical scientists typically consider. In addition we have included links to articles about these career paths, featured on the Science Careers website.
For additional exploration you may also want to check out the following books from the OCPD Library:
- Leaving the Ivory Tower: Alternative Careers in Science, Edited by Cynthia Robbins-Roth
- Put Your Science to Work, by Peter Fiske.
A. Research-Intensive Careers in Academia:
Bench scientist in a lab, principal investigator of a lab, lab manager or director of a science institute within an academic institution.
B. Teaching-Intensive Careers in Academia:
Faculty in community college, university lecturer or lab course coordinator.
C. Careers in Academia With a Mixture of Research And Teaching:
Faculty at a four-year college, masters-granting university or doctoral-granting university whose job includes research and teaching.
D. Science Education For The General Public and K-12:
Working at a science museum, K-12 teacher or public relations for science-based organizations.
E. Science Education Development or Administration:
Working in
curriculum development, science education researcher or university administration (eg., dean of a college).
F. Science Research-Intensive Career Paths in Biotech/Pharma:
Bench researcher or manager of research teams.
G. Bench Science Careers in Government:
Bench researcher (eg., at NIH, DOD, DOE, USDA) or forensic science (intelligence agencies, federal/state dept. of justice).
H. Healthcare-Related Careers:
Public health agency, genetics counseling or medical informatics/biostatistics.
I. Writing-Related Careers:
Science writing, medical writing, technical writing, editing, science journalism, publishing, translation or communications (eg., creating marketing materials for science products).
- Scientists as Science Writers
- Scientists as Science Editors
- Scientists in Science Broadcasting
- Scientists as Science Translators
- Synapse Article on Careers in Editing
J. Government/Policy-Related Careers:
Science policy in public sector, science policy in private sector (think tanks, etc.), educational policy, management of science services or societies or working at a funding agency.
K. Law-Related Careers:
Patent agent, patent attorney or working intechnology transfer.
L. Careers Related to the Business of Science:
M
anagement consulting, business development in a biotech company, venture capital, biotech entrepreneurship, medical science liaison, market research, investment banking, technical sales or technical support.
- Scientists as Management Consultants I
- Scientists as Management Consultants II
- Scientists in Investing/VC
- Scientists in Software
- Scientists in Public Relations
M. Careers Related to Drug Approval And Production:
R
egulatory (FDA or within a company), clinical research/trials management, process development (eg., scaling up drug production), or quality control.
N. Additional Options