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Medical Scientist

Medical scientists conduct research aimed at improving overall human health. They often use clinical trials and other investigative methods to reach their findings.

Medical scientists typically do the following:

  • Design and conduct studies to investigate human diseases and methods to prevent and treat diseases
  • Prepare and analyze data from medical samples and investigate causes and treatment of toxicity, pathogens, or chronic diseases
  • Standardize drugs' potency, doses, and methods of administering to allow for their mass manufacturing and distribution
  • Create and test medical devices
  • Follow safety procedures, such as decontaminating workspaces
  • Write research grant proposals and apply for funding from government agencies, private funding, and other sources
  • Write articles for publication and present research findings

Medical scientists form hypotheses and develop experiments. They study the causes of diseases and other health problems in a variety of ways. For example, they may conduct clinical trials, working with licensed physicians to test treatments on patients who have agreed to participate in the study. They analyze data from the trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment.

Some medical scientists choose to write about and publish their findings in scientific journals after completion of the clinical trial. They also may have to present their findings in ways that nonscientist audiences understand.

Medical scientists often lead teams of technicians or students who perform support tasks. For example, a medical scientist may have assistants take measurements and make observations for the scientist’s research.

Medical scientists usually specialize in an area of research, with the goal of understanding and improving human health outcomes. The following are examples of types of medical scientists:

Clinical pharmacologists  research new drug therapies for health problems, such as seizure disorders and Alzheimer’s disease.

Medical pathologists   research the human body and tissues, such as how cancer progresses or how certain issues relate to genetics.

Toxicologists  study the negative impacts of chemicals and pollutants on human health.

Medical scientists conduct research to better understand disease or to develop breakthroughs in treatment. For information about an occupation that tracks and develops methods to prevent the spread of diseases, see the profile on epidemiologists.

Medical scientists held about 119,200 jobs in 2021. The largest employers of medical scientists were as follows:

Medical scientists typically work in offices and laboratories. In the lab, they sometimes work with dangerous biological samples and chemicals. They must take precautions in the lab to ensure safety, such as by wearing protective gloves, knowing the location of safety equipment, and keeping work areas neat.

Work Schedules

Most medical scientists work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.

Medical scientists typically have a Ph.D., usually in biology or a related life science. Some get a medical degree instead of, or in addition to, a Ph.D.

Medical scientists typically need a Ph.D. or medical degree. Candidates sometimes qualify for positions with a master’s degree and experience. Applicants to master’s or doctoral programs typically have a bachelor's degree in biology or a related physical science field, such as chemistry.

Ph.D. programs for medical scientists typically focus on research in a particular field, such as immunology, neurology, or cancer. Through laboratory work, Ph.D. students develop experiments related to their research.

Medical degree programs include Medical Doctor (M.D.), Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.), Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), and advanced nursing degrees. In medical school, students usually spend the first phase of their education in labs and classrooms, taking courses such as anatomy, biochemistry, and medical ethics. During their second phase, medical students typically participate in residency programs.

Some medical scientist training programs offer dual degrees that pair a Ph.D. with a medical degree. Students in dual-degree programs learn both the research skills needed to be a scientist and the clinical skills needed to be a healthcare practitioner.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Medical scientists primarily conduct research and typically do not need licenses or certifications. However, those who practice medicine, such as by treating patients in clinical trials or in private practice, must be licensed as physicians or other healthcare practitioners.

Medical scientists with a Ph.D. may begin their careers in postdoctoral research positions; those with a medical degree often complete a residency. During postdoctoral appointments, Ph.D.s work with experienced scientists to learn more about their specialty area and improve their research skills. Medical school graduates who enter a residency program in their specialty generally spend several years working in a hospital or doctor’s office.

Medical scientists typically have an interest in the Building, Thinking and Creating interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Building interest area indicates a focus on working with tools and machines, and making or fixing practical things. The Thinking interest area indicates a focus on researching, investigating, and increasing the understanding of natural laws. The Creating interest area indicates a focus on being original and imaginative, and working with artistic media.

If you are not sure whether you have a Building or Thinking or Creating interest which might fit with a career as a medical scientist, you can take a career test to measure your interests.

Medical scientists should also possess the following specific qualities:

Communication skills. Communication is critical, because medical scientists must be able to explain their conclusions. In addition, medical scientists write grant proposals, which are often required to continue their research.

Critical-thinking skills. Medical scientists must use their expertise to determine the best method for solving a specific research question.

Data-analysis skills. Medical scientists use statistical techniques, so that they can properly quantify and analyze health research questions.

Decision-making skills. Medical scientists must use their expertise and experience to determine what research questions to ask, how best to investigate the questions, and what data will best answer the questions.

Observation skills. Medical scientists conduct experiments that require precise observation of samples and other health data. Any mistake could lead to inconclusive or misleading results.

The median annual wage for medical scientists was $95,310 in May 2021. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $50,100, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $166,980.

In May 2021, the median annual wages for medical scientists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Employment of medical scientists is projected to grow 17 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 10,000 openings for medical scientists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. 

Demand for medical scientists will stem from greater demand for a variety of healthcare services as the population continues to age and rates of chronic disease continue to increase. These scientists will be needed for research into treating diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and cancer, and problems related to treatment, such as resistance to antibiotics. In addition, medical scientists will continue to be needed for medical research as a growing population travels globally and facilitates the spread of diseases.

The availability of federal funds for medical research grants also may affect opportunities for these scientists.

For more information about research specialties and opportunities within specialized fields for medical scientists, visit

American Association for Cancer Research

American Physician Scientists Association

American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science

American Society for Clinical Pathology

American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics

The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

The Gerontological Society of America

Infectious Diseases Society of America

National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Society for Neuroscience

Society of Toxicology

Where does this information come from?

The career information above is taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook . This excellent resource for occupational data is published by the U.S. Department of Labor every two years. Truity periodically updates our site with information from the BLS database.

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This information is taken directly from the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Truity does not editorialize the information, including changing information that our readers believe is inaccurate, because we consider the BLS to be the authority on occupational information. However, if you would like to correct a typo or other technical error, you can reach us at [email protected] .

I am not sure if this career is right for me. How can I decide?

There are many excellent tools available that will allow you to measure your interests, profile your personality, and match these traits with appropriate careers. On this site, you can take the Career Personality Profiler assessment, the Holland Code assessment, or the Photo Career Quiz .

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What does a biomedical scientist do?

Would you make a good biomedical scientist? Take our career test and find your match with over 800 careers.

What is a Biomedical Scientist?

Biomedical scientists uses scientific methods to investigate biological processes and diseases that affect humans and animals. They conduct experiments, analyze data, and interpret findings to improve our understanding of diseases and develop new treatments and cures. They also ensure the safety and efficacy of drugs and medical devices through clinical trials and regulatory processes.

The work of biomedical scientists covers a wide range of areas, including genetics, microbiology, immunology, and biochemistry. Various tools and techniques are used to study living organisms at the molecular and cellular levels, such as microscopy, DNA sequencing, and protein analysis. Biomedical scientists often collaborate with other healthcare professionals, such as physicians and nurses, to develop new diagnostics and treatments for diseases.

What does a Biomedical Scientist do?

A biomedical scientist carrying out laboratory tests to diagnosis a disease.

The work of biomedical scientists has a profound impact on human health and has contributed to the development of numerous life-saving medical advances.

Duties and Responsibilities The duties and responsibilities of a biomedical scientist vary depending on their area of specialization and the specific role they play within their organization. However, some common responsibilities of biomedical scientists include:

  • Conducting Research: Biomedical scientists design and conduct experiments to investigate biological processes and diseases. They use various laboratory techniques, including microscopy, DNA sequencing, and protein analysis, to study living organisms at the molecular and cellular levels. They collect and analyze data, interpret findings, and communicate results to other scientists and healthcare professionals.
  • Developing New Treatments: Biomedical scientists work to develop new drugs, therapies, and medical devices to treat diseases. They conduct preclinical studies to test the safety and efficacy of new treatments, and they work with clinicians to design and conduct clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness of new treatments in humans.
  • Analyzing Samples: Biomedical scientists analyze biological samples, such as blood, tissue, and urine, to diagnose diseases and monitor treatment. They use laboratory techniques to detect and quantify biomarkers, such as proteins and DNA, that are associated with specific diseases.
  • Ensuring Quality Control: Biomedical scientists are responsible for ensuring the quality and accuracy of laboratory tests and procedures. They follow established protocols and standard operating procedures, maintain laboratory equipment, and monitor laboratory safety to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
  • Managing Laboratory Operations: Biomedical scientists may be responsible for managing laboratory operations, including supervising staff, developing and implementing laboratory policies and procedures, and ensuring that laboratory equipment is properly maintained and calibrated.
  • Collaborating with Other Healthcare Professionals: Biomedical scientists collaborate with other healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, and pharmacists, to develop and implement treatment plans for patients. They communicate laboratory results and provide expert advice on the interpretation of test results.
  • Teaching and Mentoring: Biomedical scientists may be responsible for teaching and mentoring students and junior researchers. They may develop and deliver lectures, supervise laboratory activities, and provide guidance and mentorship to students and trainees.

Types of Biomedical Scientists There are several different types of biomedical scientists, each with their own area of specialization and focus. Here are some examples of different types of biomedical scientists and what they do:

  • Microbiologists : Microbiologists study microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. They investigate how these organisms cause disease, develop new treatments to combat infections, and develop new diagnostic tests to identify infectious agents.
  • Immunologists : Immunologists study the immune system and its role in fighting disease. They investigate how the immune system responds to infectious agents, cancer cells, and other foreign substances, and they develop new treatments that harness the immune system to fight disease.
  • Geneticists : Geneticists study genes and their role in disease. They investigate the genetic basis of diseases, such as cancer, and develop new diagnostic tests and treatments that target specific genetic mutations.
  • Biochemists : Biochemists study the chemical processes that occur in living organisms. They investigate how cells and tissues produce and use energy, and they develop new drugs and therapies that target specific metabolic pathways.
  • Toxicologists : Toxicologists study the effects of toxic substances on the body. They investigate how chemicals, pollutants, and other environmental factors can cause disease, and they develop strategies to prevent and mitigate the harmful effects of toxic exposures.
  • Pharmacologists: Pharmacologists study the effects of drugs on the body. They investigate how drugs interact with cells and tissues, and they develop new drugs and therapies to treat disease.
  • Medical Laboratory Scientists: Medical laboratory scientists, also known as clinical laboratory scientists, perform laboratory tests on patient samples to diagnose diseases and monitor treatment. They analyze blood, urine, tissue, and other samples using various laboratory techniques and instruments.

