Hot Jobs in Science

A new wave of discoveries is sweeping the field of science. Check out career options in a field where breakthroughs are becoming the norm.

Forget the white lab coats and bubbling test tubes. Today's scientist is more likely to be working at the computer or out in the field, gathering samples for chemical analysis. Today, robot surgeons assist doctors in performing heart surgery. Farmers fight pests with bugs instead of pesticides. And medical researchers transplant tissue from one part of a patient's body to another to fight conditions such as heart failure.

Science fiction? Not anymore. It's all science fact, brought to you by a hot new generation of scientists who are doing traditional science in some decidedly nontraditional ways. Scientists have always been. curious about how the world works, open to new ideas, and very patient. They work in a field that's boiling over with possibilities, as the following hot careers demonstrate.

Hydrogeologists: working with Soil and Water

Kathy Lippert's work is all about protecting the environment from pollution. She's a hydrogeotogist, an earth scientist who specializes in the movement and quality of underground and surface water. Lippert owns a firm that informs clients of soil and groundwater contamination and devises plans to remove it.

On an average day, she can be found hard at work on several projects. These might include taking and analyzing soil and water samples from old gas stations or manufacturing plants, writing pollution-prevention plans, and meeting with clients to discuss the results of her research.

Soil Microbiologists: Cleaning up the Soil

If an oil spill or other environmental disaster contaminates a large area of land, soil microbiologists may be called in to decontaminate the soil.

Duane Wolf, a soil microbiologist, experiments to see what grasses work best to decontaminate soil polluted with crude oil. It's the microbes (organisms of microscopic size) on the roots that break down the contamination, which leaves the grass above ground safe for animals to eat. Wolf works with a soil chemist and a chemical engineer to design mathematical models of the plant growth. Soil microbiologists also analyze data from experimental sites.

Clinical Investigators: Testing New Drugs

Most clinical investigators have either an M.D., a Ph.D., or both. Clinical investigator

Barry Davis combines an M.D. with a Ph.D. to investigate whether new drugs and treatments are effective. Davis designs a detailed plan for how the test of each drug and treatment will work, and then implements it with his staff. Clinical research associates conduct the experiments and record the results. Biometricians, or biostatisticians, analyze the results of the clinical trials and write a report to communicate those results. This trial testing is required by the Food and Drug Administration for every new drug before it can be sold to consumers.

Biotech Entrepreneurs

Biotechnologists use biology to create new products or solve problems in the real world. The field of biotechnology includes many different occupations for people of all degree levels. For instance, biotechnologists may develop new drugs for the medical industry. Dr. Leonard Bell is a medical researcher who has been working to develop a drug for the past eight years.

After medical school, Dr. Bell studied the movement of cells in the blood vessels. He made a clinical discovery that he thought could be made into a commercial drug to treat autoimmune diseases. These diseases result when the body's immune system attacks the body's own tissue or cells. The drug might also improve the success rates of transplantation surgery.

In transplantation surgery, doctors transplant tissue or an organ from one person's body to another. There is a danger that the person's immune system will reject the new organ. Dr. Bell's company has been working to develop a new antirejection drug. Most of his time is spent raising the $100 million it takes to keep the lab and its 40 research scientists operating.

These hot careers in the sciences combine basic sciences--chemistry, biology, physics, and earth sciences--with other fields and new technology. The computer has revolutionized these careers.

Chemists

All matter is made up of chemicals. It is the job of chemists to identify chemicals and study how they combine. Organic chemists specialize in the carbon molecules present in living things. Physical chemists study how reactions occur at the atomic and molecular levels. Biochemists study the chemistry of living things and their reactions with their environment. Geochemists study the chemistry of the earth.

Biologists

Biologists study living organisms. Specialists such as zoologists study animals, while microbiologists study tiny organisms such as bacteria, algae, and fungi. For years, biologists have studied plant and animal breeding to improve crop yields and animal health. Advances in technology and research like the Human Genome Project (see Special Feature on pages 24-27) have made it possible to understand living things at the genetic and molecular level. Researchers are currently applying these advances to come up with new ways of treating disease and other health problems.

