Biological Sciences

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Careers in Biological Sciences

Week 012 - Careers in Biological Sciences

It is a common notion that if you are doing what you love, then it’s not really
“work.” It may or may not be true.
Student choice is at the center of many discussions in the education sector.
Regardless of the emphasis put on achieving an important weight of
graduates trained in biological, chemical and physical science and
engineering, these fields currently is stagnated or are declining. The youth
are encouraged to train and study in these fields as job market projections. It
is suggested that there will be a surge in the need for biomedical and
engineering professionals in the near future.
People seek careers in science or engineering for varied reasons. Some have
specific goals in mind. They wish to cure diseases or combat hunger or
reduce pollution. Some dream of developing the next laser, transistor, or
vehicle for space travel. Some people just want to get rich. Some choose
careers in science or engineering because they are curious about the natural
world. Others are motivated by the excitement and beauty of formulating
theories that will lead to new ways of thinking about the world. Still others
imagine educating people about science in schools or through the media.
Some want to provide counsel or shape public policies. Each of these
motivations is legitimate. Each is valuable.
Careers in science and engineering are essentially hope-filled endeavors. The
hopes are directed towards improvement of people's lives and result in
knowledge that all people can share.
At the end of this module, you will be able to:
1. demonstrate adequate understanding about potential career paths in
biological science
2. identify key fields in basic and applied scientific fields
3. draw connections about the role of business understanding in the
scientific enterprise
“Science is the labor and handicraft of the mind.”
- Francis Bacon

Course Module
Choosing Careers

As the techniques and products of

science and technology become
essential to modern society, a
more and more of the youth are
considering a career in science
and engineering. Science and
engineering degrees are
becoming ubiquitous to modern
life. The extent of use of
technology has already went
beyond research and
development.All the aspects of
teaching, business, industry, and
Figure 1. There are different career options for a
scientific career. Retrieved from:
governmentare run by people
www.nature.com/scitable/ebooks/guide-to-life- with science or engineering
science-careers-14053951/126082500 on 15 May backgrounds. We can see
2017.
professionals establishing
companies, managing businesses,
practicing law, formulating policy, consulting, and running for government
office. Science transcends the cultures, individual differences, corporate
endeavors, or national boundaries. Truly, the application for science and
technology binds human life.
Science- or business-oriented students are more alike because of their drive
for excellence and achievement. They are also motivated by purpose. A
student’s success depends on the effort they put on particular interests lead
to a career. Science, like business students are problem solvers. Both types
want to reduce complexity and offer mankind something that they can use.
These types of student are continuously finding tools to make life better and
offer solutions to different types of problems.
Careers in science are enticing. These careers include all types of jobs inside
and outside of the research and science and engineering industries. For
example, scientists are not putting up startups or doing science-oriented
journalism. There are also career paths for science policy, writing, patent law,
regulatory affairs, teaching, and consulting. Of course the traditional
professors and researcher jobs are still lucrative. These jobs still provide
intellectual stimulation for research and development.
Understanding potential career paths merging different fields may not be
very easy. Everything comes with hardwork, training, skills and interest from
the beginning. For instance, an early interest in law or government may
translate to a career in patent law, science policy, or regulatory affairs.
Management or business degree may result to a science and research
consulting position. Mentor potential may be fulfilled by a teaching career.
Additional Pros to Working in Industry
•Applied results
•Team orientation
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Careers in Biological Sciences

•Numerous career choices to consider

•Job variety
•Intensive and continued learning
•Unlimited resources to do “big science”
Negative Aspects to Working in Industry
•Job security
•Travel
•Stress and deadline pressure
•No time to get to the bottom of interesting biological questions
•Project failures and terminations are frequent and disappointing
•Decision making
Things you can do to Increase Job Security
•Learn new skills
•Stay at the cutting edge
•Become a recognized expert in a niche area
•Work in large companies with robust pipelines
•Work in biotechnology hubs
•Stay flexible in career
Personality Attributes to be Successful in Industry
•Flexibility
•Communication skills
•Team player attitude
•Interpersonal skills
•Can-do positive attitude, sense of humor
•Ability to multitask
•Being able to see the “forest through the trees”
•Ability to understand customer’s point of view
•Creative problem solving skills

Careers in Biotechnology
Agriculture and food production is a global industry essential to all aspects of
our lives. Farming and food supply industry offers more varied career paths.
These paths may include the use of cutting-edge technology and techniques.