What is the workplace of a Biomedical Scientist like?

Biomedical scientists work in diverse settings, contributing to advancements in medical research, healthcare, and the understanding of diseases. The workplace of a biomedical scientist can vary based on their specific role, specialization, and the nature of their work.

Academic and Research Institutions: Many biomedical scientists are employed in universities, medical schools, and research institutions. In these settings, they conduct cutting-edge research, lead laboratory teams, and contribute to scientific discoveries. Academic biomedical scientists often split their time between conducting research, teaching students, and publishing their findings in scientific journals.

Hospitals and Healthcare Settings: Biomedical scientists play a crucial role in healthcare, especially in clinical laboratories and diagnostic facilities. They may be involved in analyzing patient samples, conducting medical tests, and interpreting results to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Biomedical scientists working in hospitals collaborate with clinicians and healthcare professionals to ensure accurate and timely diagnostic information.

Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Companies: The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries employ biomedical scientists to drive innovation in drug discovery, development, and testing. In these settings, scientists work on designing experiments, conducting preclinical and clinical trials, and developing new therapeutic interventions. Biomedical scientists may also be involved in quality control, ensuring the safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical products.

Government Agencies and Public Health Organizations: Biomedical scientists can work for government agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In these roles, they contribute to public health research, policy development, and the regulation of healthcare products.

Nonprofit Research Organizations: Nonprofit organizations dedicated to medical research and public health also employ biomedical scientists. These organizations focus on specific diseases or health issues and work towards finding solutions, advancing knowledge, and advocating for improved healthcare practices.

Private Research Foundations: Biomedical scientists may work for private research foundations that fund and conduct medical research. These foundations often collaborate with academic institutions and industry partners to support innovative research projects with the potential to impact human health.

Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Teams: Biomedical scientists frequently collaborate with professionals from various disciplines, including bioinformaticians, clinicians, engineers, and statisticians. Interdisciplinary collaboration is common, especially in research projects that require a multifaceted approach to address complex health challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

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  • Medical Scientists: Jobs, Career, Salary and Education Information

Medical Scientists

Career, salary and education information.

What They Do : Medical scientists conduct research aimed at improving overall human health.

Work Environment : Medical scientists work in offices and laboratories. Most work full time.

How to Become One : Medical scientists typically have a Ph.D., usually in biology or a related life science. Some medical scientists get a medical degree instead of, or in addition to, a Ph.D.

Salary : The median annual wage for medical scientists is $95,310.

Job Outlook : Employment of medical scientists is projected to grow 17 percent over the next ten years, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Related Careers : Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of medical scientists with similar occupations.

Following is everything you need to know about a career as a medical scientist with lots of details. As a first step, take a look at some of the following jobs, which are real jobs with real employers. You will be able to see the very real job career requirements for employers who are actively hiring. The link will open in a new tab so that you can come back to this page to continue reading about the career:

Top 3 Medical Scientist Jobs

Title: Medical Science Liaison, Midwest Region Location: Remote About Us: Vera Therapeutics (Nasdaq: VERA), is a late-stage biotechnology company focused on developing treatments for serious ...

The Position We are seeking an experienced cardiometabolic Medical Science Liaison (MSL) to join an exciting opportunity within our Medical Affairs (MA) team and work in a dynamic and collaborative ...

Following regulatory and corporate guidelines, they will facilitate and build scientific relationships and collaborations with the medical / scientific community. This position interacts with local ...

See all Medical Scientist jobs

What Medical Scientists Do [ About this section ] [ To Top ]

Medical scientists conduct research aimed at improving overall human health. They often use clinical trials and other investigative methods to reach their findings.

Duties of Medical Scientists

Medical scientists typically do the following:

  • Design and conduct studies that investigate both human diseases and methods to prevent and treat them
  • Prepare and analyze medical samples and data to investigate causes and treatment of toxicity, pathogens, or chronic diseases
  • Standardize drug potency, doses, and methods to allow for the mass manufacturing and distribution of drugs and medicinal compounds
  • Create and test medical devices
  • Develop programs that improve health outcomes, in partnership with health departments, industry personnel, and physicians
  • Write research grant proposals and apply for funding from government agencies and private funding sources
  • Follow procedures to avoid contamination and maintain safety

Many medical scientists form hypotheses and develop experiments, with little supervision. They often lead teams of technicians and, sometimes, students, who perform support tasks. For example, a medical scientist working in a university laboratory may have undergraduate assistants take measurements and make observations for the scientist's research.

Medical scientists study the causes of diseases and other health problems. For example, a medical scientist who does cancer research might put together a combination of drugs that could slow the cancer's progress. A clinical trial may be done to test the drugs. A medical scientist may work with licensed physicians to test the new combination on patients who are willing to participate in the study.

In a clinical trial, patients agree to help determine if a particular drug, a combination of drugs, or some other medical intervention works. Without knowing which group they are in, patients in a drug-related clinical trial receive either the trial drug or a placebo—a pill or injection that looks like the trial drug but does not actually contain the drug.

Medical scientists analyze the data from all of the patients in the clinical trial, to see how the trial drug performed. They compare the results with those obtained from the control group that took the placebo, and they analyze the attributes of the participants. After they complete their analysis, medical scientists may write about and publish their findings.

Medical scientists do research both to develop new treatments and to try to prevent health problems. For example, they may study the link between smoking and lung cancer or between diet and diabetes.

Medical scientists who work in private industry usually have to research the topics that benefit their company the most, rather than investigate their own interests. Although they may not have the pressure of writing grant proposals to get money for their research, they may have to explain their research plans to nonscientist managers or executives.

Medical scientists usually specialize in an area of research within the broad area of understanding and improving human health. Medical scientists may engage in basic and translational research that seeks to improve the understanding of, or strategies for, improving health. They may also choose to engage in clinical research that studies specific experimental treatments.

Work Environment for Medical Scientists [ About this section ] [ To Top ]

Medical scientists hold about 119,200 jobs. The largest employers of medical scientists are as follows:

Medical scientists usually work in offices and laboratories. They spend most of their time studying data and reports. Medical scientists sometimes work with dangerous biological samples and chemicals, but they take precautions that ensure a safe environment.

Medical Scientist Work Schedules

Most medical scientists work full time.

How to Become a Medical Scientist [ About this section ] [ To Top ]

Get the education you need: Find schools for Medical Scientists near you!

Medical scientists typically have a Ph.D., usually in biology or a related life science. Some medical scientists get a medical degree instead of, or in addition to, a Ph.D.

Education for Medical Scientists

Students planning careers as medical scientists generally pursue a bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, or a related field. Undergraduate students benefit from taking a broad range of classes, including life sciences, physical sciences, and math. Students also typically take courses that develop communication and writing skills, because they must learn to write grants effectively and publish their research findings.

After students have completed their undergraduate studies, they typically enter Ph.D. programs. Dual-degree programs are available that pair a Ph.D. with a range of specialized medical degrees. A few degree programs that are commonly paired with Ph.D. studies are Medical Doctor (M.D.), Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.), Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), and advanced nursing degrees. Whereas Ph.D. studies focus on research methods, such as project design and data interpretation, students in dual-degree programs learn both the clinical skills needed to be a physician and the research skills needed to be a scientist.

Graduate programs emphasize both laboratory work and original research. These programs offer prospective medical scientists the opportunity to develop their experiments and, sometimes, to supervise undergraduates. Ph.D. programs culminate in a dissertation that the candidate presents before a committee of professors. Students may specialize in a particular field, such as gerontology, neurology, or cancer.

Those who go to medical school spend most of the first 2 years in labs and classrooms, taking courses such as anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, psychology, microbiology, pathology, medical ethics, and medical law. They also learn how to record medical histories, examine patients, and diagnose illnesses. They may be required to participate in residency programs, meeting the same requirements that physicians and surgeons have to fulfill.

Medical scientists often continue their education with postdoctoral work. This provides additional and more independent lab experience, including experience in specific processes and techniques, such as gene splicing. Often, that experience is transferable to other research projects.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations for Medical Scientists

Medical scientists primarily conduct research and typically do not need licenses or certifications. However, those who administer drugs or gene therapy or who otherwise practice medicine on patients in clinical trials or a private practice need a license to practice as a physician.

Medical Scientist Training

Medical scientists often begin their careers in temporary postdoctoral research positions or in medical residency. During their postdoctoral appointments, they work with experienced scientists as they continue to learn about their specialties or develop a broader understanding of related areas of research. Graduates of M.D. or D.O. programs may enter a residency program in their specialty of interest. A residency usually takes place in a hospital and varies in duration, generally lasting from 3 to 7 years, depending on the specialty. Some fellowships exist that train medical practitioners in research skills. These may take place before or after residency.

Postdoctoral positions frequently offer the opportunity to publish research findings. A solid record of published research is essential to getting a permanent college or university faculty position.

Work Experience in a Related Occupation for Medical Scientists

Although it is not a requirement for entry, many medical scientists become interested in research after working as a physician or surgeon , or in another medical profession, such as dentist .

Important Qualities for Medical Scientists

Communication skills. Communication is critical, because medical scientists must be able to explain their conclusions. In addition, medical scientists write grant proposals, because grants often are required to fund their research.

Critical-thinking skills. Medical scientists must use their expertise to determine the best method for solving a specific research question.

Data-analysis skills. Medical scientists use statistical techniques, so that they can properly quantify and analyze health research questions.

Decisionmaking skills. Medical scientists must determine what research questions to ask, how best to investigate the questions, and what data will best answer the questions.

Observation skills. Medical scientists conduct experiments that require precise observation of samples and other health-related data. Any mistake could lead to inconclusive or misleading results.

Medical Scientist Salaries [ About this section ] [ More salary/earnings info ] [ To Top ]

The median annual wage for medical scientists is $95,310. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $50,100, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $166,980.

