What Do Geneticists Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Geneticists research and study the inheritance of traits at the molecular, organism or population level. May evaluate or treat patients with genetic disorders. They also review, approve, or interpret genetic laboratory results.

Other tasks include:

• Evaluate, diagnose, or treat genetic diseases.
• Maintain laboratory notebooks that record research methods, procedures, and results.
• Write grants and papers or attend fundraising events to seek research funds.
• Attend clinical and research conferences and read scientific literature to keep abreast of technological advances and current genetic research findings.
• Supervise or direct the work of other geneticists, biologists, technicians, or biometricians working on genetics research projects.
• Collaborate with biologists and other professionals to conduct appropriate genetic and biochemical analyses.

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

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69% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 65% 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, Geneticists supervise or direct the work of other geneticists, biologists, technicians, or biometricians working on genetics research projects. They review, approve, or interpret genetic laboratory results.

A typical day for a Geneticist will also include:

• Maintain laboratory notebooks that record research methods, procedures, and results.
• Evaluate, diagnose, or treat genetic diseases.
• Search scientific literature to select and modify methods and procedures most appropriate for genetic research goals.
• Attend clinical and research conferences and read scientific literature to keep abreast of technological advances and current genetic research findings.
• Instruct medical students, graduate students, or others in methods or procedures for diagnosis and management of genetic disorders.

We asked some Geneticists 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?	44% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	36% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	89% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	6% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	3% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	19% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Geneticists also collaborate with biologists and other professionals to conduct appropriate genetic and biochemical analyses. They may also verify that cytogenetic, molecular genetic, and related equipment and instrumentation is maintained in working condition to ensure accuracy and quality of experimental results.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Geneticists Confer with information technology specialists to develop computer applications for genetic data analysis. They might also Search scientific literature to select and modify methods and procedures most appropriate for genetic research goals.

In addition, they Evaluate genetic data by performing appropriate mathematical or statistical calculations and analyses.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Write grants and papers or attend fundraising events to seek research funds.

To some Geneticists, it is also their responsibility to Create or use statistical models for the analysis of genetic data.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Geneticist, 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/healthcare/genetic-counselors.htm

http://www.abgc.net/ABGC/AmericanBoardofGeneticCounselors.asp

http://www.nsgc.org/

http://www.gceducation.org/Pages/default.aspx