12 answers
Sophia
Student
Fort Mill, South Carolina
1
Question
Asked
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What job would you reccommend for lab work and research other than chemistry and microbiology?
For example, working with cells, tissue, etc. As well as working with microscopes, possible genetic engineering, bacteria.
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12 answers
Aimee Kneip
Work in a hospital laboratory, teach at a college
24
Answers
Saint Cloud, Minnesota
Updated
Aimee’s Answer
I work at a medical laboratory scientist and I work with microscopes almost every day. Tissues and cells are a bit more into histotechnician or cytologist. All of these are between 1-4 year degrees. And most are not necessarily research but working in a hospital helping diagnose diseases.
I think biology labs in graduate school programs might be more what you are looking for and I'm not sure how you'd get in there without being a lowly or no paid grad student or a slightly better paid ph.d.
I think biology labs in graduate school programs might be more what you are looking for and I'm not sure how you'd get in there without being a lowly or no paid grad student or a slightly better paid ph.d.
Bhavna Sheth
107
Answers
Collinsville, Virginia
Updated
Bhavna’s Answer
Hello Sophia,
Biomedical Engineering is a field of lab work and research that involves working with cells, tissue, and microscopes. It is also a field that incorporates genetic engineering and biological technology. Additionally, fields such as biomedical informatics, genetics, and proteomics offer opportunities to work with these types of activities as well.
I hope this helps. Good luck.
Biomedical Engineering is a field of lab work and research that involves working with cells, tissue, and microscopes. It is also a field that incorporates genetic engineering and biological technology. Additionally, fields such as biomedical informatics, genetics, and proteomics offer opportunities to work with these types of activities as well.
I hope this helps. Good luck.
Rodney Gedey
Pharmacist
3
Answers
Sacramento, California
Updated
Rodney’s Answer
You can work in a lab that tries to discover new drugs for different diseases. Here are some examples:
https://drugdiscovery.neurology.ucla.edu/
Developing a new drug from original idea to the launch of a finished product is a complex process which can take 12–15 years and cost in excess of $1 billion. The idea for a target can come from a variety of sources including academic and clinical research and from the commercial sector. It may take many years to build up a body of supporting evidence before selecting a target for a costly drug discovery programme. Once a target has been chosen, the pharmaceutical industry and more recently some academic centres have streamlined a number of early processes to identify molecules which possess suitable characteristics to make acceptable drugs. This review will look at key preclinical stages of the drug discovery process, from initial target identification and validation, through assay development, high throughput screening, hit identification, lead optimization and finally the selection of a candidate molecule for clinical development.
Reference: Hughes JP, Rees S, Kalindjian SB, Philpott KL. Principles of early drug discovery. Br J Pharmacol. 2011 Mar;162(6):1239-49. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.01127.x. PMID: 21091654; PMCID: PMC3058157.
https://drugdiscovery.neurology.ucla.edu/
Developing a new drug from original idea to the launch of a finished product is a complex process which can take 12–15 years and cost in excess of $1 billion. The idea for a target can come from a variety of sources including academic and clinical research and from the commercial sector. It may take many years to build up a body of supporting evidence before selecting a target for a costly drug discovery programme. Once a target has been chosen, the pharmaceutical industry and more recently some academic centres have streamlined a number of early processes to identify molecules which possess suitable characteristics to make acceptable drugs. This review will look at key preclinical stages of the drug discovery process, from initial target identification and validation, through assay development, high throughput screening, hit identification, lead optimization and finally the selection of a candidate molecule for clinical development.
Reference: Hughes JP, Rees S, Kalindjian SB, Philpott KL. Principles of early drug discovery. Br J Pharmacol. 2011 Mar;162(6):1239-49. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.01127.x. PMID: 21091654; PMCID: PMC3058157.
Paul Lau
retired professor/teacher
3
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Paul’s Answer
You already gave some good answers cell culture, tissue culture...not sure what is your background in terms of degrees and academic level.
The route is like this: bachelor in biology can work as a technician in a research lab. You learned all the techniques while you are on the job training.
There are so many techniques you can learn provided you have a good postdoc guiding you in the lab and he/she is willing to teach.
Same for a master degree, then Ph.D. then you have a lot of techniques accumulated. By that time, you will have 4 yrs bachelor, 2 yr master, 5 yr PhD and life long (hope not) postdoc till you land a faculty position, then you can teach one class and spend the rest of the time in the lab and start writing grants and supporting a staff every 3 years/grant. You hope you have at least two grants staggering so you won't lose the funding. Going to a famous lab and university is a must. If you don't make it, you should retake your mcat and become a MD, a money doctor. lol.
