Careers in Biomedical Science
| | The Academy aims to support the translation of novel science and technology from bench to bedside. Ensuring the development, protection and promotion of academic career pathways for both non-clinical biomedical scientists and clinical scientists is one of the Academy's core objectives.
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| Career PathsThe "conventional" path for someone pursuing a career as a researcher in a biomedical science is to:
- Study for a bachelors degree at university, then
- Stay at university as a postgraduate student, to study for a PhD, then
- Work in one or two laboratories as a "postdoc" or research fellow, to gain experience and build up a publication record, then
- Find a post as an independent researcher - as a lecturer at a university or as a laboratory head in a research institute or as a senior research fellow - to build up your own research group.
But careers can take many different routes. For example, some people work in pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies, or as research assistants in university or NHS laboratories, for a while after graduating, before they decide which scientific discipline they want to work in. Sometimes employers will sponsor employees in this situation to take further degrees and universities may allow research assistants to register for research degrees while they are working.
| | | Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) is the professional body for biomedical scientists in the UK and represents approximately 16,000 members employed in NHS and private laboratories, veterinary laboratories, the National Blood Authority, Health Protection Agency, Medical Research Council and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Other members work in related commercial fields and in teaching. http://www.ibms.org | Vitae researchers' portal A new website which aims to be a national forum for discussion of policy affecting research career development. http://www.vitae.ac.uk/ |
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