A wide range of roles are available in industry, research centres, university departments and government. Introduction Scientific research and development involve the creation of products, processes and commercial applications using cutting-edge, multidisciplinary approaches. A wide range of roles are available in industry, research centres, university departments and government. Industries include aerospace, defence, pharmaceuticals, fast moving consumer goods and technology. What's it like working in this sector? These sector guides, produced by leading careers information providers, include overviews of the sector: Prospects - Science and pharmaceuticals targetjobs - Science and research Consider whether you are interested in academic research or industry as the application process and entry requirements will differ. Use these Prospects profiles of common roles within this sector to see what each role involves, what salary to expect, work experience suggestions and typical employers: Analytical chemist Astronomer Colour technologist Food technologist Medicinal chemist Meteorologist Microbiologist Product/process development scientist Research scientist (life sciences) Research scientist (physical sciences) Platform One can be a useful source of contacts, advice and opinion; joining is straightforward and you can view a series of handy “how to” video guides which cover topics such as how to create a profile, sign in, search for someone and send a message: Platform One Building experience and getting started Any type of work experience can be valuable and will help you to develop skills, which are transferable to other workplaces and career areas. Summer research projects (or internships), based in university or research institute laboratories, provide valuable insights and experience for students who are considering a research-based career and study for a PhD. Information on how to find internships/work experience can be found in our work experience guides on Careers Service Plus: Work experience for Biological and Biomedical Sciences students (University of Edinburgh login required) Work experience for Chemistry students (University of Edinburgh login required) Work experience for Physics and Astronomy students (University of Edinburgh login required) Professional bodies These are a great way to gain access to: Specific career insights and information Networking and building connections to a professional/academic community Vacancy listings - another source to look for opportunities Activities such as webinars, events and conferences Much information is free, but student membership can provide additional benefits. Here are some examples: Royal Society of Biology Royal Society of Chemistry Institute of Physics - includes links to community special interest groups, useful for networking Institute of Physics Where can I find job vacancies? Access MyCareerHub and search for opportunities: MyCareerHub opportunities Gradcracker - Employers by sector targetjobs - Graduate jobs in science, R&D, food industry jobs.ac.uk – an international jobs board for careers in academic, research, science and related professions: jobs.ac.uk Nature Careers – the job site from the research journal, Nature: Nature Careers Physics World, part of the Institute of Physics, provides research updates, career profiles in different sectors where physicists work, news developments and a dedicated jobs section: Physics World Also, you can check individual university vacancy webpages and research institutions for opportunities. This article was published on 2024-04-02
