Want to land a new career in 2022? Here are some potential roles in life sciences for the aspiring graduate to get excited about.
Ready to start work? Whether you have completed your studies in the life sciences, or whether you are browsing courses for this semester, a job in life sciences could be hugely rewarding. These academics are responsible for developing new medications and vaccines, for discovering new plant and animal species, and for developing alternative food sources with high nutrient content.
People hear the words “life sciences” and they wonder what kind of work studying them would bring. Life sciences are a misunderstood area of STEM that we are here to unravel. Here are some of our favourite roles in life science and what you can expect to earn from them.
5 Roles in Life Sciences and What They Pay
Thinking of applying for jobs near you? You can browse Hays’ pages to see open jobs available in your area. Otherwise hang around. Here are five career opportunities in life sciences that should get you excited.
1 – Microbiologist
A microbiologist studies the microbes that we can see and learns how they impact life. In the UK, they can earn between £40,000 and £45,000. This improves with consultancy work and specialisations. Microbiologists work in research and development, food and agriculture, environment and climate change, and medicine and healthcare sectors. You may study viruses or bacteria.
2 – Pharmaceuticals
There are many aspects of pharmacology for you to land a job in as a scientist. You might be manufacturing the medicines, involved in their design. You could be testing medications, selling medications, or consulting on contraindications. Pharmaceuticals is big business, even here in the UK. Even as a pharmacists dispensing medicine for the NHS, you can expect to earn over £37,000 as an average salary.
3 – Clinical Data Management
A clinical data manager collects research on any given area, ensures its validity, and records it for posterity. This role devises scientific papers and writes up references. They examine collated research for trends and use it to make predictions. Entry level CDMs can make £34,000 per annum, with the average salary up in the £40,000 ballpark. This is a keystone position for the development and curation of new scientific research. They can work on a grant basis funded by private corporations, too.
4 – Psychologist
Although often forgotten, the psychologist is a practitioner of the life sciences. They examine how the mind works and what impacts the neural pathway functions have on people. They examine research into the brain and conduct their own experiments, all with the aim of treating patients with mental health issues to give them a better quality of life. These are valuable in modern society as we begin to take mental illness seriously. Psychologists can earn between £47,000 and £63,000 when working for the NHS in an experienced capacity.
5 – Archaeologist
Another interesting position which people don’t associate with the life sciences; archaeology is the study of how people used to live. Any science which studies life, is a life science. Archaeologists uncover the secrets of the past by digging up its remains and placing them under the microscope. An interesting career like this pays an average salary of £21,000 per annum. The least paid of our suggested careers but we argue also the most fun.
