HOW TO BECOME A SCIENTIST

There are many sectors in scientists:

I am just mentioning few here which has scope when you finish your studies and start
working.

Physicist

Astronomer

Geoscientists

Atmospheric Scientists

Biochemists and biophysicists

Medical Scientists

Hydrologist

Materials Scientist

Chemist

Nuclear Technician
 1. Physicist

Physicists investigate the properties of matter, energy and time. Some physicists perform
theoretical research to expand our knowledge of how the universe works, while others
engage in applied research where they put theoretical knowledge to work in practical
processes or devices to change the technology our society uses. Physics aims to answer
big questions like how the universe came into existence and what natural laws determine
how matter and energy interact. Research in physics can be applied to develop new
methods of communication, alternate sources of energy and more advanced medical
technology.

Physicists calculate and analyse data. They generate theories to explain phenomena and
test those theories through experimentation. Their work requires an understanding of
complicated mathematics for doing calculations and of the scientific method for
appropriately planning and conducting experiments to get accurate data. They also use
complex equipment, including lasers, electron microscopes and particle accelerators.
While research itself may be a physicist’s main job duty, it’s not the scientist’s sole
responsibility. Physicists must draft proposals, successfully apply for the grant funding
to conduct their experiments and present their findings both in written papers for
publication and at lectures and conferences.

Average Income Per Annum: $106,840/ Rs. 7905946 in USA

Education: Ph.D. in Physics
 2. Astronomer

Astronomers study the structures in space, including stars, planets, galaxies and black
holes. They research the properties, movements and compositions of these objects and
carefully record and analyze data. This is another field of science

that requires the ability to perform complex mathematical calculations. To accomplish their
research, astronomers use telescopes and other ground-based equipment as well as
equipment that has already been launched into space, like the Hubble Space Telescope.

Like physicists, astronomers can choose to focus on either basic, theoretical research to
inform what we know about the universe or they can conduct applied research, where they
put research findings to use in creating new processes and technologies. Astronomers can
also focus on different parts of space, including studying how our own solar system works
and researching faraway galaxies. Astronomers, like their colleagues in other disciplines of
science, must understand the research process, including how to develop theories, design
and perform experiments and gather and analyze data accurately. Part of an astronomer’s
job responsibilities are to secure funding and present their research findings.

Average Income Per Annum: $96,460/ Rs.7137847 In USA

Education: Ph.D. in Astronomy
3. Geoscientists

Prefer to study something a little closer to home? Geoscientists study the Earth’s structures,
composition, processes and all of its physical properties. By learning more about our planet,
these scientists can better understand the past and predict future changes in the Earth.
Within the discipline of geosciences, there are many specialties, including: geology,
geochemistry, geophysics, petroleum geology, seismology, oceanography, paleontology and
engineering geology. Which geosciences career is right for you? It depends what you want to
study or what you want to do with your knowledge. The various types of geoscientists study
everything from rock formation to earthquakes, and their work ranges from theoretical
research that increases our understanding of the Earth to applying their knowledge to
locate petroleum deposits for drilling. The different types of geoscientists may have vastly
different goals. Some work to preserve an environment or rescue damaged environments,
while others are seeking sources of petroleum or other natural resources.

Geoscientists work both in the field and in the laboratory. They design and perform field
studies that require them to gather rock samples, well logs and aerial photographs. Then
they use laboratory equipment to test and analyze those materials. Geoscientists’ tools vary
widely from the simple, like a chisel and hammer, to the sophisticated, like ground-
penetrating radar equipment and x-ray and electron microscopes. To gather and evaluate
data, geoscientists may also use remote sensing equipment, advanced geographic
information systems (GIS) and modeling software. In addition to presenting their findings
in written reports and to clients, geoscientists also record their findings in charts and maps.

Average Income Per Annum: $ 90890/ Rs. 6725678 In USA

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Geosciences or Geology
4. Atmospheric Scientists

Do you dream of a career forecasting the weather? What about researching climate change? Atmospheric
scientists are researchers who study the atmosphere to help us understand and solve serious problems
from severe storms and air pollution to droughts and the consequences of climate change. Atmospheric
scientists collect data, including temperature, humidity, pressure and wind speed. They analyze that data
with the help of mathematical and computer models. Atmospheric scientists don’t only use their
meteorological data to convey current weather conditions, but also – and more importantly – they use
that data as the basis for predicting future weather conditions, both in the near future and long-term. If
severe weather could cause injuries or damage, atmospheric scientists warn the public about the danger.
Atmospheric scientists use a wide variety of tools for their research, including weather balloons, satellites,
radar systems and computer software.

