Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists

What the job really is

Conduct research dealing with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health. Engage in clinical investigation, research and development, or other related activities.

At a glance

• Sector: Life, Physical & Social Science
• O*NET-SOC code: 19-1042
• O*NET job zone: 5 — extensive preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Follow strict safety procedures when handling toxic materials to avoid contamination.
• Evaluate effects of drugs, gases, pesticides, parasites, and microorganisms at various levels.
• Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease.
• Prepare and analyze organ, tissue, and cell samples to identify toxicity, bacteria, or microorganisms or to study cell structure.
• Conduct research to develop methodologies, instrumentation, and procedures for medical application, analyzing data and presenting findings to the scientific audience and general public.
• Teach principles of medicine and medical and laboratory procedures to physicians, residents, students, and technicians.
• Write and publish articles in scientific journals.
• Write applications for research grants.
• Standardize drug dosages, methods of immunization, and procedures for manufacture of drugs and medicinal compounds.
• Study animal and human health and physiological processes.
• Investigate cause, progress, life cycle, or mode of transmission of diseases or parasites.
• Use equipment such as atomic absorption spectrometers, electron microscopes, flow cytometers, or chromatography systems.

Tools and technology

Adobe Photoshop, ESRI ArcGIS software, IBM SPSS Statistics, Linux, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Visual Basic, Microsoft Word, Python, R

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Geneticists
• Biochemists and Biophysicists
• Physicians, Pathologists
• Microbiologists
• Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists
• Epidemiologists
• Molecular and Cellular Biologists
• Cytogenetic Technologists

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 5 (extensive preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.