The route is like this: bachelor in biology can work as a technician in a research lab. You learned all the techniques while you are on the job training.
There are so many techniques you can learn provided you have a good postdoc guiding you in the lab and he/she is willing to teach.
Same for a master degree, then Ph.D. then you have a lot of techniques accumulated. By that time, you will have 4 yrs bachelor, 2 yr master, 5 yr PhD and life long (hope not) postdoc till you land a faculty position, then you can teach one class and spend the rest of the time in the lab and start writing grants and supporting a staff every 3 years/grant. You hope you have at least two grants staggering so you won't lose the funding. Going to a famous lab and university is a must. If you don't make it, you should retake your mcat and become a MD, a money doctor. lol.
Adegboye Akintayo
Microbiologist/ Clinical Embryologist
6
Answers
Akure, Nigeria
Updated
Adegboye’s Answer
Being a Biotechnologist, and Embryologist just like I am or a Medical lab scientists makes you work in a lab, even as a forensic scientist, you will work in a lab as well.
All you need is just the passion to make yourself happy in any field you find yourself.
All you need is just the passion to make yourself happy in any field you find yourself.
Melisa Cameron
9
Answers
Updated
Melisa’s Answer
Hi Sophia,
Thank you for your question. My daughter works in a lab as a pathologist's assistant and enjoys this career.
For reference:
"A pathologist's assistant is an intensively trained allied health professional who provides anatomic pathology services under the direction and supervision of a pathologist. Pathologists' assistants interact with pathologists in the same manner that physician assistants carry out their duties under the law of physicians in surgical and medical practice. "
My daughter works in a lab, and every day can be different and exciting.
Best wishes in your career and educational goals.
Check out https://www.rosalindfranklin.edu/academics/college-of-health-professions/degree-programs/pathologists-assistant-ms/
Thank you for your question. My daughter works in a lab as a pathologist's assistant and enjoys this career.
For reference:
"A pathologist's assistant is an intensively trained allied health professional who provides anatomic pathology services under the direction and supervision of a pathologist. Pathologists' assistants interact with pathologists in the same manner that physician assistants carry out their duties under the law of physicians in surgical and medical practice. "
My daughter works in a lab, and every day can be different and exciting.
Best wishes in your career and educational goals.
Melisa recommends the following next steps:
LaTausha Myers
Medical Laboratory scientist
30
Answers
Manassas, Virginia
Updated
LaTausha’s Answer
I'm a Medical Laboratory Scientist and do a great deal of hands-on work...phlebotomy and microscopy are expected skills. Cytogentic technologist and Histology technologist are also closely related. These can be 2 yr associates degrees or 4 yr bachelor's degree depending on how you want to advance in your career. We are genrally part of the Pathology department. You could also pursue a medical degree in Pathology.
Medical lab scientist can also choose a reaserch and development track and earn master's and doctorates.
Medical lab scientist can also choose a reaserch and development track and earn master's and doctorates.
David Wu
Research Professional
6
Answers
Palo Alto, California
Updated
David’s Answer
I would recommend working as a lab tech in either academia or industry. Both can have extensive work involving cells, tissue, and microscopy. I would recommend companies or labs focusing on stem cells as it hits all of the topics that you find interesting. Cells are the main focus, yet tissue samples are commonly used to validate.
Stem cells are extremely versatile, and you have the choice between ESCs and iPSCs (induced stem cells). Genetic engineering is a common occurence in these labs. It seems like this is what you might be looking for.
Stem cells are extremely versatile, and you have the choice between ESCs and iPSCs (induced stem cells). Genetic engineering is a common occurence in these labs. It seems like this is what you might be looking for.
Jennifer Lygren-Snyder
Medical Laboratory Scientist
30
Answers
Kansas City, Missouri
Updated
Jennifer’s Answer
Cytology, Histology, Stem Cell or Genetics Lab or even Oncology lab. Research is another option. All depend on your interest and the level of schooling/training you want to commit to the career field.
Bella McClane
Certified Medical Assistant
8
Answers
Jacksonville, Florida
Updated
Bella’s Answer
Hi there,
I can speak to my own experience on this question. I have my Bachelor's degree in Biology with a concentration in Biomedical Science. During my degree, I took courses like anatomy and physiology, microbiology, genetics, biochemistry, and biotechnology, all with labs. From all of these courses I learned how to use a microscope and was able to look at human, animal and bacterial cells and animal tissues under the microscope. In the lab courses, everything was hands on and we were able to work with and do small experiments with these cells.