Meteorologists and weather forecasters, who are among the most well-known of the atmospheric
scientists, use research to predict upcoming weather, including severe storms. There are also many other
kinds of atmospheric scientists. Atmospheric chemists study the chemical components, properties and
processes of the atmosphere, including clouds, gases and ultraviolet radiation. Atmospheric physicists
and dynamists gather and analyze data on physical movement within the atmosphere, including
phenomena like lightning, turbulence and solar activity. Climatologists study climates and their
historical changes in weather. In addition to researching climate change, they determine possible
consequences of changing climates for practical purposes such as how buildings are designed or how
agricultural land is put to use. Forensic meteorologists, too, look at historical weather, but they use this
data to figure out what weather conditions were in effect in specific circumstances, such as those that
contributed to a fire or motor vehicle collision. Research meteorologists generate new means of gathering
data and creating weather forecasts in addition to actually studying the weather patterns.

Average Income Per Annum: $ 89260 / Rs. 6605061 In USA

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Meteorology or Atmospheric Science

5. Biochemists and biophysicists

Does the study of living things intrigue you? Perhaps a future in biochemistry or biophysics
is right for you. These scientists study the chemical and physical properties of organisms to
learn about important biological processes. They research how cells develop and how
organisms from the simplest to the most complex grow. Laboratory-based research and
experiments are essential to the field of biochemistry and biophysics. Biochemists and
biophysicists use a variety of equipment to study living things, from lasers and electron
microscopes to computer modeling software. They analyze molecules, isolate DNA and
experiment to determine how various medications, nutrients and hormones affect the
tissues and processes of an organism. In addition to designing and implementing
experiments, biochemists and biophysicists record their findings in research papers,
technical reports and presentations.

As with many other sciences, biochemists and biophysicists conduct basic or applied
research. Basic research in biochemistry and biophysics may revolve around learning how
genes mutate and how evolution works. Applied research builds upon these theoretical
understandings to create diagnostic tests, medications and treatments for diseases caused
by genetic mutations or to devise ways of genetically altering plant food and fuel sources to
be less vulnerable to the elements. Biochemists and biophysicists help society make
important innovations in medicine, agriculture and many other fields.

Median Salary: $81,480/ Rs. 6029357 in USA

Education: Ph.D. in Biochemistry or Biophysics
6. Medical Scientists

If you’re interested in the field of medicine but you don’t want to be a doctor, medical scientist
could be the career for you. These researchers develop ways to improve healthcare, including
searching for a cure for cancer and creating new medications to treat and prevent a wide range of
conditions. Medical scientists conduct experiments and clinical trials test hypotheses and gather
data. They oversee research to make sure the process is safe, prevent contamination by potentially
dangerous pathogens and gather data that is as accurate as possible. Appropriately conducting
research is an important part of medical science, but so is analyzing the data collected to learn
more about the causes of medical conditions and the possible ways of treating them.

Medical scientists use their discoveries to create new medical instruments and equipment as well
as drugs. It’s also essential for medical scientists to publish their research findings in scientific
reports and scholarly journal articles and to get their important information out to the world so
that medical providers can use it to improve patients’ health. Medical scientists don’t just seek to
cure or treat certain diseases, but also to prevent them.

Research and development laboratories in the physical, life and engineering sciences employ the
most medical scientists, but many others find work at colleges and universities, hospitals,
physician offices and in the pharmaceutical industry. Medical scientists typically specialize in a
particular type of research. There are numerous specialty careers within the field of medical
science, including toxicologists, pharmacologists, gerontologists, neuroscientists, serologists,
cancer researchers, immunochemists, clinical and medical informaticians and research
histologists.

Median Salary: $76,980/ Rs. 5696366 in USA

Education: Ph.D. in Medical Science
7. Hydrologist

When we talk about the Earth, we often focus on the surface – the ground, the rock
formations, the part where most of us spend the majority of our lives. Yet water accounts for
about two-thirds of the earth’s surface. Water is required for drinking, bathing, cooking,
growing food and so many other necessities that it’s well worth studying. Hydrologists do
just that – they study how water moves either beneath and across the ground to predict
flood events, the spread of pollution and future supply levels. Groundwater hydrologists
typically focus on the water beneath the crust of the Earth and particularly on the water
supply and groundwater contamination. Surface hydrologists study lakes and streams and
determine when and where floods are likely to occur and how to handle flooding situations
to minimize damage. Both types of hydrologists often work to not only understand the
movement of water, but to solve problems relating to the quality and supply of water.

