A career as a research scientist can be a fulfilling career path for someone who is naturally inquisitive and enjoys research. This career path will give you the chance to have a high-income potential and the opportunity to carry out research in several different fields.
A career as a research scientist will enable you to work in many different fields, develop products and make discoveries that will enhance the lives of people around the world. Research scientists are highly educated individuals who research to understand more about the world, develop products or strategies or provide relevant data to huge organisations.
Researchers can work in practically any field of research, including biology and medicine, as well as computers, political science, environmental science astronomy and physics. Research scientists research the natural world. Their work helps advance medicine, biology and technology.
Learning about the processes required to become a research scientist might help you decide if this is an appropriate career choice for you. I will discuss the details of this career and how to pursue a career as a research scientist.
How to Start a Career as a Research Scientist
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Complete your Secondary Education
You must obtain an O’level certificate as this is a major requirement for pursuing your career. Additionally, you need to have a minimum of credits in science-related subjects.
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Choose a Subject to Major On
The first step in becoming a researcher is determining what you are interested in and what you want to study. You need to think and decide the career path you will like to venture into. This will determine which course you will study to get a bachelor’s degree.
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Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree
You should apply to pursue a bachelor’s degree that is relevant to the field that you are most interested in. However, if you are not sure about what you want to study, you can consider getting a degree in general clinical research, statistics or data analysis. Additionally, if you wish to work on scientific research, you can study biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, mathematics or a related field.
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Gain Practical Experience
While you are obtaining your degree, you apply for entry-level positions to get some hands-on experience. Additionally, you can apply for an internship position or a research assistant position. This will allow you to learn from seasoned researchers while also expanding your career network.
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Develop your Skills
You must work on enhancing your skills as you learn more about your field and get experience. You will need to develop skills such as critical thinking, attention to detail, and written and oral communication skills. These skills will enable you to collaborate with other researchers and generate concise summaries of your findings.
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Pursue a Master’s Degree
After obtaining your bachelor’s degree, you should begin working towards a master’s degree. A master’s program can last for a year to three years depending on the degree you are pursuing.
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Obtain a Doctorate Degree
If you want to be a senior research scientist, you should consider getting a doctorate after completing your master’s program. Doctoral programs normally last between four to five years.
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Pursue Certifications
This is not a major requirement for research scientists. However, obtaining research certifications can help you stand out from other candidates.
Skills Research Scientists Should Have
- Communication
- Data Analysis
- Critical Thinking
- Interpersonal skills
- Patience
- Strong Attention to Detail
- Project management
Areas of Specialisation for Research Scientists
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Astronomers
Astronomers focus on studying stars, galaxies and planets. Specialists in astronomy can specialise in fields such as solar astronomy, planetary science, or physical cosmology. Furthermore, this field involves working closely with other scientists to study planetary movements. Most astronomers hold a doctorate in physics or astronomy.
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Botanist
A botanist is a scientist who focuses on the study of plants. They analyse plant structures, their development and their uses. Botanists typically have a degree in botany or biology.
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Geologist
The major responsibility of a geologist is to research the different components of the earth, including its solid, liquid and gaseous states. Additionally, they research the background and evolution of the planet.
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Biologist
Biologists are particularly concerned with examining and demonstrating the functioning of diverse forms of living matter as well as their interactions with living organisms. Biologists can be in subcategories such as marine biologists, geneticists, toxicologists and ecologists.
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Product Development Scientist
Product development scientists work in many different industries such as biotechnology, the food industry and pharmaceutical science. They develop new products as well enhancing the efficiency of current products.
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Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who focuses on the study of matter and energy and various aspects of physics. Physicists can specialise in different fields such as atomic physicists, engineering physicists, quantum physicists and particle physicists.
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Political Scientist
They investigate the history, development and procedures of political systems. They might study and analyse governments, political ideas trends and policies.
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Computer Scientist
Computer scientists are mainly focused on creating and testing models that show different aspects of computer-based aspects.
Where to Work as a Research Scientist
- Research scientists carry out studies for academic institutions, nuclear power plants, technology companies, or laboratories.
- Medical research scientists can be hired by governmental agencies, private hospitals, or non-profit organisations.
- A research scientist working at a university might split their time between an office, a laboratory, and a lecture hall.
Pursuing a career as a research scientist requires patience and consistency as you might spend more years in making research and writing papers while growing your career. You will be required to carry out your experiments and research on your own. You should brace up and develop the skills required as they will be beneficial to your career success.
Good luck!