A scientific career is definitely not for everyone. Mainly meaning a career of scientific research, this type of occupation is not even for any science college graduate. You have to really be passionate about the domain of your choice in order to be able to successfully follow a science career with all its ups and downs. Scientific jobs are financially attractive. Research in developed countries is very well-paid and encouraged. But the financial prospects are not the decisive factor for those who choose a scientific career. The motives that determine scientists to really evolve in their work have to do with keen intellectual curiosity and fierce decisiveness in solving a science problem and getting a valid result.
Scientific careers are as varied as the sciences themselves. Any scientific college study can be prolonged in superior educational programs, such as doctoral and postdoctoral. An extensive academic background is a must when beginning any scientific career and it can develop, in most of the cases, into science teaching careers (lecturer, professor, senior management function) at the graduated university or at any other. This strong academic background should be, and usually is, a personal decision that has little or nothing to do with the process of choosing a job. It usually comes natural to people who are talented in their area of expertise.
Types of Scientific Careers
After this natural decision of following a scientific career occurs, there are a few courses of action possible. You could become a university scientific researcher or a government scientific researcher, a contract researcher in industrial science or a scientific entrepreneur. Other domains that make a scientific career possible is that of consultancy technology transfer and related work directions, such as forensic science or patent law, domains which provide the possibility of applying scientific knowledge in important practical domains.
The university scientific research is conducted by PhD graduates who become lecturers, professors or occupy management positions. While communicating their knowledge and acquisitions to following generations, scientific researchers have the possibility to continue their own academic work. These positions are very secure, since academic professions are long-term professions. It is not the same case with contract scientific researchers, who are usually employed on short-term contracts and commissioned projects that depend on the research schedule and income and that are working under more pressure in trying to satisfy the contractors' expectations.
Governmental and industrial science researchers have to deal with this kind of working conditions. The payment is very good in these scientific research projects, but there is a time limit involved. But a real scientific researcher should feel in his element when working on special research projects. This is the domain that comes up with all the great scientific discoveries that can improve our lives and enlarge our knowledge.
Industrial scientists are also able to make a strong difference for the world, since they are employees of pharmaceutical companies in general, in the private sector, and they have to study and develop new drugs and treatments, more efficient and reliable. This type of career offers the opportunity to go into general management.
Scientific Jobs Related Pages