The median annual wages for medical scientists in the top industries in which they work are as follows:

Job Outlook for Medical Scientists [ About this section ] [ To Top ]

Employment of medical scientists is projected to grow 17 percent over the next ten years, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 10,000 openings for medical scientists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment of Medical Scientists

Demand for medical scientists will stem from greater demand for a variety of healthcare services as the population continues to age and rates of chronic disease continue to increase. These scientists will be needed for research into treating diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and cancer, and problems related to treatment, such as resistance to antibiotics. In addition, medical scientists will continue to be needed for medical research as a growing population travels globally and facilitates the spread of diseases.

The availability of federal funds for medical research grants also may affect opportunities for these scientists.

Careers Related to Medical Scientists [ About this section ] [ To Top ]

Agricultural and food scientists.

Agricultural and food scientists research ways to improve the efficiency and safety of agricultural establishments and products.

Biochemists and Biophysicists

Biochemists and biophysicists study the chemical and physical principles of living things and of biological processes, such as cell development, growth, heredity, and disease.

Epidemiologists

Epidemiologists are public health professionals who investigate patterns and causes of disease and injury in humans. They seek to reduce the risk and occurrence of negative health outcomes through research, community education, and health policy.

Health Educators and Community Health Workers

Health educators teach people about behaviors that promote wellness. They develop and implement strategies to improve the health of individuals and communities. Community health workers collect data and discuss health concerns with members of specific populations or communities.

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians

Medical laboratory technologists (commonly known as medical laboratory scientists) and medical laboratory technicians collect samples and perform tests to analyze body fluids, tissue, and other substances.

Microbiologists

Microbiologists study microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, algae, fungi, and some types of parasites. They try to understand how these organisms live, grow, and interact with their environments.

Physicians and Surgeons

Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses. Physicians examine patients; take medical histories; prescribe medications; and order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests. They counsel patients on diet, hygiene, and preventive healthcare. Surgeons operate on patients to treat injuries, such as broken bones; diseases, such as cancerous tumors; and deformities, such as cleft palates.

Postsecondary Teachers

Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a wide variety of academic and technical subjects beyond the high school level. They may also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books.

Veterinarians

Veterinarians care for the health of animals and work to improve public health. They diagnose, treat, and research medical conditions and diseases of pets, livestock, and other animals.

More Medical Scientist Information [ About this section ] [ To Top ]

For more information about research specialties and opportunities within specialized fields for medical scientists, visit

American Association for Cancer Research

American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science

American Society for Clinical Pathology

American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics

The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

The Gerontological Society of America

Infectious Diseases Society of America

National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Society for Neuroscience

Society of Toxicology

A portion of the information on this page is used by permission of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Explore more careers: View all Careers or the Top 30 Career Profiles

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Research scientist (medical)

Working as a medical research scientist means you'll be contributing to important developments in the world of medicine

As a medical research scientist, one of your aims will be to increase the body of scientific knowledge on topics related to medicine. You will do this by planning and conducting experiments and sharing your results.

You may also use your research to develop new, or improve existing, drugs, treatments or other medically-related products.

You can find work in higher education institutions, research institutes, hospitals, industry and medical research charities. The type of research you can carry out is wide ranging from from investigating the underlying basis of health or disease, to conducting clinical research and investigating methods of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human disorders.

It's also possible for you to carry out molecular level research. This may involve using appropriate cell and animal models, or human volunteers may be used to study the clinical effects of various factors.

Responsibilities

Roles vary depending on the setting, but much of the work is laboratory-based. In general you'll need to:

  • plan and conduct experiments and analyse or interpret the results
  • keep accurate records of work undertaken
  • use specialist computer software to analyse data and to produce diagrammatic representation of results
  • write and submit applications and progress reports to funding bodies that support medical research (outside industry)
  • discuss research progress with other departments, e.g. production and marketing (in industry)
  • constantly consider the profit/loss potential of research products (in industry)
  • collaborate with industry, research institutes, hospitals and academia
  • teach and supervise students (in some higher education roles).

You'll often need to disseminate the results of your work to others, which means you'll:

  • carry out presentations or discussions at team meetings with colleagues
  • prepare presentations and deliver these at national and international scientific conferences
  • write original papers for publication in peer-reviewed medical or scientific journals. In industry, there is usually less pressure to publish.

It's also important to stay in touch with developments and advances in your field and so you'll need to:

  • read relevant scientific literature and journals
  • attend scientific meetings and conferences in order to hear presentations from other researchers and participate in informal discussions with scientists from other parts of the world.
  • If you're doing a PhD and have been awarded a studentship, it will usually come with a tax-free stipend to help cover living costs. This is currently at least £18,622 if funded by UKRI. Some institutions may award higher amounts or you may receive more if you’re industry funded or based in London.
  • If you've completed a PhD, you may start on £25,000 to £40,000 a year, depending on your specialist subject and experience.
  • Senior researchers and university professors earn in the region of £50,000 to £75,000 a year or more.

For current details on PhD studentship stipends, see UKRI - Studentships and Doctoral Training .

The majority of academic institutions in the UK have now implemented a single pay spine for all grades of staff. Pay varies according to whether you're leader of your own research group, part of a team of researchers or whether you've secured a lectureship while continuing your research.

Pay is usually higher in industry and the private sector.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Your hours will vary depending on your setting. In academia in particular, there may be some flexibility with your start and finish times. Due to the nature of experimental work, hours can be irregular and may require some evening or weekend work.

You may be required to work longer hours when grant application deadlines are looming or an important experiment is underway. Overtime tends to be paid in industry but is unusual in academia.

What to expect

  • Work is mainly laboratory-based with some time spent in the office planning and writing up experiments. Some positions may require field work.
  • With career progression, the work becomes more office-based with a focus on writing grant applications, collaborating with other scientists, supervising staff, planning experiments, writing papers for publication and reviewing papers.
  • Care and attention to detail is required as work can involve contact with potentially toxic or radioactive materials.
  • Working with animals or animal-derived products, such as embryonic stem cells, may form part of the research, which will be an ethical dilemma for some. See the arguments at Understanding Animal Research .
  • Travel is sometimes required, as you'll often collaborate with other institutions. Some national and international travel is needed for attendance at conferences to present the results of your research and to keep up to date with research findings from peers. Travel typically becomes more frequent with career progression.
  • Initiatives are in place in various sectors to encourage equality, inclusion and diversity within medical research. UKRI has equality, diversity and inclusion policies and guidance with the aim to create a dynamic system of research and innovation in the UK.

Qualifications

You'll need a good honours degree in a medical or life science subject to become a medical researcher. Relevant subjects include:

  • biochemistry
  • biomedical sciences
  • medical microbiology
  • molecular biology
  • pharmacology
  • physiology.

Many areas of medical research now also look for graduates in chemistry, physics or statistics/bioinformatics, so you can be successful if you have a degree in one of these subjects.

Most people entering this field have or will be working towards a research-based MSc or a PhD. This is particularly important for higher level positions and career progression without a PhD (particularly in academia) is likely to be limited.

You may be able to enter with just your degree and no postgraduate qualification if you also have some significant laboratory experience but you'll typically still need a PhD to then progress.

Direct entry to a research scientist role with an HND or foundation degree only is not possible. With either of these qualifications, you may be able to enter at technician level, but you'll need to take further qualifications to become a medical researcher. Some employers allow you to study while working part time.

Funding is made available to research institutions via the Medical Research Council (MRC). This is then passed on to students in the form of scholarships, bursaries and studentships. Contact the individual institution to find out more about the funding options.

You'll need to show:

  • technical, scientific and numerical skills
  • good written and oral communication skills for report writing and presenting findings
  • genuine enjoyment of the research subject
  • a methodical approach to work with good planning skills
  • tenacity and patience when carrying out experiments
  • the ability to work well in teams and to network and forge links with collaborators
  • problem-solving skills and analytical thinking
  • attention to detail.

Work experience

Laboratory experience and knowledge of the range of techniques used will improve your chances of finding a research appointment. Experience can be achieved through either a placement year in industry or vacation work experience in academia or industry.

You could make speculative applications to potential academic supervisors to ask for work experience or shadowing opportunities. You may also want to consider getting experience within both industry and academia so you can see how the different sectors vary and where your preference lies.

Funding for placements and projects may be available through:

  • Nuffield Foundation

You should also try to keep up to date with developments in the medical field and the Medical Research Council (MRC) can help with this.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

There are various employers in medical research, including:

  • industry (especially pharmaceutical companies)
  • non-governmental and voluntary bodies
  • medical research charities
  • research councils, especially the Medical Research Council (MRC)
  • universities.

Work outside industry is usually funded by the government through the allocation of research funding to universities, research councils and hospitals.

Medical research also receives extensive financial support from charitable bodies that fund specific research into their areas of interest.

Opportunities are also available through Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) . This is a joint project between a graduate, an organisation and a 'knowledge base', such as a university or a research organisation, which allows PhD graduates to apply research in a commercial environment.

Look for job vacancies at:

  • Medical Research Council (MRC)
  • Nature Jobs
  • New Scientist Jobs
  • Times Higher Education Uni Jobs

University websites advertise vacancies too.

Specialist recruitment agencies are used within the scientific community. These include:

  • Cranleigh Scientific

Professional development

If you're studying for a PhD while being employed in a medical research post, you'll be supported by a supervisor. Your institution is likely to provide additional training or you can access this through Vitae , which helps to support the professional development of researchers.

You'll need to keep up to date with developments in your field throughout your career and continuing professional development (CPD) is very important for this.

Technical training, either self-taught or from more experienced scientists, will allow you to learn new laboratory techniques. It's also common to visit other labs to be taught techniques that are already established elsewhere.

You'll be expected to attend conferences on a regular basis to hear about scientific advances and new research techniques. On occasion, you'll be required to present your own work.

Training may be more structured in industry and it may be possible for you to develop your own training programme with guidance from a mentor.

Membership of a professional organisation is useful for support throughout your career and to help with CPD. Many professional bodies have their own learning and training schemes and can help with how your record your CPD activities. You can also work towards professional qualifications or chartered status as you gain experience.

Relevant bodies include:

  • Royal Society of Biology

Career prospects

Career structures vary between sectors. In academia, once you've completed your PhD, it's likely you'll enter a postdoctoral position. These are normally short-term contracts of up to three years.

Career progression is related to the success of your research project(s), the quality and quantity of original papers you publish and your success in attracting funding. Building up experience in laboratory specialties can also help. With experience, you can progress to senior research fellow or professor and can one day manage your own team.

