Biomedical Science and who is suitable to pursue it?
Careers in this field are often either research-oriented or lab-focused. Three common career options in the biomedical sciences that include both research and lab work are clinical laboratory technologist and technician, biomedical scientist and epidemiologist.
Biomedical scientists usually work in the laboratory. They handle biological samples (blood, urine, cells and tissues) and use a wide range of laboratory equipment ranging from test tubes, beakers and pipettes to computers and hi-tech equipment's.
Some of the common job roles and responsibilities of a biomedical scientist are:
Testing and screening for lifestyle diseases like diabetes, cancer or cardiovascular disease; and screening for infectious ones such as rubella, hepatitis or Ebola
Investigating and understanding the disease mechanisms, profile and progression
Finding new, effective and innovative ways to detect diseases as early as possible (e.g. discovery of new biomarkers or a new method of detecting a biomarker)
Working towards discovery and development of treatments, which could be preventive (vaccines) and/or therapeutic (drugs and medicines)
After studying biomedical sciences (or engineering), one can be employed in various job roles within scientific research and development, bioinstrumentation, medical imaging, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, drug design and delivery, medical equipment manufacturing and supplies, hospital and healthcare.
Jobs that are direct related:
Analytical chemist
Biomedical scientist
Biotechnologist
Clinical scientist, biochemistry
Clinical scientist, genomics
Clinical scientist, haematology
Clinical scientist, immunology
Forensic scientist
Medicinal chemist
Microbiologist
Physician associate
Research scientist (medical)
Toxicologist
What skills does a biomedical scientist need?
Research - Conducting research is vital to making scientific breakthroughs and understanding human disease.
Practical - Biomedical scientists work in laboratories where work is varied and practical.
Analytical - Reviewing test results requires attention to detail and the ability to analyse results, patterns and unexpected outcomes.
Technical - Using and maintaining high-tech machines, microscopes and specialist laboratory equipment requires a technical mind-set.
Numeracy - Research work involves analysing statistics and data, so a mathematical background is beneficial.
Organisation - It is essential to ensure a methodical approach to testing and to prioritise workload based on urgency.
Communication - Biomedical science involves working with patient samples, so the ability to communicate with other professionals such as doctors and clinicians is vital.
Teamwork - Do you enjoy working together in a team where you help each other out? Do you like listening to people’s ideas and be amazed at how you never thought of that before? Well, a Biomedical Scientist should always be part of a medical team whether you’re in a hospital or a lab. Having to work with people is inevitable in life but if you enjoy it, then you already have one of the skills to study Biomedical Science.
To view tertiary programs related to this article, click here to go to the list of recommendation. If you are not sure which path you want to pursue for your tertiary education, you should find this psychometric test here to be helpful in providing some aptitude breakdown and course suggestions upon completion of the test. Feel free to proceed to the test, it's free after all.