What Do Medical Scientists Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Medical Scientists 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. Includes physicians, dentists, public health specialists, pharmacologists, and medical pathologists who primarily conduct research. They also plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease.

Other tasks include:

• Conduct research to develop methodologies, instrumentation, and procedures for medical application, analyzing data and presenting findings to the scientific audience and general public.
• Study animal and human health and physiological processes.
• Follow strict safety procedures when handling toxic materials to avoid contamination.
• Write and publish articles in scientific journals.
• Use equipment such as atomic absorption spectrometers, electron microscopes, flow cytometers, or chromatography systems.
• Prepare and analyze organ, tissue, and cell samples to identify toxicity, bacteria, or microorganisms or to study cell structure.

We asked Medical Scientists how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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73% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 83% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Medical Scientists prepare and analyze organ, tissue, and cell samples to identify toxicity, bacteria, or microorganisms or to study cell structure. They conduct research to develop methodologies, instrumentation, and procedures for medical application, analyzing data and presenting findings to the scientific audience and general public.

A typical day for a Medical Scientist will also include:

• Study animal and human health and physiological processes.
• Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease.
• Investigate cause, progress, life cycle, or mode of transmission of diseases or parasites.
• Standardize drug dosages, methods of immunization, and procedures for manufacture of drugs and medicinal compounds.
• Follow strict safety procedures when handling toxic materials to avoid contamination.

We asked some Medical Scientists a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	77% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	76% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	78% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	15% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	0% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	26% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Medical Scientists also use equipment such as atomic absorption spectrometers, electron microscopes, flow cytometers, or chromatography systems. They may also write and publish articles in scientific journals.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Medical Scientists Evaluate effects of drugs, gases, pesticides, parasites, and microorganisms at various levels. They might also Confer with health departments, industry personnel, physicians, and others to develop health safety standards and public health improvement programs.

In addition, they Standardize drug dosages, methods of immunization, and procedures for manufacture of drugs and medicinal compounds.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Consult with and advise physicians, educators, researchers, and others regarding medical applications of physics, biology, and chemistry.

To some Medical Scientists, it is also their responsibility to Investigate cause, progress, life cycle, or mode of transmission of diseases or parasites.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Medical Scientist, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/life-physical-and-social-science/medical-scientists.htm

http://www.aaps.org/

http://www.asm.org/

http://www.idsociety.org/