3 answers
Zoe
Student
Elk River, Minnesota
2
Questions
Asked
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Are there any jobs that deal with genetics?
if so, what do working conditions, education, and pay look like?
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3 answers
Natasha Persaud
Senior Clinical Genome Diagnostics MLT
2
Answers
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Updated
Natasha’s Answer
The field of Genetics offers a wide array of career paths that an individual can choose from. You can opt for roles in either Research or Clinical Genetics, based on your interests.
If you hold an undergraduate degree in Genetics, you can explore roles such as a Laboratory Technician. This role allows you to work in research or clinical laboratories. Alternatively, you can consider the role of a Medical Laboratory Technologist (MLT). As an MLT, your duties may encompass performing tests, analyzing and interpreting variants, among other tasks, depending on the specific laboratory you work in.
Furthering your education with a Master's degree in Genetics opens up even more opportunities. You could become a Variant Analyst, an NGS Genome Analyst, or a Genetic Coordinator, to name a few. If you pursue a Master's degree in Genetic Counselling, you can work as a Genetic Counsellor or Genetic Coordinator, among other roles.
In terms of my personal experience, I currently work in a clinical lab, with a typical work week consisting of 7.5-hour shifts from Monday to Friday. There's also the option to work overtime to address the backlog in turnaround time. Research labs may require additional hours during the week and may also include weekend work.
As a Clinical Genome Diagnostic MLT, the starting hourly wage can be around 33 CAD, with the potential to rise to 45 CAD. MLTs typically start with 3 weeks of vacation, which can be extended up to 7 weeks, depending on the organization's policies.
If you hold an undergraduate degree in Genetics, you can explore roles such as a Laboratory Technician. This role allows you to work in research or clinical laboratories. Alternatively, you can consider the role of a Medical Laboratory Technologist (MLT). As an MLT, your duties may encompass performing tests, analyzing and interpreting variants, among other tasks, depending on the specific laboratory you work in.
Furthering your education with a Master's degree in Genetics opens up even more opportunities. You could become a Variant Analyst, an NGS Genome Analyst, or a Genetic Coordinator, to name a few. If you pursue a Master's degree in Genetic Counselling, you can work as a Genetic Counsellor or Genetic Coordinator, among other roles.
In terms of my personal experience, I currently work in a clinical lab, with a typical work week consisting of 7.5-hour shifts from Monday to Friday. There's also the option to work overtime to address the backlog in turnaround time. Research labs may require additional hours during the week and may also include weekend work.
As a Clinical Genome Diagnostic MLT, the starting hourly wage can be around 33 CAD, with the potential to rise to 45 CAD. MLTs typically start with 3 weeks of vacation, which can be extended up to 7 weeks, depending on the organization's policies.
Jaime Koralewski
Quality Assurance Director in Biotech/Pharmaceutical Industry.
3
Answers
Bath, Pennsylvania
Updated
Jaime’s Answer
Hi Zoe,
There are different avenues you can take if you are looking for a career in genetics. The most prominent is going to be research in the early phase drug development in identifying causes and potential new therapies to treat disease. For example, the identification and isolation of a gene responsible for a rare disease can then turn into developing tests to help diagnose patients that may be susceptible or to confirm that a disease is present in order to identify the best course of treatment. This helps biotech and pharmaceutical companies to then take these identifiers into later phase research to develop drugs or biological treatments to either prevent or treat disease - often first piloted in animals (non-clinical/pre-clinical studies) followed by clinical studies in humans, and if successful, filed for licensure by the FDA or external-USA health authorities to market as an approved treatment or prevention product. The early research, where genetics is probably most prevalent, is a critical piece in order to educate health care companies on whether to invest in developing these products.
Lab technician level jobs typically require a Bachelor of Science. Some scientist and higher level (Management, Senior or Principal Scientist) often require MS or PhD depending on the scope of work and the company. Pay ranges vary by: biotech versus pharma, and location. I can tell you, although dated, I started as an associate scientist at 40K in 2005 which probably translates to about 55-60K now. As I made lab manager status, I was at 81K in 2013. Scientist is about the same, maybe more, and Sr Scientist will probably look like ~90-100K+. This is quite variable though, keep in mind. An associate at 1 company may be looking at 80K where as elsewhere could be 60K or even 100K.
Many colleges offer a B.S. with a fast track M.S. program. If you can swing it, this will be much easier to achieve than trying to go back to school after you start work. On the other hand, many companies offer tuition assistance so it depends on your situation. I suggest that as you near graduation, should you pursue this path to attain a B.S. or combo M.S., start nosing on sites like glass door, fish bowl, ladders, etc. and research the companies you are interested in to get an idea of what they typically offer for entry level positions. Just don't forget to consider health coverage and 401K. Salary isn't everything. Company match on your 401K as early in your career as possible is very important!
Best of luck to you!
There are different avenues you can take if you are looking for a career in genetics. The most prominent is going to be research in the early phase drug development in identifying causes and potential new therapies to treat disease. For example, the identification and isolation of a gene responsible for a rare disease can then turn into developing tests to help diagnose patients that may be susceptible or to confirm that a disease is present in order to identify the best course of treatment. This helps biotech and pharmaceutical companies to then take these identifiers into later phase research to develop drugs or biological treatments to either prevent or treat disease - often first piloted in animals (non-clinical/pre-clinical studies) followed by clinical studies in humans, and if successful, filed for licensure by the FDA or external-USA health authorities to market as an approved treatment or prevention product. The early research, where genetics is probably most prevalent, is a critical piece in order to educate health care companies on whether to invest in developing these products.
Lab technician level jobs typically require a Bachelor of Science. Some scientist and higher level (Management, Senior or Principal Scientist) often require MS or PhD depending on the scope of work and the company. Pay ranges vary by: biotech versus pharma, and location. I can tell you, although dated, I started as an associate scientist at 40K in 2005 which probably translates to about 55-60K now. As I made lab manager status, I was at 81K in 2013. Scientist is about the same, maybe more, and Sr Scientist will probably look like ~90-100K+. This is quite variable though, keep in mind. An associate at 1 company may be looking at 80K where as elsewhere could be 60K or even 100K.
Many colleges offer a B.S. with a fast track M.S. program. If you can swing it, this will be much easier to achieve than trying to go back to school after you start work. On the other hand, many companies offer tuition assistance so it depends on your situation. I suggest that as you near graduation, should you pursue this path to attain a B.S. or combo M.S., start nosing on sites like glass door, fish bowl, ladders, etc. and research the companies you are interested in to get an idea of what they typically offer for entry level positions. Just don't forget to consider health coverage and 401K. Salary isn't everything. Company match on your 401K as early in your career as possible is very important!
Best of luck to you!
khadija sheikh
FOOD BLOGGER
5
Answers
Lahore, Punjab
Updated
khadija’s Answer
Yes, absolutely! There are some cool jobs that involve working with genetics, which is the study of genes (the tiny instructions inside all living things that help them grow and function). One job is a Genetic Counselor, who helps people understand how their genes might affect their health and their family. Another job is a Geneticist, who explores and studies genes to discover how they work and how they are passed from parents to their children. Biotechnologists use genes to create new products, like medicines or crops that can resist pests. There are also jobs for scientists who work with the genes of animals, plants, and even tiny bacteria to learn more about life and how to solve problems, like diseases or hunger. So, genetics can lead to many fascinating and important jobs where people can really make a difference! HOPE IT HELPS