You'll usually have to undertake a few short-term contracts before you have a chance of securing a much sought-after permanent position in academic science. There are often teaching duties attached to these positions and opportunities are limited with high levels of competition.

Career development tends to be more structured in industry, hospitals or research institutes and involves taking on increased responsibilities, such as supervising and managing projects.

With experience and a successful track record, you can move into senior research and management roles. It's also be possible in some industrial companies to move into other functions, such as production, quality assurance, HR or marketing.

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How to make a career in medical research?

  • Career guides

Medical research

Starting a career in medical research

If you have the intellectual and emotional resilience, also if you wish to contribute to the body of knowledge in medical sciences then you are a right candidate for a career in Medical Research. Devising and conducting experiments, investigating the epidemiological basis of a disease, working in collaboration with a team, ability to question intricate complexities of genome and proteome and effective written and oral communication skills are the chief qualities of an inborn medical researcher. If the following description sounds like you, then you are probably well suited for a career as a medical researcher.

Qualifications to become a medial researcher

The roadmap to medical researcher is complex because it’s a profession that demands distinctive skills and expertise along with mandatory formal education. The simplest formal degree requirement is minimum Masters or a Ph.D. For an outstanding career as a medical researcher, a Ph.D. will help you to go the distance in an academic career. There is right now an extraordinarily extensive overabundance of post-doctoral partnerships battling for an exceptional set number of lasting scholarly positions. Having said that, accomplishing a PhD in a science subject will stand you in great stead for various research positions. You can pursue a career in medical research by obtaining a formal education in either biological sciences or medicine however; medicine can broaden your options. Furthermore, after earning a formal education in either biology or medicine, the next milestone towards the development of a career in medical research is participating in a research-based internship. In most graduate schools, participating in a research internship and undertaking a research project is the part of the exclusively designed curriculum. This opportunity will allow you to get a chance to be mentored by a physician or research scientist where you can work in collaboration with the team on the ongoing research project.

In order to escalate to the position of the medical researcher, it is integral to complete an advanced degree program in either science or medicine. According to the US Bureau Labor Statistics (BLS), postgraduates and graduates with dual undergraduate degrees become successful candidates for the job positions.

After completing your advanced education, as a medical researcher you can start your aspiring and a challenging career with entry-level positions of medical research associate. As an associate, you are required to assist a scientist in devising, planning and conducting research trials. You can add something extraordinary to your resume by earning credentials offered to research professionals by regulatory bodies. Credential based certifications are not only going to prepare you for some verifiable skills needed in the career but will also aid you in advancing your career path to medical research.

The job role

As a medical researcher, it is your utmost responsibility to conduct research to improve the health status and longevity of the population. The career revolves around clinical investigations to understand human diseases and rigorous lab work. As a medical researcher, formal education will not suffice. As a developing medical researcher, you need to have effective communication, critical thinking, decision-making, data collecting, data analysing and observational skills. These skill sets will enable you to create a competitive edge in the research industry.

Your interest in scientific exploration and a desire to provide a breakthrough in medical knowledge will help you to explore and solve some unknown mysteries associated with complex diseases.

Medical research

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Latest articles.

What They Do

What does a Medical Research Scientist do?

A medical research scientist is a professional who conducts research to advance medical knowledge. They facilitate communication between collaborators and Principal Investigators (PI), set up academic collaborations, and plan and conduct experiments. They also evaluate total tissue proteins and serum responses by ELISA, fluorescent, and clotting assays. Unique to their role, they co-developed a novel PCR method for directed molecular evolution and identified systematic errors in electronic medical records using SQL queries and R visualizations.

  • Responsibilities
  • Skills And Traits
  • Comparisions
  • Types of Medical Research Scientist

Resume

Medical research scientist responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real medical research scientist resumes:

  • Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
  • Experience working in a GMP regulate environment.
  • Experience with``firefight"responses and working with FDA.
  • Mouse colony maintenance are paramount, mouse genotyping, data organization.
  • Evaluate total tissue proteins and serum responses by ELISA, fluorescent and clotting assays.
  • Design and execute experiments to test the anti-allergic effect of CMP against grass, tree and ragweed pollen allergies.
  • Develop the camera take detection service via java and integrate it into an automatic video object annotation system utilizing social cues.
  • Identify opportunities and develop and support on-line and at-line process NIR and IR monitoring and control methodologies for aluminum coating operations.

Medical research scientist skills and personality traits

We calculated that 21 % of Medical Research Scientists are proficient in PCR , Research Findings , and GMP .

We break down the percentage of Medical Research Scientists that have these skills listed on their resume here:

Co-developed novel PCR method for directed molecular evolution resulting in a patent application.

Planned and conducted experiments, processed experimental data, prepared reports, participated in conferences, and published research findings.

Supported all GMP activities for manufacturing plant equipment release, including method development and validation, and cleaning verification.

Mouse colony maintenance was paramount, mouse genotyping, data organization.

Evaluated total tissue proteins and serum responses by ELISA, fluorescent and clotting assays.

Performed cell culture work and downstream processing as Northern blots, DNA/RNA extraction, and transfections.

Common skills that a medical research scientist uses to do their job include "pcr," "research findings," and "gmp." You can find details on the most important medical research scientist responsibilities below.

Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a medical research scientist to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "medical scientists must be able to explain their research in nontechnical ways." Additionally, a medical research scientist resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "participated in method transfers of new products with akzo nobel served as qc representative on employee communication committee"

Observation skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling medical research scientist duties is observation skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "medical scientists conduct experiments that require monitoring samples and other health-related data." According to a medical research scientist resume, here's how medical research scientists can utilize observation skills in their job responsibilities: "coordinated and performed commercial release testing of marketed product at manufacturing site in qc environment to address fda audit observations"

All medical research scientist skills

The three companies that hire the most medical research scientists are:

  • Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute 3 medical research scientists jobs
  • Georgetown University 1 medical research scientists jobs

Choose from 10+ customizable medical research scientist resume templates

Medical Research Scientist Resume

Compare different medical research scientists

Medical research scientist vs. fellow.

A fellow's responsibility will depend on the organization or industry where one belongs. However, most of the time, a fellow's duty will revolve around conducting research and analysis, presiding discussions and attending dialogues, handle lectures while complying with the guidelines or tasks set by supervisors, and assist in various projects and activities. Furthermore, a fellow must adhere to the institution or organization's policies and regulations at all times, meet all the requirements and outputs involved, and coordinate with every person in the workforce.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, medical research scientist responsibilities require skills like "biomedical," "analyze data," "research findings," and "gmp." Meanwhile a typical fellow has skills in areas such as "patients," "professional development," "veterans," and "mathematics." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Medical research scientist vs. Doctoral fellow

A doctoral fellow is a physician that has completed studies and receives a fellowship to cover his/her or her expenses while completing his/her or her medical dissertation. A doctor fellow undergoes this fellowship to get additional training for their chosen sub-specialty. During the fellowship period, a fellow can act as an attending physician or consultant physician with other physicians' direct supervision in the sub-specialty field.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that medical research scientist responsibilities requires skills like "biomedical," "analyze data," "pcr," and "gmp." But a doctoral fellow might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "patients," "cell culture," "data analysis," and "research projects."

Medical research scientist vs. Postdoctoral scholar

A Postdoctoral Scholar is responsible for supporting an educational research group to conduct studies and gather relevant data to support study claims and scientific evidence. They review initial findings, perform field investigations, and interview the target respondents for data and statistical analysis. They also coordinate with the whole team for efficient research methods, ensuring adherence to budget limitations and required timetables. A Postdoctoral Scholar must have excellent communication skills , both oral and written, to document reports and discuss results with the research team.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, medical research scientists are more likely to have skills like "biomedical," "analyze data," "pcr," and "gmp." But a postdoctoral scholar is more likely to have skills like "chemistry," "python," "patients," and "data analysis."

Medical research scientist vs. Postdoctoral associate

A postdoctoral associate is responsible for researching to support scientific claims and theories by collecting evidence and information to answer scientific questions. Postdoctoral associates must have excellent communication skills , both oral and written, to interact with people and document investigation findings. They also utilize laboratory tools and equipment for scientific researches, conduct field investigations, and interview participants. A postdoctoral associate designs comprehensive research models to discuss results with the panel and the team efficiently and accurately.

Types of medical research scientist

  • Research Fellow
  • Research Scientist
  • Doctoral Fellow

Updated March 14, 2024

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

What Similar Roles Do

  • What an Assistant Research Scientist Does
  • What an Associate Scientist Does
  • What a Doctoral Fellow Does
  • What a Fellow Does
  • What a Laboratory Researcher Does
  • What a Medical Science Liaison Does
  • What an PHD Researcher Does
  • What a Postdoctoral Associate Does
  • What a Postdoctoral Research Associate Does
  • What a Postdoctoral Scholar Does
  • What a Principal Scientist Does
  • What a Research And Development Scientist Does
  • What a Research Fellow Does
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  • What a Research Scientist Does

Medical Research Scientist Related Careers

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Medical Research Scientist Related Jobs

Resume for related jobs.

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Research Scientist (Medical) • Job Description, Salary & Benefits

Do you want to be the next Alexander Fleming (the man who discovered penicillin)? Well then, you need to get involved in medical research!

Medical research scientists engage in research and development work in the medical field, with the primary objective of finding cures and developing treatments for major diseases and other illnesses.

These scientific experts develop new medicines and improve existing drugs by reducing their side effects, or by producing new versions of the same product by using different organic and synthetic compounds. This profession may also involve conducting research experiments by using animal or human specimens for clinical testing.

If you enter this profession, you’ll be responsible for devising experiments, planning them meticulously, carrying them out and then recording your results. Then, it’s all about analysing your findings using specialist techniques and state-of-the-art software applications.  Finally, you’ll be responsible for writing reports and presenting your findings to your colleagues and the rest of the scientific community.

Medical research scientists tend to be employed by pharmaceutical companies, medical science institutions, independent research and development labs and government organisations, such as the NHS.

Salary & benefits

Starting salaries for candidates with a relevant BSc or MSc tend to be around £20,000 per annum, going up to around £25,000 to £35,000 for scientists with PhDs.

Medical scientists with more than five years’ experience, managerial responsibilities and specialist research expertise can earn up to £55,000 a year.

Working hours

Research scientists often need to put in long hours, given the critical nature of their work in finding treatments for major health problems and diseases.

