Medical Scientists

Also called: Clinical Research Scientist, Research Scientist, Scientist

Career Cluster: Health Science
What they do:
Conduct research dealing with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health. Engage in clinical investigation, research and development, or other related activities.
On the job, you would:
  • Follow strict safety procedures when handling toxic materials to avoid contamination.
  • Evaluate effects of drugs, gases, pesticides, parasites, and microorganisms at various levels.
  • Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease.
KNOWLEDGE

Engineering and Technology
  • computers and electronics
Health
  • medicine and dentistry
Math and Science
  • biology
  • chemistry
Arts and Humanities
  • English language
SKILLS

Basic Skills
  • writing things for co-workers or customers
  • figuring out how to use new ideas or things
People and Technology Systems
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
  • figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
ABILITIES

Visual Understanding
  • see hidden patterns
Math
  • choose the right type of math to solve a problem
  • add, subtract, multiply, or divide
Ideas and Logic
  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
  • group things in different ways
Verbal
  • communicate by speaking
  • communicate by writing
PERSONALITY

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.

They do well at jobs that need:
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Innovation
  • Integrity
  • Attention to Detail
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Cooperation
TECHNOLOGY

You might use software like this on the job:

Analytical or scientific software
  • IBM SPSS Statistics
  • SAS
Presentation software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
Data base user interface and query software
  • Database software
  • Waters Empower 2
EDUCATION


doctoral degree or post-doctoral training
usually needed
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JOB OUTLOOK


Bright
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.


Salary:
High: $168,210.00
Median: $100,590.00
Low: $61,860.00
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