Many clinical research jobs today are focused on the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. When a study such as the MIT one is carried out, the results may influence clinical research at a pharmaceutical company, which responds by developing new drugs to better address diseases such as cancer and inflammatory disease.
Types of Clinical Research Jobs
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many clinical research jobs in pharmaceutical manufacturing require a Ph.D. However, there are other clinical research-related jobs that require less training. Clinical technologists, for example, generally have a bachelor's degree in science. They carry out tests in labs, often to determine the health status of patients. They may also be involved in research, conducting tests based on samples provided by patients participating in a clinical trial study.Careers in Public Health
In addition to clinical research, there are a variety of careers in public health you can pursue with a health science or related degree. For example, with a degree in public health, you may work for a health-related think tank or nonprofit organization, working as an epidemiologist. You might also write reports aimed at raising awareness of a specific health issue, such as how venereal diseases spread and what sexually-active people can do to protect themselves against them.With a career in public health policy, you would take new discoveries made by clinical scientists, such as those at the MIT cancer center, and use them to support or advocate for various health policies. You might work for a government agency, such as the National Institutes of Health, working to adopt new policies that support such research and benefit the good of society.
Getting a bachelor's degree in a heath-related field, whether health science or biology, can lead to a variety of career paths. To learn more about them, visit the U.S. Department of Labor's web site and professional organization's like the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science and start learning more about health careers today.
Sources
MIT News Office
The Bureau of Labor Statistics