Market competition and profitability concerns for commercial establishments in this field may also mean that medical research scientists have to put in extra work – beyond the standard nine-to-five working schedule.

If you work in this area, you may also get the opportunity to travel from time to time, within the UK and abroad, for conferences, seminars, industry events and international projects, where direct collaboration is necessary.

A strong undergraduate degree (2:1 minimum) in a subject such as biology, chemistry, biochemistry, life sciences, pharmacology, genetic engineering, medicine, or microbiology, is generally the basic requirement for entry-level candidates.

However, obtaining a relevant MSc or PhD will give you an edge over other candidates and allow you to progress more quickly once you have started working. 

Training & progression

In the academic world, your training will usually have been completed during your degree, before you’re hired for a full-time research position. However, if you secure a job with a private pharmaceutical company, you may receive structured training by gaining hands-on experience under the supervision of an accredited and experienced medical scientist.

Obtaining professional credentials and taking part in advanced learning programmes, which can be undertaken on a volunteer basis or occasionally under sponsorship from your employer, may often be necessary for further growth and progression within most companies’ organisational hierarchies.

Your success in this field will be determined by the success of your specific research projects. As you gain more experience, however, you may take on more of a supervisory or managerial role and take a step back from hands-on research activities.

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Medical Scientist Job Description

Medical scientist duties & responsibilities.

To write an effective medical scientist job description, begin by listing detailed duties, responsibilities and expectations. We have included medical scientist job description templates that you can modify and use.

Sample responsibilities for this position include:

Medical Scientist Qualifications

Qualifications for a job description may include education, certification, and experience.

Licensing or Certifications for Medical Scientist

List any licenses or certifications required by the position: ASCP, MT, AMT, CLS, BLS, MLS

Education for Medical Scientist

Typically a job would require a certain level of education.

Employers hiring for the medical scientist job most commonly would prefer for their future employee to have a relevant degree such as Bachelor's and Associate Degree in Medical Technology, Education, Medical, Science, Graduate, Biological Science, Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Pharmacy, Medical Laboratory Science, Nursing

Skills for Medical Scientist

Desired skills for medical scientist include:

Desired experience for medical scientist includes:

Medical Scientist Examples

  • Microsoft Word (.docx) .DOCX
  • PDF Document (.pdf) .PDF
  • Image File (.png) .PNG
  • Thoroughly analyze and critically interpret data to determine the best approach to composing each
  • Provide more advanced input for study designs, analysis plans, and statistical output
  • Provide advanced review of documents
  • Provide input and support for advisory board meetings for clinical development programs
  • May assist in preparing grant applications
  • Participate in developing standard operating processes and related procedures
  • Manage contract medical writers
  • May train, mentor, or supervise staff in the Medical Writing department
  • Collaborates with functional areas outside of medical including marketing, sales, access, legal, regulatory, and research and development
  • Medical technical reviewer for approximately 50% of promotional materials, sales training materials, and external use materials
  • Ability to analyze, interpret, and summarize moderately complex data
  • Broad understanding of drug development, clinical research, study designs, biostatistics
  • Pharmacology, regulatory requirements, and medical terminology
  • Ability to manage project teams, form productive working relationships, and work through conflicts
  • Ability to complete work in a resourceful, self-sufficient manner and design alternative approaches to achieve desired results, with some guidance and mentoring on new or complex issues
  • Initiative and creativity in solving routine problems that affect multiple documents and in identifying and contributing to improvements in cross-functional process
  • Associate ISS Program Leader- Help oversee ISS program
  • Develop, lead, provide operational oversight and manage external vendors/CRO for small strategic studies and non-interventional, minimal risk studies conducted by Medical Affairs
  • Generate material and participate in Medical Affairs Advisory Boards to gain insights on Medical Affairs activities aligned with company objectives
  • Various related internal and external activities as assigned by manager
  • Medical evaluation of individual adverse event case safety reports,including but not limited to all serious and expedited reports in clinical study or marketed environment
  • Accountable for clinical safety review, recommendation and interpretation, analysis and summarization of aggregate safety data and periodical data from all sources including spontaneous, clinical, postmarketing and observational studies, literature review and product quality
  • As lead for VTE strategy, the incumbent will partner closely with key internal stakeholders, including WW Medical, US and WW Commercial and the Alliance Partner to develop strategic plans and to execute medical plan related to VTE
  • Cooperates with cross-functional medical team members to deliver key medical activities related to VTE, including advisory boards, congresses, proactive messaging, reactive medical communication, publication strategy
  • Understands key market insights to anticipate needs of field medical team, including training and content
  • Effectively partners with commercial organization on both strategy and execution related to VTE and in light of evolving healthcare landscape
  • Advanced computer skills related to word processing, templates, table/figure creation, literature searches, electronic review systems, and document management systems
  • Experience involving patient contact, customer service in a medical setting, strong communication skills
  • The successful candidate must have the ability to work effectively within cross-functional teams, have excellent communication and presentation skills, both verbal and written
  • He or she should have an understanding of pharmaceutical drug development including
  • At least 2 years pharmaceutical/biotech company experience in Medical Affairs or a post-doc fellowship in Medical Affairs
  • 4 years applicable experience in Medical Affairs, preferred
  • Engages with external Thought Leaders to gather insight into unmet medical needs and educational gaps related to diagnosis and treatment of VTE
  • Contribute to and oversee the writing, editing and reviewing of diverse Regulatory and Clinical Documents required for global RB product development and registration activities
  • Proactively liaise with external key opinion leaders to enhance the Company's knowledge base
  • Create and deliver strategic communication plan(s)
  • Prepare/update scientifically balanced responses to unsolicited request for both labeled and off-label indications
  • Support internal groups including but not be limited to Medical Affairs, Regulatory, Clinical Development, Business Development, Drug Safety, Pharmaceutics, including literature searches, data interpretation, publication procurement, Corporate Library Service access and training
  • Involvement in specific projects and/or alignments will also be required on an ad hoc basis
  • Creating intellectual property and writing technical reports
  • Publishing peer-reviewed manuscripts and submitting grants to public funding agencies
  • Perform medical technical reviews of promotional materials, sales training materials, and other material for external use
  • 5+ years of experience in clinical practice setting in situations where direct and/or indirect decision making authority for patient care was demonstrated
  • The ability to work well independently part of a team is required
  • The ability to stay organized, manage time, and work on multiple documents/projects at once is required
  • Experience using AMA, ICH, or similar guidelines is preferred
  • Experience with medical writing document standards and processes is preferred
  • Experience using document repository software
  • Communicate with investigators in the ISS program and foster timely execution of newly approved and ongoing studies
  • Provide operational oversight and manage external vendors/CRO for small strategic studies and non-interventional, minimal risk studies conducted by Medical Affairs
  • Generate material for Medical Affairs field teams and Advisory Board
  • Stay abreast of developments and gather information and insight on Medical Affairs activities to leverage critical data and synthesize information for key stakeholders
  • Prepare, clean, and sterilize glassware and instruments
  • Independently performs routine and non-routine experiments and procedures that are moderate to complex following established procedures or protocols without deviations unless approved by laboratory manager or supervisor
  • Prepares and presents experimental data clearly and concisely to the project manager and supervisors at anytime, including weekly laboratory meetings
  • Performing review of medical data listings, Case Report Form (CRF) line and lab listings, and medical coding
  • Performing analysis to identify trends within data, line, and lab listings
  • Performing initial assessments for Medical Affairs Pre-Enrollment Review process
  • At least 10 years of clinical experience in cardiovascular or thromboembolic disease and/or industry experience in research and development or medical affairs is preferred
  • The role incorporates a mix of strategic and operational activities as appropriate
  • 1-3 years of Laboratory experience preferred
  • Requires completion of an accredited (MT or MLS) 1 year program
  • 3 plus years experience and ASCP certification preferred
  • Must be proficient in Microsoft Word, Power Point, and Excel and have database experience
  • Achieves high quality scientific interpretation of data generated from executed studies under direction of GCL
  • Assisting Medical Monitor(s) with creation of Medical Management Plans
  • Creating project plans related to Medical Data Review, Endpoint Management, and Pre-Enrollment Review
  • Acting as primary interface between Company and sponsors, vendors, and other departments in the area of DMC, DSMB, Safety Committee and Adjudication Committee management
  • Uploading and managing documents collected for pre-enrollment review and endpoint adjudication into TrialEASTM
  • Review documents, including those authored by other functions
  • Day, Mid-Day, Evening, Night Shifts Available!
  • Inventory and order supplies, stock and maintain work areas, including keeping areas clean and organized
  • Participates in inter- and intra-departmental meetings and continuing educational opportunities
  • Lead and provide medical input to region regulatory applications, new product development and associated clinical activities
  • Advanced degree in area relevant to health services research, health economics research, public health, or relevant Life Sciences area preferred (ie
  • Advanced degree required (Ph.D, PharmD or MD)
  • The ideal candidate will have clinical expertise, and some relevant experience in the immunoscience area within the pharmaceutical industry, such as within Medical Affairs or Clinical Development
  • Operate complex and/or computerized microscopic, molecular, and/or cytometric equipment to analyze prepared cellular and molecular specimens, calibrate instrumentation, and validate quality of assay
  • Life Sciences Bachelor’s degree
  • Medical Information experience in a healthcare or industry environment preferred

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A Mayo Clinic medical laboratory scientist uses a microscope

Medical Laboratory Scientist

What does a medical laboratory scientist do.

A medical laboratory scientist (MLS), also known as a medical technologist or clinical laboratory scientist, works to analyze a variety of biological specimens. They are responsible for performing scientific testing on samples and reporting results to physicians.  

Medical laboratory scientists perform complex tests on patient samples using sophisticated equipment like microscopes. The data they find plays an important role in identifying and treating cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other medical conditions. It is estimated 60 to 70 percent of all decisions regarding a patient's diagnosis, treatment, hospital admission, and discharge are based on the results of the tests medical laboratory scientists perform.

Video: Behind the scenes: Medical Laboratory Scientist

Video: Behind the scenes: Medical Laboratory Scientist

Scope of practice

Medical laboratory scientists collaborate very closely with physicians and medical laboratory technicians in diagnosing and monitoring disease processes, as well as monitoring the effectiveness of therapy. Areas of medical laboratory training include microbiology, chemistry, hematology, immunology, transfusion medicine, toxicology, and molecular diagnostics. 

