• Question: what are some jobs scientists might do ?

    Asked by anon-181744 on 12 Jun 2018.
    • Photo: Lauren Burns

      Lauren Burns answered on 12 Jun 2018:


      So, I am a Health Data Scientist, which is basically computer science combined with Health Data (e.g. GP records, A&E records etc.) This involves research using huge datasets, with millions of patient’s records, and answering questions based on the health data available. It is a really great aspect of science because a) it is still relatively new and not overly competitive (yet), b) holds you in amazing stead compared to other people as you have how to write computer codes and run rather complex statistics and c) opens up loads of opportunities because of these fantastic skills you learn 🙂

    • Photo: Damian Mole

      Damian Mole answered on 12 Jun 2018:


      Astronaut, Artist, Author, Analytical Advisor, Anaesthetist, Actuary…anything beginning with A …except Aardvark….and then Bnything beginning bith B….and C…until Zebra. You can’t be a Zebra. But anything else, seriously. That’s why science is so cool – it let’s you do anything!

    • Photo: Liza Selley

      Liza Selley answered on 12 Jun 2018:


      There are so many things you can do with science! Lots of people do research where you can literally study anything you like if you can get the funding but there’s teaching, forensic science, sports therapy, nutrition, technology development, app design….all sorts! I once saw an advert for a bakery scientist!

      Science skills are very useful in other jobs too..for example, one of my best friends studied marine science then trained as an accountant. Lots of employers like people with a sciencey background because they are analytical and methodical.

    • Photo: Claire Donald

      Claire Donald answered on 12 Jun 2018:


      The sky is the limit! If you can find a job that doesn’t have a connection to science in some way I’ll eat my hat!

    • Photo: Ashley Akbari

      Ashley Akbari answered on 13 Jun 2018:


      Very much like Lauren I am a Health Data Scientist, I work with big data (can be into the millions or billions of rows) of health, social care, education, economics and other specialist services in order to identify opportunities to improve services and peoples health and wellbeing through better understanding of a persons care and pathways.

    • Photo: Hannah Farley

      Hannah Farley answered on 13 Jun 2018:


      Literally anything – you can do the obviously science-y ones, like being a researcher or working for a company that is involved in science (e.g. making medicines), but being a scientist also gives you lots of “transferrable skills” like team work, managing your time, processing data, presenting your work etc etc… These are valuable in lots of fields, from banking to working for the government to journalism.

    • Photo: Laura Hemming

      Laura Hemming answered on 13 Jun 2018:


      In my specific field, once I’ve finished my PhD I can either continue down an ‘academic’ route which means I would try to become a lecturer, and then work my way up to professor. This would mean I would get time to do research and also would spend some time teaching.

      Or I could choose to do a clinical doctorate which would mean that I would do some study with work placements and research projects and at the end I would be a qualified doctor. This would mean that I could be a clinical psychologist and deliver interventions to people as well as doing some research.

      The last main option is that I could become a researcher in the third sector. This role would be similar to the first one but wouldn’t involve teaching so much.

      These are the main three options that I’m considering after I finish my PhD but as others have said there are looooooooads of other jobs that I could do with the skills that I have. The possibilities are endless!

    • Photo: Joanne Sharpe

      Joanne Sharpe answered on 13 Jun 2018:


      A degree in a science subject doesn’t limit you at all! I have friends who have gone on to be accountants in big firms in London with a chemistry degree. Then there are cool jobs like working for the police as a forensic scientist, you can work for the government adivising them on the environment or other sciencey things, become a teacher, work for a food company (Mars have an amazing grad scheme).

    • Photo: Donna MacCallum

      Donna MacCallum answered on 14 Jun 2018:


      so many different jobs.. .

      research
      patent office
      accountant
      scientific writing and publishing
      teacher
      sales rep
      government scientist
      clinical labs
      technician
      …. could go on for a very long time…

      Science teaches you to be analytical and to look for evidence… you also learn good communication skills… these qualities are very sought after in many different jobs

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