Scientific Jobs Are Not For Scientists Alone
An ever-expanding number of scientific jobs are available outside traditional academia and are not for scientists alone. These include positions in the private sector, consulting, government regulation, and communication. In these careers you will work with people from various backgrounds and learn how to effectively communicate your research.
This blog post discusses the merits of leaving the biology lab for a career outside of traditional academia. It is essential that you know how to speak in front of a crowd so that you can find success in your professional life as well as preserve your self-esteem.
You may have heard about scientific jobs outside traditional academia but haven't found anything that fits your qualifications yet or want to pursue alternative career paths such as those mentioned above. In fact, there are many jobs available in biology that require science-specific skills, but not necessarily a PhD.
Getting a job in academia is easier than finding employment outside of academia. You will find that it is far more difficult to get a job at a research institution or non-profit or even big company rather than applying for those smaller companies. Therefore, you will likely have to change jobs often and quickly switch your career focus to maximize your chances of success. This means that you will need to learn how to communicate effectively in an interview setting which means giving more specific examples of what you can do as well as demonstrate ongoing interest in the job and the potential for advancement.
If you want to pursue a job outside of traditional academia, you will need to understand more about different career paths and skills that are necessary for a successful career in biology.
Biological Career Paths
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I love the idea of being a science writer. If you enjoy writing research papers and communicating with researchers, then becoming a science writer is an exciting career path. You will spend your days reading research papers, summarizing the findings, and writing (hopefully well-written) articles about scientific research in the news. If you are interested in getting this job, then you should be an excellent communicator because there is a lot of science writing involved. You will need to know how to write well and are likely to have excellent communication skills.
Although it's not as glamorous, being a science writer is a good option if you don't have many research papers to your name already or have a background in research. You will need to spend time studying the literature that has been published over the past few years and familiarizing yourself with the language of science.
Being a science writer is challenging, but rewarding. Your first step towards this career path is probably writing a thesis which earns you your PhD. Your next step would be to communicate with scientists and the public about the great things that you have discovered in your research.
Biology and Business
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There are many opportunities for biologists to pursue an MBA and apply their scientific knowledge to business situations through jobs in management consulting or by starting a new business.
Managing a business requires a blend of creativity, communication skills, and scientific knowledge. If you have all three of these abilities in abundance, then this is an ideal career path for you. The skills gained through your PhD will be highly valued in the business world because there is no substitute for scientific expertise.
The first step towards getting this job would be to get a PhD or MS in biology. Then you can apply your biological expertise to the business world by completing an MBA or taking on some other educational opportunity that will help you get into the management consulting industry. Businesses are always looking for experts who can help them make crucial decisions about their future and therefore there are many opportunities available for those with the right skill sets.
Biotechnology
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Working at a biotech company is a career option that allows you to use your scientific knowledge in an entrepreneurial setting. You will be involved with various scientific projects such as new drug discovery, forensics, or agricultural research. You will apply your education to these projects and help them move forward towards commercialization.
Although this is not a direct biological job, it is important that you have a background in science because you will be heavily involved in research projects and publishing scientific papers. This career path is a popular option because the salaries are high.
It's incumbent upon those who want to work in the biotech industry to get their PhD or MS degree in biology. Then you can pursue either your MBA or prepare for another opportunity through a master's program or PhD program. The best way to start your career would be by accepting an entry level position with a company that is looking for biologists with startup skills such as project management and business development.
Non-Traditional Job Market
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There are many exciting options for those who don't want to apply for a traditional academic job. The options for finding a job in biology outside of academia that have been discussed here are only the most popular careers available. There are also many less well known opportunities available to those who pursue these occupations.
These are some of the more obscure biology careers that do not require a PhD or previous research experience. They also require less education than most of the careers outlined above. This is a list of options for those who want to pursue a career in biology, but are interested in trying something different.
Environmental Consulting Environmental consulting is an option for those who like biology, but don't want to work in the lab all day. Working with environmental consultants means that you will be hired by businesses or organizations and will advise them on how to improve their environmental sustainability practices. This might mean helping a business find ways to decrease their carbon footprint or it might mean helping an organization create a green infrastructure plan.
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