National
| Median wages (2008) |
$34.90 hourly, $72,590 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
87,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Faster than average (14% to 20%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
45,000 additional employees |
19-1042.00 - Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
Conduct research dealing with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health. Engage in clinical investigation or other research, production, technical writing, or related activities.
Sample of reported job titles:
Scientist, Investigator, Laboratory Director, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Research Associate, Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Clinical Pharmacologist, Clinical Research Director, Clinical Research Scientist, Medical Affairs Director
Tasks
- Conduct research to develop methodologies, instrumentation and procedures for medical application, analyzing data and presenting findings.
- Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease.
- Follow strict safety procedures when handling toxic materials to avoid contamination.
- Evaluate effects of drugs, gases, pesticides, parasites, and microorganisms at various levels.
- Teach principles of medicine and medical and laboratory procedures to physicians, residents, students, and technicians.
- Prepare and analyze organ, tissue, and cell samples to identify toxicity, bacteria, or microorganisms or to study cell structure.
- Standardize drug dosages, methods of immunization, and procedures for manufacture of drugs and medicinal compounds.
- Investigate cause, progress, life cycle, or mode of transmission of diseases or parasites.
- Confer with health departments, industry personnel, physicians, and others to develop health safety standards and public health improvement programs.
- Study animal and human health and physiological processes.
back to top
Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Benchtop centrifuges — Automated centrifuges; Centrifuges; High-speed centrifuges; Tabletop centrifuges |
| Laboratory flasks — Erlenmeyer flasks; Flasks; Volumetric flasks |
| Manual or electronic hematology differential cell counters — Coulter counters; Differential counters |
| Refrigerated benchtop centrifuges — Refrigerated centrifuges; Refrigerated swinging bucket centrifuges |
| Spectrophotometers — Atomic absorption AA spectrophotometers; Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometers; Recording spectrophotometers; Ultraviolet-Visible UV/VIS spectrophotometers |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Analytical or scientific software — BioArray Software Environment BASE software; The Mathworks MATLAB; Waters MassLynx; Waters Q-DIS/QM LIMS |
| Data base user interface and query software — Database software; Waters eLab Notebook; Waters Empower 2 |
| Graphics or photo imaging software — Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop software |
| Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel |
| Word processing software — Microsoft Word |
