I Want To Work In … Scientific Research and Development

Although you can get a job as a trainee research scientist in industry with a good first degree, for those wanting a long term career in research it may be advisable to study for a doctorate as promotion within research may be hindered without one - you may encounter "glass ceilings". A vacation placement or sandwich year in a research environment will enhance your chances of entry.

PROFILE: Research & Development Scientist

INVOLVES: designing & conducting experiments. Interpreting data. Teaching & supervising. Project management. Writing reports & scientific papers. Keeping up to date with new developments. Working in a small group of scientists, developing products.
EMPLOYERS: Research & development departments are found in many organisations e.g.

manufacturing companies
water companies
cosmetic companies
pharmaceutical companies
defence companies (e.g. BAe Systems, GSK)
universities
Government laboratories
Research Council laboratories. e.g. the Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) sponsored institutes . See www.rcuk.ac.uk for further information on these.

RELATED JOBS: clinical scientist – hospitals, analytical scientist, computer programmer, systems analyst, university lecturer, and health & safety officer.
SATISFACTIONS: Seeing an idea through to becoming a product. Intellectual challenges in solving complex problems, creativity, autonomy.
NEGATIVES: Experiments may need to be repeated, so work at times may be routine & frustrating. It may take a long time for results to show so patience is required.
SKILLS: written communication (report writing), analysing and investigating, problem solving, logical thinking, numeracy, persistence, ability to make presentations, project management, computer skills.
ADVANCEMENT: As with most R & D a graduate trains at the bench. As a team leader they gain (and are encouraged to train) management experience - eventually manage a technical aspect of the company.
DEGREE: Good Honours science or engineering degree usually required.
POSTGRADUATE STUDY: PhD is frequently required in the chemical & pharmaceutical industries but less often required in physics/electronics related research in industry. PhD followed by several years as a contract researcher essential for University posts before first permanent job.
VACANCY SOURCES: New Scientist, Nature (Bioscience jobs), Times Higher Education Supplement for University Research.
TIPS: Consider doing a PhD or MSc. Be persistent. 'Find out the names of the Head of Research & copy all CV/letters to them as well as the Human Resources department.'

Typical academic career path

Science Degree - upper second or first class
Next a PhD; an independent and original research project supported by a supervisor and lasting about 3 years. You have to write a 300 page thesis and then defend it in front of a panel of scientists.
Then post-doctoral research, typically lasting two to three years. Writing research papers, presenting findings at meetings and working more independently.
Then lecturer or group leader. Managing a research team. Supervising research students, teaching, reviewing grants and papers and presenting the work of the laboratory.
Chart of some career routes available with a science degree

WHAT SKILLS DO RESEARCH SCIENTISTS NEED?

Here is a list compiled by one major pharmaceutical company:

"Multi-tasking and time management skills are essential for a research scientist. Communication and presentation skills are also very important. You also need to be able to write well. For post-docs the process of making application for funding can be stressful but is an essential part of the job."

Intelligent
Attention to detail but also able to see the larger picture.
Prepared to do repetitive tasks.
Able to work independently, with little supervision. Make your own decisions. Self motivated.
Problem solving skills. Ability to keep persevering when things are going wrong.
Creativity
Great enthusiasm for their subject
Presentation skills
Teamworking
Computing Skills
Time Management/organising skills
People skills
Report writing/documentation of experiments
Laboratory experience and good technical skills

You can move from Research into many other careers. Many junior research staff use research as a stepping stone to other functions within pharmaceutical companies, such as:

For further information see also

Prospects Medical Research Scientist Profile www.prospects.ac.uk/links/ResSciMed
Prospects Life Sciences Researcher Profile www.prospects.ac.uk/links/ResSciLife
See also Breakthough Live www.breakthroughlive.com Excellent site for information on careers in the pharmaceutical industry

Science Jobs find here details of most of the main jobs available in science
Bioscience
Chemistry
Computer Science
Electronics and Computer Systems Engineering
Forensic Science including forensic biology and forensic chemistry .
Mathematics
Physics

PROFILE: Scientific Consultant

INVOLVES: Applying scientific techniques & methodologies to basically non-scientific industries - solving operational problems as they arise - normally short term work as part of a multi-disciplinary team - the other disciplines being non-scientific.
EMPLOYERS: Increasingly consultants - most in-house scientific services are now seen as non-core & therefore are being dispensed with. But the problems don't go away!
RELATED JOBS: Similar work goes under many names - but still essentially a scientific service.
SATISFACTIONS: Something different every day - often high profile, more usually mundane
NEGATIVES: Often do not see the end of a job since your input, although essential, is concerned with only one aspect of a larger project (or operation)
SKILLS: written communication, analysing, investigating, numeracy.
ADVANCEMENT: Based on experience, increasingly job-hopping to broaden the knowledge base, can lead to management, senior consultancy, regulatory authority etc.
DEGREE: Any science degree. Need to be adaptable. Chemists particularly suited. Professional qualifications often gained on the job.
VACANCY SOURCES: Chemistry in Britain; New Scientist
TIPS: A broad general knowledge rather than a narrow specialisation - scientific services impinges on everything (from floor polish to the Channel Tunnel)

Last fully updated June 2009