Looking for a career in science?
Science is a field of study that keeps expanding, and new branches of science get established all the time. It’s not uncommon to see universities and technical schools opening new degrees for previously-unheard-of branches of science every new school year. If you’re looking for a career that deals with science, but aren’t sure what career path to take, here are some suggestions of fields that need more and more scientists all the time.
Life sciences jobs deal with the biology of humans, plants, and other living things. There are various branches of life sciences out there, including but not limited to pharmacology, physiology, plant studies, microbiology, and stem cell research. If you’d like to dedicate your life to the study of life itself, then choose a life science jobs and enjoy a very interesting, very rewarding career.
Like most other fields of science, there are different requirements for different positions in life science. If you’d like to be the hands-on guy who takes orders from a senior scientist and conducts experiments yourself, then a bachelor’s degree and some relevant hands-on experience is enough. A master’s degree will let you teach the younger aspirants to your field, while a doctorate degree will let you call the shots yourself, often proposing experiments and publishing your findings for your counterparts around the world to see.
Forensic science jobs are also some of the more popular career choices among young people today. After all, who doesn’t know about Gil Grissom and the rest of the CSI team on TV? Most (but not all) of the things you see on forensic TV shows are consistent with what forensic scientists do with the real world – they’re primarily tasked with the analysis of blood, tissue, and fluid samples, as well as fingerprints and any other physical evidence in a crime scene.
The primary purpose of forensic scientists is to aid the police force and local government in solving crimes. Their analysis of crime scenes is meant to find out who did what to whom in any incident, leading to arrests and legal action against people who break the law. Contrary to what you see on TV, a forensic scientist often doesn’t do everything from photo-documenting the crime scene to analyzing the evidence and interrogating suspects and witnesses – they often stick to only one special task as part of a cohesive crime-solving team.
The more advanced forensic scientists (holders of MD’s and PhD’s) are often tasked with the study of criminals and criminal behavior. Their primary goal is to improve the technologies and practices used in forensic science to come up with more foolproof and effective ways to put criminals behind bars. Take note that forensic science can be a gruesome job (even more gruesome than on TV), so it takes a lot of nerve and a strong stomach to survive in this field of study.
If you’d much rather not deal with humans and instead deal with less harmless and more predictable plants, then you might want to check the soil conservation jobs out there. Soil conservation scientists are experts in ecology and the environment, and are very much involved in the maintenance of natural forested areas and national parks. This just might be the best career path for you if you’ve always dreamed of being a ranger in the woods.
Conservation scientists aren’t limited to national parks, however, and their services are also needed in the agricultural sector. Some conservation scientists even choose to involve animals in their field of expertise. You’ll need a degree in a related course (such as ecology, animal nutrition, or biology) and some relevant on-the-job training to start a career in conservation.
Take note, though, that it often requires a strong physique and good resistance to sickness to hold down a conservation job. You’ll need to be able to survive in the outdoors, since that’s pretty much where you’ll be doing most of your work. You’ll also need a fair amount of people skills, since you’ll be exposed to all kinds of people – from government officials to the natives in your country.
Another interesting career path to consider is one in earth science. Earth science jobs focus mainly on the study of earthquakes – where they’re most likely to hit, when and how powerful, and whether people may be put in mortal danger when and if they strike. As earthquakes can potentially claim thousands of innocent lives at a moment’s notice, the need for earth scientists is ever-present in today’s society.
A bachelor’s degree in geophysics of seismology is often required to qualify for a career in earth science, in addition to two years’ worth of relevant work. Earth scientists must understand the geophysical, seismological, and oceanographic traits of the earth to understand earthquakes better, as well as know how to maintain the equipment needed to track and possibly predict these earthquakes. Good earth scientists are also willing to be located in earthquake-prone areas of the world.
And if you don’t like land as much as you love the ocean, then perhaps a career in marine science is a good choice for you, particularly if you like working on ships. Marine science jobs are increasing exponentially as more and more countries around the world get civilized and begin to trade by sea. A professional in marine science is often tasked with the running of a ship, whatever purpose that ship may serve.
The responsibilities of a marine science professional includes maintaining the ship’s staff, inventory, machinery, and other parts to ensure that the entire ship runs smoothly and efficiently. They’re also responsible for the passengers’ welfare, particularly if they work on cruise ships and luxury liners. A career in marine science can be difficult since you tend to spend most of your days away from home, but can be fun if you like visiting new places all the time.
If you’re looking for a career in science, it’s very likely you’ll find a career path that’s right up your alley. All you have to do is choose.
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