Clinical scientist jobs are based in laboratories and focus on research and development
There are many support workers in the healthcare profession, a very important support role is performed by the clinical scientist. Their main function is to conduct tests and investigations into biochemical causes of diseases like Tuberculosis and Malaria, and to identify treatments for them and to improve the well being of patients under their care.
Job description
Most clinical scientist jobs focus on research and development into the causes and then potential treatments of a wide range diseases. Your patients will people from every day life who are suffering from illness or health problems like liver complaints etc. One of your main tasks in clinical research will be to test a patient’s blood and urine samples, then evaluate the results, write a report out and forward that to the doctor looking after the patient. As attention to detail is very important this can be a long process and can take many months. Using your results and conclusion the doctor or nursing staff looking after the patient will then prescribe a course of medicine and drugs for them. The results you produce are very important as they can show whether a patient has a genetic defect that may make them more prone to certain diseases or that their bodies are likely to reject certain treatments.
Most of the work you conduct will be in a clinical laboratory environment, in partnership with biochemists. You may have to write study synopsis and help produce protocols, and ooccasionally you will be asked to attend conferences.
You will also have to do the necessary administration work, like updating patient’s records etc. A clinical scientist NHS typically will work Monday to Friday 9am till 5pm.
As a research scientist you will work as part of team, in partnership with other healthcare professionals like consultants and nurses.
Although many public sector employers advertise clinical scientist jobs, you can also find jobs vacancies in the commercial and private sector as well, for instance in large pharmaceutical companies who have their own research teams dedicated to developing new drugs.
Qualifications and training
You must complete a degree in a subject in the specialist field you want to enter, these could be microbiology, physics, chemistry etc.
If you are looking for employment as a career scientist then it would help considerably if you had a scientific background, for instance expertise in instrumentation methodology. Any research environment requires an inquisitive mind to help you think out of the box and solve problems.
Scientist salary
Depending on where you start your career a clinical scientist trainee can expect to earn a starting salary between at £14,700 to £19,900, rising afterwards to £37,500.
Further information:
Association of Clinical Scientists
c/o ACB
130-132 Tooley Street
London
SE1 2TU
Website: www.assclinsci.org
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