Hydrologists gather samples of both water and soil and evaluate properties, like volume and
flow, of bodies of water. They use remote sensing equipment, high-tech computer modeling
software, global positioning systems (GPS) and geographic information systems (GIS) to
gather and analyze data on problems such as pollution and droughts as well as possibilities,
such as the viability of creating new irrigation systems and hydroelectric power plants in a
given location. They also study the process of precipitation affecting bodies of water and
evaporating.

Median Salary: $75,530/ Rs. 5589068 in USA

Education: Master’s Degree in Hydrology or Hydrologic Sciences
8. Materials Scientist

While the job title itself may be new to many aspiring scientists, the work of a materials
scientist isn’t that unfamiliar. In some ways, the job of a materials scientist is similar to that
of a chemist. Both pursue a common goal: to learn about the molecular and atomic
makeups of substances and research how various substances interact. Unlike chemists,
though, materials scientists typically study the structures and properties of a type of
material in which they develop specialized knowledge, like metal alloys, glass,
semiconductors or ceramics, typically for the purpose of improving them. Materials
scientists have a somewhat higher medial annual salary than chemists, though their job
outlook is slightly less positive.

Materials scientists design and implement research experiments in which they evaluate the
properties and components of a substance. With the use of computers and laboratory
equipment, these scientists analyze data and create virtual 3D models and simulations
representing the atomic and molecular structure of a substance. They devise and test
various ways of strengthening materials or new methods of combining substances for
practical uses. Like other science professionals, materials scientists share their findings
through written reports, articles and presentations.

Median Salary: $88,990/ Rs. 6585082 in USA

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics or Engineering
9. Chemist

Like materials scientists, chemists study the properties and structures of the molecules and
atoms that make up various substances. Chemical research can be either basic, seeking only
to understand structure, makeup and properties of a substance, or applied, seeking to build
upon this understanding to innovate new products and processes or improve existing ones.
Chemists typically work in laboratories, either at research and development departments of
science firms, pharmaceutical manufacturing plants, testing laboratories or as part of the
government. There, they conduct experiments to mix ingredients, test substances with
complex equipment and gather information about the elements, atoms and molecules that
compose a substance. With the help of computer software, chemists develop virtual models
that show how the components of a substance are structured.

Chemists can specialize in a variety of different fields. Theoretical chemists, use advanced
mathematics and computer programming skills, to predict the results of chemical
experiments. Organic chemists specifically study substances that made from carbon, while
inorganic chemists focus on substances that have no carbon components. Analytical
chemists measure and evaluate the elements that make up a substance. Physical chemists
devise theories based on chemical properties that seek to explain how chemical structures
come into being. Medicinal chemists invent and test new pharmaceutical medications to
help prevent or treat medical conditions.

Median Salary: $71,770/ Rs. 5310836 in USA

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry
10. Nuclear Technicians

In nuclear power plants, engineering services and research and development laboratories,
nuclear technicians play an important and necessary role. They observe the performance of
nuclear power equipment to make sure that research and power generation are done safely.
Depending on their job responsibilities, nuclear technicians may use equipment such as
radiation detectors, spectrometers, dosimeters and particle accelerators. They analyze
radiation in the air, soil and water to determine levels of radiation and radioactive
communication. When a process or environmental condition exposes personnel to
dangerous levels of radiation, nuclear technicians provide safety instructions.

Nuclear technicians find employment in a variety of workplaces, but where they work
determines in a large part what their job duties entail. In the nuclear generation and
distribution industry, operating technicians oversee the functioning of nuclear power plant
systems, while radiation protection technicians focus more closely on identifying radioactive
contamination. In laboratories, nuclear technicians are more likely to assist nuclear
engineers and physicists with research. These professionals have a hand in innovating new
uses for and sources of nuclear energy, including devising medical uses of nuclear power
and designing new types of nuclear reactors.

Median Salary: $69,060/ Rs.5110301

Education: Associate’s Degree in Nuclear Science