Medical laboratory scientists have a wide variety of responsibilities and duties, including:

  • Examining and analyzing blood, body fluids, tissues, and cells
  • Relaying test results to physicians
  • Utilizing microscopes, cell counters, and other high-precision lab equipment
  • Cross-matching blood for transfusion
  • Monitoring patient outcomes
  • Performing differential cell counts looking for abnormal cells to aid in the diagnosis of anemia and leukemia
  • Establishing quality assurance programs to monitor and ensure the accuracy of test results
  • Overseeing the work of a medical laboratory technician

Medical laboratory scientist vs. medical laboratory technician

While similar, there are a few key differences between a medical lab scientist and a medical lab technician. They both work in the lab and perform tests on biological samples, however, a medical lab scientist typically has more education and is able to perform more involved lab work. A medical lab technician performs more of the routine lab work and is often supervised by a medical lab scientist.

Medical laboratory scientist vs. medical laboratory assistant

A medical laboratory assistant is a subgroup of medical laboratory technician. They are responsible for preparing biological specimens, recording information, and perform more of the lab maintenance tasks such as cleaning equipment and stocking supplies. A medical laboratory scientist will work with a medical laboratory assistant by analyzing their prepared specimens and relaying information for them to record.

Work environment

Medical lab scientists work in hospitals, clinics, forensic or public health laboratories, as well as pharmaceutical industries, biotechnology companies, veterinary clinics, or research institutions. Depending on the setting, their work hours may vary; but typically labs are run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This allows for flexibility in scheduling.

Medical laboratory scientists spend the majority of their time on their feet, analyzing test results in the lab.   

Becoming a medical laboratory scientist

Successful medical lab scientists are effective communicators with a sound intellect and interest in science and technology. Excellent eye-hand coordination, dexterity, and visual acuity are important to skillfully perform and analyze tests. 

Individuals who love science and research, but prefer to have little-to-no interaction with patients, would be a good fit for the medical laboratory scientist career.

Higher education requirements

After obtaining a high school diploma (or the equivalent), most will go on to obtain some level of higher education and training in order to become a medical laboratory scientist.

Common higher education requirements for medical laboratory scientist jobs include:

  • Completing a bachelor’s degree in medical technology or clinical laboratory science. A bachelor’s degree in a science or health-related field (e.g. chemistry or microbiology) may also be considered.
  • Completing a clinical laboratory program or internship through a hospital-based program or as part of their education
  • National certification as a medical technologist (MT), clinical laboratory scientist (CLS), or medical laboratory scientist (MLS)
  • Previous experience in a healthcare setting

Certification and licensing

Most employers require medical laboratory scientists to obtain certification through an accrediting body, such as the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC) . After passing the credentialing exam, medical laboratory scientists (MLS) can practice under the credentials of MLS(ASCP)CM.

Licensure by state may also be required.

Career opportunities and outlook

The median salary for a medical lab scientist is $57,800, though salaries can range between $30,000-$79,000 depending on education, location, and previous experience.

Job growth and security are high for medical laboratory technicians and scientists. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , there is currently a shortage of medical lab technicians and scientists in many parts of the country which guarantees ample employment opportunities and sometimes higher salaries for graduates. With the volume of laboratory tests continuing to increase due to both population growth and the development of new types of tests, job opportunities are expected to increase faster than average with over 26,000 new positions expected to be available by 2030.

With additional training and experience, a medical lab scientist can become a department lead or lab manager. Others may seek specializations to advance their careers. Typically, a medical lab technician will progress to a medical lab scientist with more training.

By the numbers

median annual salary

years of higher education

job growth projected from 2020-2030

Medical laboratory scientist programs at Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic offers several programs and rotations to further your education and prepare you for a career as a medical laboratory scientist, medical laboratory assistant, or medical laboratory technician.

  • Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Rotation (Arizona)
  • Medical Laboratory Science Clinical Rotation (Florida)
  • Medical Laboratory Science Program (Florida and Minnesota)
  • Medical Laboratory Technician Clinical Rotation (Florida)

Browse similar careers

Mayo Clinic cytogenetic technologists working on a computer

Cytogenetic technologist

Mayo Clinic cytotechnology student preparing a specimen slide under a microscope

Cytotechnologist

Mayo Clinic histology technician analyzing samples

Histology technician

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Science and Research - Careers

Science and Research

  • Health Physics Graduate Certificates
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Medical Research Scientist

What does a professional in this career do.

A Medical Research Scientist conducts research with the goal of understanding diseases and improving human health. May study biology and causes of health problems, assess effectiveness of treatments or develop new pharmaceutical products. May direct clinical trials to gather data..

Job Outlook

There were 186 Medical Research Scientist job postings in North Carolina in the past year and 8637 in the United States.

In combination with other careers in the Medical Scientist industry, which includes the Medical Research Scientist career, the following graph shows the number of people employed for each year since 2015:

Many new Medical Research Scientist jobs have salaries estimated to be in the following ranges, based on the requirements and responsibilities listed in job postings from the past year.

The average estimated salary in the United States for this career, based on job postings in the past year, is $141,677.

The average estimated salary in North Carolina for this career, based on job postings in the past year, is $142,784.

Percentiles represent the percentage that is lower than the value. For example, 25% of estimated salaries for Medical Research Scientist postings in the United States in the past year were lower than $63,416.

Education and Experience

Posted Medical Research Scientist jobs typically require the following level of education. The numbers below are based on job postings in the United States from the past year. Not all job postings list education requirements.

Posted Medical Research Scientist jobs typically require the following number of years of experience. The numbers below are based on job postings in the United States from the past year. Not all job postings list experience requirements.

Below are listings of the most common general and specialized skills Medical Research Scientist positions expect applicants to have as well as the most common skills that distinguish individuals from their peers. The percentage of job postings that specifically mention each skill is also listed.

Baseline Skills

A skill that is required across a broad range of occupations, including this one.

  • Research (26.93%)
  • Communication (15.21%)
  • Teaching (9.52%)
  • Management (9.07%)
  • Leadership (8.56%)
  • Writing (6.72%)
  • Presentations (6.15%)
  • Innovation (5.67%)
  • Operations (5.58%)
  • Planning (5.33%)

Defining Skills

A core skill for this occupation, it occurs frequently in job postings.

  • Endocrinology (79.48%)

Necessary Skills

A skill that is requested frequently in this occupation but isn’t specific to it.

  • Biology (8.53%)
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent (ELISA) Assay (3.34%)
  • Diabetes Mellitus (21.23%)
  • Biochemical Assays (6.61%)
  • Metabolism (6.29%)
  • Cell Cultures (4.98%)
  • Biomarkers (2.85%)
  • Drug Discovery (2.69%)
  • Pharmaceuticals (4.06%)
  • Marketing (1.73%)
  • Oncology (10.8%)
  • Clinical Trials (6.34%)
  • Pediatrics (9.97%)
  • Cell Biology (5.44%)
  • Nursing (5.93%)
  • Molecular Biology (5.63%)
  • Immunology (5.93%)
  • Good Clinical Practices (GCP) (1.48%)
  • Workflow Management (1.62%)
  • Clinical Research (8.33%)
  • Internal Medicine (6.76%)
  • Project Management (2.74%)
  • Data Analysis (4.65%)
  • Flow Cytometry (4.64%)

Distinguishing Skills

A skill that may distinguish a subset of the occupation.

  • Thyroid (6.1%)

Salary Boosting Skills

A professional who wishes to excel in this career path may consider developing the following highly valued skills. The percentage of job postings that specifically mention each skill is listed.

  • Thyroid (7.67%)
  • Endocrinology (99.95%)

Alternative Job Titles

Sometimes employers post jobs with Medical Research Scientist skills but a different job title. Some common alternative job titles include:

  • Endocrinology Physician
  • Endocrinologist
  • Endocrinology Registered Nurse
  • Pediatric Endocrinologist
  • Oncology Research Scientist
  • Endocrinology Medical Assistant
  • Reproductive Endocrinologist
  • Endocrinology Diabetes Care Specialist
  • Associate Scientist

Similar Occupations

If you are interested in exploring occupations with similar skills, you may want to research the following job titles. Note that we only list occupations that have at least one corresponding NC State Online and Distance Education program.

  • Biomedical Scientist

Common Employers

Here are the employers that have posted the most Medical Research Scientist jobs in the past year along with how many they have posted.

United States

  • Archway Physician Recruitment (243)
  • Britt Medical Search (205)
  • Enterprise Medical Recruiting (150)
  • CompHealth (143)
  • Cedars-Sinai (114)
  • AstraZeneca (108)
  • Summit Recruiting Services, LLC. (104)
  • The Curare Group (102)
  • AMN Healthcare (101)
  • Pacific Companies (86)

North Carolina

  • Atrium Health (16)
  • Atrium Health Floyd (14)
  • Archway Physician Recruitment (12)
  • AMN Healthcare (10)
  • Wake Forest Baptist Health (8)
  • Novant Health (7)
  • University of North Carolina (7)
  • HCA Healthcare (7)
  • UNC Health (7)
  • Duke University (6)

NC State Programs Relevant to this Career

If you are interested in preparing for a career in this field, the following NC State Online and Distance Education programs offer a great place to start!

All wages, job posting statistics, employment trend projections, and information about skill desirability on this page represents historical data and does not guarantee future conditions. Data is provided by and downloaded regularly from Lightcast. For more information about how Lightcast gathers data and what it represents, see Lightcast Data: Basic Overview on Lightcast's Knowledge Base website.

Stanford University

Clinical Research Coordinator Associate

🔍 school of medicine, stanford, california, united states.

The Stanford Center for Clinical Research (SCCR) is a growing academic research organization within the Stanford Department of Medicine. Our mission is to conduct and promote high-impact, innovative clinical research to improve human health.

In collaboration with the Division of Infectious Diseases and others at Stanford, SCCR is seeking multiple Clinical Research Coordinator Associates (CRCAs) to perform duties related to the coordination of a large, complex COVID study. This exciting Team Science project involves multiple disciplines and units, including Infectious Diseases, Hospital Medicine, and Population Health. The CRCAs will work in a dynamic atmosphere and as part of a large team in a supportive environment. There will be the opportunity to work closely with fellow coordinators and research assistants, physicians, nurses, and technicians. Direct patient contact is a primary responsibility of this role. The CRCAs are required to have the ability to multi-task in a high-energy environment.