Physicists

Physicists do basic research to better understand matter and energy. Physicists also apply the results of their research to create new products, processes, and devices. Physicists have designed equipment such as lasers and microwaves for use in their research; sometimes these can be put to practical use, as in microwave ovens and laser surgery. An increasing number of physicists work in areas that are a combination of basic sciences, such as geophysics, chemical physics, and biophysics.

Geoscientists

That's the broad name for scientist who study the earth. For example, petroleum geologists develop new ways for exploration and production of oil and natural gas; seismologists study earthquakes; climate modelers develop methematical models to simulate physical forces on climate change; astronomers use optical and radio astronomy to study the movements of plants and stars; and physical oceanographers study dynamics of the oceans and their interactions with the earth.

Future Trends

Predicting the employment outlook for scientists can be tricky. Many things--such as major shifts in government policy and in the strength of the U.S. economy--affect demand for scientists.

Societal trends also influence the demand. As the population ages, pharmaceutical firms race to produce drugs to slow the aging process or improve quality of life. A growing population puts pressure on agriculture to increase output, but at the same time to preserve soil, water, and ecosystems. Informed consumers worry about health and food safety, encouraging the development of "benign," or safe, chemicals.

Right now the three major employers for scientists are government, colleges and universities, and industry. The Occupational Outlook Handbook identifies government agencies that employ the most scientists.

Scientists in colleges and universities teach their students to become scientists, but they also conduct basic research. Much of the money to fund the research comes from government and policy agencies, so a big part of a professor's job is to write grant applications describing the research project and asking for money. Because every state has a college where agriculture is studied and taught, many agricultural scientists work for these institutions or at their research stations.

Scientific research and development also occur in industry. Here, the focus is on practical uses of science to develop new products or to make manufacturing processes more efficient. Almost 50 percent of all chemists work in chemical manufacturing--a broad field that can include the production of plastics, soaps, drugs, and paint. Some work for research and testing services to perform drug trials or environmental testing. Physicists often find work in testing services as well. Geoscientists have traditionally worked in petroleum and mining industries. Biotechnology and drug companies attract scientists from all fields.

Keys to Success

What does it take to have a successful career in science? Entry-level jobs require a bachelor's degree in the particular field. You may need coursework in math, statistics, computers, and business An entry-level chemist or biologist might work in quality control or analytical testing. To get a research job, you need a bachelor's or master's degree. To teach at the university level you will most likely need a Ph.D. And some people in biotech may combine a Ph.D. with an M.D.

As technology continues to change, scientists will continue to make exciting discoveries. Who knows? Maybe you'll be instrumental in making the science fiction of today become tomorrow's science fact!

                            Hot Jobs in Science
Jobs and Responsibilities          Minimum Education Average Salary [*]
Organic Chemists                   Bachelor's degree B.S.: $53,100
study the chemistry of the carbon  in chemistry      Ph.D.:$79,000
compounds present in living things
Animal Scientists                  Bachelor of       $37,000
improve meat, poultry, and dairy   Science degree
production
Soil Scientists                    Doctorate         $53,600
research the science of soil as it
relates to crop growth and land
management
Entomologists                      Doctorate         $65,600
control and eliminate pest/insect-
brone diseases
Hydrogeologists                    Bachelor's degree $58,900
study the movement and quality     in geology
of underground and surface water
Microbiologists                    Master's degree   $53,000
study life forms at the cell or
molecular level
Physicists                         Bachelor of       $42,000
study basic principles governing   Science degree
matter and energy
Sources: American Chemical Society, National Association of
Colleges and Employers, Research and Development Magazine,
National Science Foundation, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
(*.)Salaries are approximate and may vary depending on level
of experience and place of employment.

Would You Make a Good Scientist?

Answering these questions will help you decide if a career in science is right for you. In the blanks provided, write a Y for yes or N for no.

1. Do you enjoy coming up with creative ideas?

2. Do you remain determined, even after experiencing failure?

3. Are you curious about the world around you?

4. Do you enjoy solving problems?

5. Do you work well under stress?

6. Are you detail oriented?

7. Do you have the ability to work and think clearly and systematically?

8. Do you work well as part of a team?

9. Are you patient with work that proceeds slowly?

10. Do you have an aptitude for math and science? If you answered yes to most of these questions, a career in science might be a good match for you.

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