Course Module
 They also offer competitive salaries and great opportunities to progress.
They are also venues for diverse working environments.
Innovation in the agricultural sector is constant a research and development
process. Research companies are making farming systems more efficient and
finding solutions to industrial problems. Especially in the Philippines where
there is a need for supplies, the business sectors infiltrate the market and
introduce new technologies to benefit the country.
Agricultural machinery plays a vital role in producing food in huge quantities.
They also have large information technology departments. Large machinery
manufacturers need technicians to maintain all of its machinery and make
them better for future use.
Logistics is all about getting the products from the field, to the factory and to
the people. Logistics firms need employees with good organizational skills to
maximize efficient systems.
Agriculture is big business, and like all businesses there are opportunities to
manage people and projects – from small charities to global brands. This
industry is indeed in need of talented, flexible people who are ready to take
on the challenge of moving it forward and upward.

Careers in Environmental Sciences

Environmental science examines the critical components of biological,
physical and social environments. Careers in this field try to develop a broad
understanding of the complex relationships between all of these. It prepares
a person to deal with environmental problems and issues. Environmental
areas are also in need of professionals adept in designing and enhancing
literacy, communication and numeracy skills.
The demand is increasing for professionals with the ability to comprehend
and manage environmental issues. In addition to knowledge and skills
directly related to environmental biology, people skills like teamwork,
analytical, communication proficiencies are essential. These can be
developed through academic study, employment, voluntary work, and even
sporting activities.

Careers in Agriculture and Nutrition

A career in nutritional sciences can be the foundation for career opportunites
in areas such as:
 Clinical Dietetics
 Food and Nutrition Management
 Public Health Nutrition
 Education and Research
 Consultant/Private Practice
 Related Health Professionals
 Business and Industry
 Media
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Careers in Biological Sciences

Clinical Dietetics
Hospitals, long-term care, and outpatient settings are in need of different
typs of professionals. Many specialties in pediatrics, renal, diabetes, nutrition
support are to choose from.

Food and Nutrition Management

Hospitals, long-term care, businesses, schools are in need of food managers.
These are professionals who can work as chefs or at restaurants and food
factories.

Business and Industry

Careers in business and industry include jobs such as sales, marketing, public
relations, research and development. These also include jobs in the fields of
labeling, recipes, product information and production quality control. Some
companies in the country which may have a need for business professionals
looking for careers related to sciences are as follows:
 Food (eg. Cambell Soup, Kraft Foods, Proctor & Gamble)
 Information Technology (eg. CBORD, Compu-Cal, Computrition, ESHA
Research, First DataBank)
 Nutritionals (eg. Mead Johnson, McNeil Consumer Healthcare,
Novartis Nutrition, Ross Products)
 Nutraceuticals (eg. Archer Daniels Midland, Cooke Pharma, GeniSoy
Products)
 Pharmaceutical (eg. Eli Lily, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Pfizer)
 Food Service Equipment (eg. Diversey Lever, Ecolab, Hamilton Beach
Commercial, Hobart)
 Food Service Contract Management (eg. Aramark Healthcare,
Morrison Management, Sodexho)
 Food Service Vendors (eg. Precision Foods, Super Bakery, Sysco, US
Foodservice)
 Medical Equipment (eg. Bodystat, HealtheTech, Johnson & Johnson)
 Trade Associations (eg. Cranberry Institute, Dairy Council, Peanut
Institute, Pork Producers)
 Media
 Commodity groups (trade associations) hire public relations firms
 Radio, TV, newspapers, and magazines are a major source of nutrition
education for the public
 Cooperative extension agents often write for the local media
 Non-governmental organizations such as CARE, Food for the Hungry,
or World Relief
 United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
 US AID (Agency for International Development)

Course Module
Careers in Health Sciences
Health science refers to a large group of disciplines related to the delivery of
health care to humans and animals. These careers are direct application of
science, engineering, mathematics and technology. These are fields in which
knowledge is taken from pure science and other related sources and applied
to practical and clinical practices. The branches of health science span
traditional and conventional medicine as well as alternative and folk
medicine.
The day-to-day tasks and responsibilities of a person in a health science vary
significantly. However, it is important to note that this always require
excellent communication skills and attention to detail.
If you're a woman who's interested in a field in science or engineering, you
may think your efforts could be better spent elsewhere. Fortunately, the
common myth that tech fields are only for men is just that - a myth. That said,
there is a significant lack of representation in these fields. As Business News
Daily reported, women currently represent less than 30 percent of those
working within the STEM population, though the source noted that this isn't
due to any inherent or biological factors. That said, if you have a genuine
interest in science, engineering or technology, you should not feel
discouraged.

Medical Laboratory Technician: Medical laboratory technicians typically

work in hospitals, doctor’s offices, private clinics and research laboratories,
often under the direct supervision of a physician or medical technologist.
Typical job duties include:
 Performing tests to help physicians diagnose and treat diseases
 Analyzing all types of body fluids and recording findings
 Operating laboratory equipment and computerized instruments, such
as microscopes and cell counters
 Training and supervising other lab technicians
 Maintaining a clean and sanitized work environment
Education requirements for a successful career in the health sciences depend
on an individual’s ultimate career goals. Medical doctors, for example,
normally spend four years in the undergraduate, followed by four years of
medical school and, three to eight years of internship and residency
programs. A physician’s assistant will normally require an undergraduate
degree followed by two to three years of post-graduate study leading to a
master’s degree. Almost all professional careers in the health sciences need
post-secondary degrees.