A flexible work schedule, outstanding communication, organizational skills, and attention to detail are required in a successful candidate. The CRCA will act as a point person for participants and staff, present at meetings and huddles, and troubleshoot research related issues. The CRCA may engage with a pool of coordinators to support other research studies across the Department of Medicine. The CRCA will be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal, state, local, and sponsor regulations and work under the direction of their supervisor. The CRCA will work under close direction of the principal investigator and/or study coordinator/supervisor. Other duties may also be assigned.

At SCCR, we strive to find team members who are passionate about their work, flexible, fun, and want to deliver results. We place a high priority on equipping our staff to perform their job efficiently, helping them acquire new skills and grow within the organization. We encourage our team to have a healthy balance between work commitments and life outside of work and provide support to achieve this balance. If you are looking to make a large impact through global-reaching clinical research, we encourage you to apply!

This is an on-site role.

Duties include:

  • Serve as primary contact with research participants, sponsors, and regulatory agencies.  Coordinate studies from start-up through close-out.
  • Determine eligibility of and gather consent from study participants according to protocol.  Assist in developing recruitment strategies.
  • Coordinate collection of study specimens and processing.
  • Collect and manage patient and laboratory data for clinical research projects.  Manage research project databases, develop flow sheets and other study related documents, and complete study documents/case report forms.
  • Ensure compliance with research protocols, and review and audit case report forms for completion and accuracy with source documents. Prepare regulatory submissions, and ensure Institutional Review Board renewals are completed.
  • Assemble study kits for study visits, monitor scheduling of procedures and charges, coordinate documents, and attend monitoring meetings with sponsors, acting as primary contact.
  • Monitor expenditures and adherence to study budgets and resolve billing issues in collaboration with finance and/or management staff.
  • Interact with the principal investigator regularly, ensuring patient safety and adherence to proper study conduct.
  • Ensure essential documentation and recording of patient and research data in appropriate files per institutional and regulatory requirements.
  • Participate in monitor visits and regulatory audits.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Clinical research coordinator experience.
  • Clinical research operations certificate or interest in working toward one.
  • Valid CA driver's license.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE (REQUIRED):

  • Two-year college degree and two years related work experience or a Bachelor's degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of related education and relevant experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (REQUIRED):

  • Strong interpersonal skills.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
  • Knowledge of medical terminology.

CERTIFICATIONS & LICENSES:

  • Working toward certification(s) to perform basic patient measurements and tests, such as phlebotomy and EKG.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Frequently stand, walk, twist, bend, stoop, squat and use fine light/fine grasping.
  • Occasionally sit, reach above shoulders, perform desk based computer tasks, use a telephone and write by hand, lift, carry, push, and pull objects that weigh up to 40 pounds.
  • Rarely kneel, crawl, climb ladders, grasp forcefully, sort and file paperwork or parts, rarely lift, carry, push, and pull objects that weigh 40 pounds or more.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

  • Position may at times require the employee to work with or be in areas where hazardous materials and/or exposure to chemicals, blood, body fluid or tissues and risk of exposure to contagious diseases and infections.
  • May require extended or unusual work hours based on research requirements and business needs.

WORKING STANDARDS:

  • Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
  • Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
  • Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University’s Administrative Guide,  http://adminguide.stanford.edu/ .

The expected pay range for this position is $31.73 to $36.54 per hour.

Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.

At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.

Why Stanford is for You Imagine a world without search engines or social platforms. Consider lives saved through first-ever organ transplants and research to cure illnesses. Stanford University has revolutionized the way we live and enrich the world. Supporting this mission is our diverse and dedicated 17,000 staff. We seek talent driven to impact the future of our legacy. Our culture and unique perks empower you with:

  • Freedom to grow . We offer career development programs, tuition reimbursement, or audit a course. Join a TedTalk, film screening, or listen to a renowned author or global leader speak.
  • A caring culture . We provide superb retirement plans, generous time-off, and family care resources.
  • A healthier you . Climb our rock wall, or choose from hundreds of health or fitness classes at our world-class exercise facilities. We also provide excellent health care benefits.
  • Discovery and fun . Stroll through historic sculptures, trails, and museums. 
  • Enviable resources . Enjoy free commuter programs, ridesharing incentives, discounts and more.

The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact Stanford University Human Resources at [email protected]. For all other inquiries, please submit a contact form .

Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

  • Schedule: Full-time
  • Job Code: 1013
  • Employee Status: Regular
  • Requisition ID: 102995
  • Work Arrangement : On Site

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 School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States

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Post Date: Jan 29, 2024

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Post Date: Aug 05, 2022

Global Impact We believe in having a global impact

Climate and sustainability.

Stanford's deep commitment to sustainability practices has earned us a Platinum rating and inspired a new school aimed at tackling climate change.

Medical Innovations

Stanford's Innovative Medicines Accelerator is currently focused entirely on helping faculty generate and test new medicines that can slow the spread of COVID-19.

From Google and PayPal to Netflix and Snapchat, Stanford has housed some of the most celebrated innovations in Silicon Valley.

Advancing Education

Through rigorous research, model training programs and partnerships with educators worldwide, Stanford is pursuing equitable, accessible and effective learning for all.

Working Here We believe you matter as much as the work

Group Dance Class In A Gym

I love that Stanford is supportive of learning, and as an education institution, that pursuit of knowledge extends to staff members through professional development, wellness, financial planning and staff affinity groups.

School of Engineering

Students Working With A Robot Arm

I get to apply my real-world experiences in a setting that welcomes diversity in thinking and offers support in applying new methods. In my short time at Stanford, I've been able to streamline processes that provide better and faster information to our students.

Phillip Cheng

Office of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Students Working With A Robot Arm

Besides its contributions to science, health, and medicine, Stanford is also the home of pioneers across disciplines. Joining Stanford has been a great way to contribute to our society by supporting emerging leaders.

Denisha Clark

School of Medicine

Students Working With A Robot Arm

I like working in a place where ideas matter. Working at Stanford means being part of a vibrant, international culture in addition to getting to do meaningful work.

Office of the President and Provost

Getting Started We believe that you can love your job

Join Stanford in shaping a better tomorrow for your community, humanity and the planet we call home.

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RIKEN

  • Job Openings

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Seeking a few Senior Scientists, Research Scientists or Postdoctoral Researchers (W24026)

  • Japanese Page

Quantum Computer Architecture Research Team RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing (Team Leader: Hayato Goto)

Research Field

The missions of RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing (RQC) are to deepen our understandings of quantum mechanics and quantum information, develop techniques for quantum control and measurement, build quantum computing hardware and software, and explore novel applications. We promote basic research on quantum information science and contribute to society through quantum technology. We theoretically study fault-tolerant quantum computation and its physical implementation and algorithm, which leads to total design of quantum computers, namely, quantum computer architecture. We also aim at cooperating systems of quantum and classical computers towards early realization of useful quantum computers.

Job title and Job description

Job title, available positions.

Senior Scientists, Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher a few positions In general, those who earned a doctoral degree within the past 5 years will be appointed as Postdoctoral Researcher, those who earned a doctoral degree more than 5 years ago will be appointed as Research Scientist or those who earned a doctoral degree more than 5 years ago and have excellent achievements and abilities will be appointed as Senior Scientist.

Job description

Theoretical research on fault-tolerant quantum computation and its physical implementation and algorithm

The job description may be changed during the contract period or upon contract renewal to the extent described above.

Qualification

The candidate should possess a doctoral degree in a field related to quantum computing in a broad sense, including theoretical physics and information science, or be expected to obtain such a doctoral degree by the date of hire.

Work location

RIKEN Wako (2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198)

RIKEN has implemented a work-from-home system. Employees can work from home in accordance with the prescribed procedures. RIKEN may order the employee to change work locations, if necessary.

Salary and benefits

  • 1. A one-year fixed-term employment contract, renewable based on evaluation, Senior Scientist and Research Scientist may be reappointed for a period of up to seven years from the date of hire, and Postdoctoral Researcher maybe reappointed for a period of up to five years from the date of hire.
  • 2. RIKEN may adjust the above maximum period of renewability based on a) the employee’s abilities, work load at the time of contract completion, performance and work attitude and b) the continuation of the employee’s center, laboratory or project and RIKEN’s management situation and budget at the time. In principle, employment contracts will not be renewed for individuals older than 70 years.
  • 3. When the Employee's research is scheduled to be reviewed in employee's 4 year at RIKEN, and when it is concluded that there is reason* to believe it will be difficult for the research (or technology development) to be continued, the employment contract will not be renewed for 6 year. (*The reason may relate to the Employee's abilities, performance and/or work attitude.)

In principle, the first two months of employment is considered a trial period. Salary will be an annual salary based on experience, ability, and performance, and will consist of a base salary and a variable salary. The variable salary will be determined each fiscal year based on experience, ability, and performance. The monthly base salary is 433,800~484,100 JPY as of April 1, 2024 for Senior Scientist, 361,000~456,800 JPY for Research Scientist, 305,100 JPY for Postdoctoral Researcher. The monthly base salary and variable salary are subject to change due to amendments to RIKEN regulations.

Discretionary work, commuting and housing allowances will be provided. Social insurance will be applied.

The approximate amount of monthly salary at the time of employment: The monthly salary including discretionary work allowance at the time of employment will be 570,000 JPY or more for Senior Scientist, 540,000 JPY or more for Research Scientist, 380,000 JPY or more for Postdoctoral Researcher.

Mandatory membership in the RIKEN Mutual Benefit Society (RIKEN Kyosaikai). This position falls under the specialized duties discretionary work system; one working day will be calculated as 7 hours and 30 minutes. Days off include public holidays, New Year's holidays (Dec. 29 - Jan 3), and RIKEN Foundation Day. Paid leave includes annual paid leave (up to 20 days depending on the month of employment), special paid leave (childcare, family nursing care, etc.), and work life balance holidays (up to 7 days depending on the month of employment). There are also additional leave systems such as maternity leave, childcare leave, and family nursing care leave. Smorking will be entirely prohibited on site from April 2024. These and other provisions are in accordance with RIKEN regulations.