In my senior year of college, I participated in a year long internship at Mayo Clinic where I worked in a research lab. The lab I worked in experimented with lung cancer cells. This was where I got the bulk of my research experience and it was so amazing! Once I learned their techniques on how to take care of the cells and how to do experiments, I was able to do sooo many experiments by myself and our research actually got published in a research journal. This is one of my favorite experiences in college.
So, if you are considering a path in medical/cellular research, a major in Biology will definitely help you get there. After my bachelors, I know there were some students that stayed to get their Masters degree in biology/research and were able to be apart of research at the university as well, so getting your Masters is always an option too. If you want to go higher and be the principal investigator in research, you will need a Ph.D.
Hope this helped. Blessings to you and all you accomplish!
I can speak to my own experience on this question. I have my Bachelor's degree in Biology with a concentration in Biomedical Science. During my degree, I took courses like anatomy and physiology, microbiology, genetics, biochemistry, and biotechnology, all with labs. From all of these courses I learned how to use a microscope and was able to look at human, animal and bacterial cells and animal tissues under the microscope. In the lab courses, everything was hands on and we were able to work with and do small experiments with these cells.
In my senior year of college, I participated in a year long internship at Mayo Clinic where I worked in a research lab. The lab I worked in experimented with lung cancer cells. This was where I got the bulk of my research experience and it was so amazing! Once I learned their techniques on how to take care of the cells and how to do experiments, I was able to do sooo many experiments by myself and our research actually got published in a research journal. This is one of my favorite experiences in college.
So, if you are considering a path in medical/cellular research, a major in Biology will definitely help you get there. After my bachelors, I know there were some students that stayed to get their Masters degree in biology/research and were able to be apart of research at the university as well, so getting your Masters is always an option too. If you want to go higher and be the principal investigator in research, you will need a Ph.D.
Hope this helped. Blessings to you and all you accomplish!
Felicia Washington
Travel Medical Laboratory technician
2
Answers
Tyler, Texas
Updated
Felicia’s Answer
I'm a Microbiologist so I would suggest you possibly consider molecular biology. Molecular biology is a rapidly expanding science that has multiple disciplines to consider. It can include molecular microbiology which involves genetic detection of bacteria , mycobacteria, and viruses. In my opinion this is the direction most biological sciences are heading. By that I mean the use of genes and genetic markers to aid in the diagnosis of disease.
It incorporates advance techniques such as PCR and the use of mass spectrophotometer to name a couple.
There are research opportunities as well as clinical ones.
Best of luck
It incorporates advance techniques such as PCR and the use of mass spectrophotometer to name a couple.
There are research opportunities as well as clinical ones.
Best of luck
Mary Dionne
25
Answers
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Updated
Mary’s Answer
If you're interested in lab work and research that goes beyond chemistry and microbiology, there are several other fields you can consider that involve working with cells, tissues, microscopes, genetic engineering, and bacteria. Here are a few options:
Molecular Biology: This field focuses on studying the structure, function, and interactions of biological molecules such as DNA, RNA, and proteins. It involves techniques like DNA sequencing, PCR, genetic engineering, and gene expression analysis.
Cell Biology: In this field, you would study the structure and function of cells, including their organelles and cellular processes. You could work with techniques such as cell culture, microscopy (including fluorescence microscopy), cell imaging, and flow cytometry.
Immunology: Immunology deals with the study of the immune system and how it responds to infections, diseases, and foreign substances. You could explore areas like immunotherapy, vaccine development, and immunoassays.
Histology: Histology involves the study of tissues and their structures. This field is focused on preparing tissue samples, staining them, and using microscopy to examine their cellular composition and organization.
Genetics and Genomics: This field explores the structure, function, and inheritance of genes and genomes. Techniques such as DNA sequencing, gene editing (e.g., CRISPR), and bioinformatics are used to analyze genetic information and study genetic diseases.
Molecular Biology: This field focuses on studying the structure, function, and interactions of biological molecules such as DNA, RNA, and proteins. It involves techniques like DNA sequencing, PCR, genetic engineering, and gene expression analysis.
Cell Biology: In this field, you would study the structure and function of cells, including their organelles and cellular processes. You could work with techniques such as cell culture, microscopy (including fluorescence microscopy), cell imaging, and flow cytometry.
Immunology: Immunology deals with the study of the immune system and how it responds to infections, diseases, and foreign substances. You could explore areas like immunotherapy, vaccine development, and immunoassays.
Histology: Histology involves the study of tissues and their structures. This field is focused on preparing tissue samples, staining them, and using microscopy to examine their cellular composition and organization.
Genetics and Genomics: This field explores the structure, function, and inheritance of genes and genomes. Techniques such as DNA sequencing, gene editing (e.g., CRISPR), and bioinformatics are used to analyze genetic information and study genetic diseases.