Surprising Health Sciences Careers

Health science is an unusually broad field. This means that there are plenty of
options for those seeking a less conventional career path. The growing need
for greater specialization allows almost anyone to use a skillset to propel a
lucrative health sciences career. Here are just three possibilities:
Athletic Trainer/Exercise Physiologist: Athletic trainers important for the
prevention, evaluation and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. Exercise
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Careers in Biological Sciences

physiologists work with patients and conduct testing to help describe the
functional changes to the body.

Figure 3. Alternative Science careers

Chiropractor: Chiropractors focus on the relationship between the

musculoskeletal structure and functions of the human body. Chiropractors
take a drug-free, non-surgical approach to patient examination. They also
provide dietary, nutritional and lifestyle counseling.
Dance, Drama or Music Therapist: Behavioral therapy plays a key role in
helping patients adjust emotionally. Dance, drama and music therapists use
artistic skills in the assessment of patient disorders, and develop novel
therapies to meet clients’ needs.
Biomedical Engineer
Biomedical engineering is a career choice for someone with strong interests
in both engineering and the life sciences. This is for students who are
technologically oriented. Careers are focused towards creation of medicines,
treatments and processes using engineering principles. Biomedical engineers
are the professionals designing solutions to these types of problems.
Biomedical engineers design products and systems for artificial limbs and
other body parts, for example. They may also be involved to maintain and
support biomedical equipment. They may also educate and train clinicians in
the use of biomedical equipment. They work closely with other professionals
to study the biological systems of humans and other animals. Biomedical
engineers may be employed at hospitals and research facilities, universities
and other educational institutions, as well as in private businesses and
industries. A career as a biomedical engineer begins by earning a bachelor’s
degree in in any foeld of engineering.

Course Module
 Working in the Health Sciences: Toolbox
The responsibilities of a health science professional vary. There are a number
of skills and characteristics and listed below are some of the most important
ones:
 Problem-solving and decision-making skills: They must be able to
evaluate health-related issues and the status of patients. They can
determine the best course of treatment to resolve those issues.
 Communication and interpersonal skills: Most positions in the health
sciences require interaction with patients and other health
professionals. Excellent communications skills, both verbal and
written, are needed.
 Attention to detail: Jobs in the health sciences require the
understanding and application of specific rules and protocols.
 Compassion and patience: Health science workers often treat patients
with serious medical conditions .They should be supportive and
sympathetic when providing care.
 Technical skills: Almost all jobs in modern health sciences require
technical and technology-based skills to operate complex diagnostic
tools and computerized instruments.
How do specific skills for a particular health sciences occupation translate
into higher salaries? Popular skills for the profession in health sciences
involve those concerning medicinal fields, rehabilitation, palliative care and
physical therapy, among others. Ech jobs’ salary level is dependent on the
person’s unique skillset and negotiation skills.

What have we learned?

In this module we demonstrated several potential career paths in biological

science and identified key fields in basic and applied scientific fields. We also
drew connections about the role of business understanding in the scientific
enterprise.

Glossary
Apprenticeship - are relationships between an employer and employee
wherein the apprentice, learns an occupation in a structured program
Articulation - Articulation offers at least four years of course work at the
secondary and post-secondary levels to prepare students for technical
careers
Career Awareness - are designed to make students aware of the broad
range of careers and /or occupations in the world of work, including options
that may not be traditional for their gender race or ethnicity
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Careers in Biological Sciences

Technical Education - program of vocational instruction that prepares

individuals for positions, such as draftsman or lab technician, in different
occupational areas requiring a range of skills and abilities

References and Supplementary Materials

Books and Journals
Kadhila, N. (2007). Biology Module 1. London:Cambridge University Press.
Lodish, H., Berk, A., Kaiser, C.A., Krieger, M., Ploegh, H., Amon, A., & Martin, K.C. (2016).
Molecular Cell Biology, 4th Ed. New York: MacMillan.
Reece, J. B., & Campbell, N. A. (2011). Campbell Biology. 6th Ed. Boston: Benjamin
Cummings.
Online Supplementary Reading Materials
Careers in Public Health. Retrieved from: www.publichealthonline.org/health-sciences/
on 15 May 2017.
Careers in Science and engineering. Retrieved from: www.sciencemag.org/careers on 15
May 2017.
How to find careers in Science. Retrieved from: www.aaas.org/careers on 15 May 2017.
Online Instructional Videos
Videos to help know what companies need in hiring for science- related jobs. Retrieved
from: www.sciencemag.org/careers/for-employers on 15 May 2017.

Course Module