RIKEN is actively undertaking initiatives to promote gender equality and diversity , and moving forward with the establishment of a diverse and vibrant research environment. If multiple candidates are found to have the same aptitude following a fair assessment, active efforts will be made to recruit female candidates.

The Wako Campus has an on-site daycare, RIKEN Kids Wako . For details, please send an email to the HR at kids [at] riken.jp.

Application and required documents

Required documents.

  • * Write the RIKEN job ad number “W24026”, indicated in the parentheses next to the job title, in the RIKEN job ad number section in the upper right corner of your CV.
  • 2. List of research achievement and publications
  • 3. A letter of recommendation from the current supervisor (Please provide contact information (name, affiliation, job title, phone number, and email address) for the referee.) (If unavailable, a letter from a substitute reference will be acceptable.)
  • 4. Major papers (not more than 3 for Postdoctoral Researcher, 5 for Senior Scientist or Research Scientist)
  • 5. Summary of past research and future research plans (not more than 3 pages for Postdoctoral Researcher, 5 pages for Senior Scientist or Research Scientist)
  • You will find detailed information about General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on the following website: Data protection | European Commission
  • You will find detailed information about Regulation of the European Parliament and of the council of on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (UK GDPR) on the following website: Data Protection and the EU | Information Commissioner’s Office

How to apply

The above documents except the recommendation letters combined into a PDF file should be uploaded to the following website:

Application Box_Quantum Computer Architecture Research Team

The file name should contain your contact email address. After you uploaded the file, please let us (hayato.goto [at] riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.

Recommendation letters must be directly submitted from the referees to the following website with the file name "Quantum Computer Architecture Research Team [applicant’s name] (Recommendation letter)". Please specify the applicant's name, referee's name and contact information in the recommendation letter.

After the referees uploaded the recommendation letter, please let us (hayato.goto [at] riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file. If a confirmation email is not received within 7 days after submission, please contact: hayato.goto [at] riken.jp.

Note: All the submitted documents will not be returned.

Open until the position is filled

Handling Personal Data

Submitted documents are strictly protected under the RIKEN Privacy Policy and will be used only for the purpose of applicant screening at RIKEN. Personal information will not be disclosed, transferred or loaned to a third party under any circumstances without just cause.

Selection process

Application screening and interview for selected applicants

Start of Employment

As early as possible

Contact Information

Team Leader Hayato Goto, Quantum Computer Architecture Research Team, RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing Email: hayato.goto [at] riken.jp For inquiries, please send an email.

IMAGES

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  2. Clinical Research Scientist Job Description

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COMMENTS

  1. 14 Types of Medical Scientists (Plus Salaries and Duties)

    Research scientists working in medical facilities may oversee clinical trials or operate studies. Related: How To Become a Research Scientist (With Tips) 6. Biomedical scientist National average salary: $89,737 per year Primary duties: Biomedical scientists focus on the principles of biology and medicine in their work. They often collect and ...

  2. 10 Careers You Can Pursue in Medical Research

    Here are 10 careers you can pursue in the field of medical research: 1. Clinical laboratory scientist. National average salary: $89,291 per year Primary duties: A clinical laboratory scientist is a scientist who specializes in using lab equipment to perform tests on biological specimens. This can involve extracting and testing bodily fluids to ...

  3. Medical Scientist Career Profile

    The median annual wage for medical scientists was $95,310 in May 2021. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $50,100, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $166,980.

  4. What does a biomedical scientist do?

    The work of biomedical scientists has a profound impact on human health and has contributed to the development of numerous life-saving medical advances. Duties and Responsibilities The duties and responsibilities of a biomedical scientist vary depending on their area of specialization and the specific role they play within their organization.

  5. What does a Medical Research Scientist do?

    What does a Medical Research Scientist do? Read the Medical Research Scientist job description to discover the typical qualifications and responsibilities for this role.

  6. Top 17,037 Medical Research Scientist Jobs, Employment

    Research Scientist. University of South Florida. Tampa, FL 33620. ( Terrace Park area) $20.26 - $25.00 an hour. Temporary. The Research Scientist will be responsible for conducting research and/or participating in research for renal mechanisms for hypertension and kidney injury. Posted 8 days ago ·. More...

  7. Medical Scientists: Jobs, Career, Salary and Education Information

    The lowest 10 percent earned less than $50,100, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $166,980. The median annual wages for medical scientists in the top industries in which they work are as follows: Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences. $102,210.

  8. Research scientist (medical) job profile

    As a medical research scientist, one of your aims will be to increase the body of scientific knowledge on topics related to medicine. You will do this by planning and conducting experiments and sharing your results. You may also use your research to develop new, or improve existing, drugs, treatments or other medically-related products.

  9. How to make a career in medical research?

    The career revolves around clinical investigations to understand human diseases and rigorous lab work. As a medical researcher, formal education will not suffice. As a developing medical ...

  10. What Does a Medical Research Scientist Do?

    Here are examples of responsibilities from real medical research scientist resumes: Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization. Experience working in a GMP regulate environment. Experience with``firefight"responses and working with FDA.

  11. What does a medical researcher do? Duties and functions

    Duties and functions. A medical researcher, also called a medical scientist, investigates ways to resolve and prevent health problems in humans. They conduct comprehensive research, experiments and clinical trials and share their findings with their peers and the public. A career in this challenging field can be exciting and rewarding for ...

  12. Research Scientist (Medical) • Job Description, Salary & Benefits

    Salary & benefits. Starting salaries for candidates with a relevant BSc or MSc tend to be around £20,000 per annum, going up to around £25,000 to £35,000 for scientists with PhDs. Medical scientists with more than five years' experience, managerial responsibilities and specialist research expertise can earn up to £55,000 a year.

  13. Medical Scientist Job Description

    We have included medical scientist job description templates that you can modify and use. Sample responsibilities for this position include: Technical review of scientific materials for clinical and scientific accuracy for Medical Affairs, promotional materials, sales training materials, and external use materials (e.g, advisory board content ...

  14. How to Become a Medical Research Scientist as a Premed

    As a medical researcher, you may start your day with an 8am lecture, followed by a day of lab work. Or, you may be working on a report to present at a board meeting for your company. Or you might be working with a specific group of patients as you search for a new medical treatment that will help afflicted people.

  15. What Does a Medical Researcher Do? (With Steps to Become One)

    Salary can depend on several factors, including the employer, experience, education and specific job duties and responsibilities. Having in-demand professional certifications and working in the private sector or pharmaceutical industry can boost your earning potential as a medical research scientist.

  16. Medical Laboratory Scientist

    Medical laboratory scientist vs. medical laboratory technician. While similar, there are a few key differences between a medical lab scientist and a medical lab technician. They both work in the lab and perform tests on biological samples, however, a medical lab scientist typically has more education and is able to perform more involved lab work.

  17. What Is a Medical Researcher?

    A medical researcher, also known as a medical scientist, studies diseases and conditions to help improve and protect public health. They design studies, perform research and collect and analyze data. The purpose of their studies may be to find ways to prevent or treat diseases or identify connections between certain conditions and illnesses.

  18. Medical Research Scientist

    The average estimated salary in North Carolina for this career, based on job postings in the past year, is $142,784. Percentiles represent the percentage that is lower than the value. For example, 25% of estimated salaries for Medical Research Scientist postings in the United States in the past year were lower than $63,416.

  19. Professional Medical Scientist Job Description Template

    That way, you will be more likely to communicate clearly to jobseekers. Here are a few sample specifications to consider as you write your medical scientist job description: Advanced degree in chemistry, biology, physics or a related field. At least two years of experience supervising laboratory settings. Strong quantitative reasoning.

  20. Sr. Research Scientist, MGEC job at UT Southwestern Medical Center

    Job Duties . Plans, organizes, coordinates, directs and personally participates in major medical or scientific research projects, including development and implementation of research protocols. Selects key research personnel; determines specific goals or objectives to be attained; assigns and reviews work of subordinates.

  21. Life Science Research Professional 1

    The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. ... Life Science Research Professional 3 - Research Scientist in Genetics ... Medical Innovations.

  22. Life Science Research Professional 1

    The Center for Personal Dynamic Regulome at Stanford University is seeking a Life Science Research Professional 1 to perform basic functions and activities involved in defined research projects, and independently conduct and analyze experiments. ... The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job ...

  23. Research Scientist, Neurological Surgery job at UT Southwestern Medical

    Discover Research Scientist, Neurological Surgery and other Research & Laboratory jobs in Dallas, TX and apply online today! ... years at level of Senior Research Associate or equivalent. Job Duties · Plans, organizes, coordinates, directs, and personally participates in assigned scientific or medical research projects. Selects or assists in ...

  24. How To Become a Medical Scientist in 7 Steps (With Skills)

    For example, if a job description highlights duties developing medical research protocols or examining the effects of prescriptions, you can list relevant skills or experiences on your application materials. On your medical scientist resume, consider listing items such as your education, professional experience, skills and any licensure or ...

  25. Research Scientist, Cellular & Molecular Neuroimmunology job at UT

    The Department of Neurology at UT Southwestern Medical Center is a nationally recognized leader in the comprehensive management of neurological conditions. Our vibrant department comprises more than 75 full-time faculty in 12 subspecialty sections, supporting a spectrum of complex and innovative approaches to neurological care, a broad range of novel research programs, and a panoply of ...

  26. AI Research Scientist Job Description [+2024 TEMPLATE]

    Job brief. As an AI Research Scientist, you will be at the forefront of artificial intelligence research and development. This role demands a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical expertise in AI, with responsibilities that span developing innovative AI technologies, conducting empirical research, and implementing AI solutions in practical applications.

  27. Clinical Research Coordinator Associate

    The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. ... Life Science Research Professional 3 - Research Scientist in Genetics ... Medical Innovations.

  28. Seeking a few Senior Scientists, Research Scientists or Postdoctoral

    Job title and Job description Job title, available positions. Senior Scientists, Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher a few positions In general, those who earned a doctoral degree within the past 5 years will be appointed as Postdoctoral Researcher, those who earned a doctoral degree more than 5 years ago will be appointed as Research ...

  29. Scientific Research Careers: 44 Jobs in Science and Research

    Chemical engineer: $92,214 per year 42. Clinical psychologist: $109,754 per year 43. Data scientist: $123,493 per year 44. Data engineer: $126,425 per year. Explore 44 science and research jobs, read about the average salary information for each role and examine a brief job description for many of the positions.