Careers in Science
A
career in science is something that you would have already
decided upon very early during your education itself,
or not at all. The field of science is so vast and the possibilities
for a career in science enormous. You could, for instance,
work in R&D, publishing or quality control.
Or you could specialize in ‘pure’ science and get
commissioned to work in your own lab or of the government.
You could devise scientific solutions that could be used to
solve practical problems, the patents await you. You might
even choose to work in a corporate laboratory
developing new products for the company.
The applications
of science are innumerable and offer great scope for a successful
and fulfilling career, especially if you
happened to have a scientific mind. Whatever you choose
to do in science, you need to possess a scientific temperament – i.e.
disciplined scientific thinking and methods of observation, experimenting
and recording. And if you’re keen on becoming a scientist
you would of course need to possess a specialist degree (mostly
postgraduate
study) for that chosen field.
There
are a wide variety of degree courses to choose from. To get
an entry, which is generally tough, you will require at last
two science A-levels and probably ABB results. A postgraduate
study, either MSc or PhD, is normally demanded for most of
the careers in science.
A few specialist careers in science
Professional Scientist – Professional scientist either
carry out research in fundamental science discovering new
things adding to the large sea of knowledge or apply existing
scientific
know-how to innovate new products. Biochemist – A
living cell is like a huge chemical factory with thousands
of interconnected reactions going on in a tiny
vessel. Biochemists study these reactions and yield knowledge
that goes a long way in benefiting wide range of fields like
medicine, biotechnology, environment etc. they study enzymes,
and chemical pathways and their regulation by hormones.
Forensic
Scientist – You must be familiar with this type
of profession if you have been watching crime detection series
on TV. Forensic experts apply scientific knowledge to detect
crime and identifying criminals. The use tiny amounts of
material picked at the crime to pin down the culprit. Very
often they
rely on analysis of blood, fibers, hair, paint, and soil
as clues to solve a case or to get the evidence. DNA has become
the latest
powerful tool for modern Forensic Scientist. As a forensic
scientist you will have to work hand in hand with the police.
Geologist – Geologist study the origin, composition and
structure of the earth’s crust. Their work has large
impact on agriculture, mining and engineering.
Metallurgist – Iron,
steel and aluminum industries need Metallurgists. They devise
new techniques of extraction, treatment
and alloying (exploring new combinations) of metals and their
ores.
Oceanographer – Studying
physical and chemical aspects of the oceans and their behavior
is the job of an oceanographer.
They study the currents, tides, waves or the sea bed.
Physicist – Studying
behavior of matter and energy such as heat, electronics, light,
sound, mechanics and magnetism
come under the realms of physicists.
Earning potential?
How much you earn as a scientist will depend solely on your post,
experience and qualification, area of expertise, working
in public or private sector and so on. A glance at the back
of a scientific journal such as the New Scientist would give
you a fair idea about
your pay scale.
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