CAREERS IN PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE
The course material sounds fascinating, all that time using high-tech lab equipment seems really fun, and the placement and industry experience opportunities mean you’ ll graduate ready for the workforce.
But where can a pharmaceutical science degree actually lead?
That’ s a trickier question to answer than you might think. Although the course is primarily focused on understanding medicines, the skills you learn can also translate to a range of chemistry-related or biomedical career options. In addition to the pharmaceutical industry, Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science graduates can be found in industries ranging from paints and coatings to cosmetics to food manufacturing.
Here are some of our more common graduate destinations.
BIOMEDICAL RESEARCHER Biomedical researchers investigate how the human body works with the aim of finding new ways to improve health. Usually based in a laboratory, you’ ll conduct experiments and clinical tests to record and report on the findings.
In general, biomedical researchers within a university focus on improving tools and techniques, studying biological processes and the causes and progression of diseases. Private sector labs develop high value products that generate considerable income for the company.
CLINICAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
As a clinical research associate you’ ll use your experience in running experiments, gathering data and documenting the results during clinical trials. Typical employers for this role include clinical research organisations, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and even hospitals and universities.
FORENSIC SCIENTIST Forensic science is the application of scientific techniques to help investigate crimes, accidents and other incidents. It’ s not always like what you see on your favourite crime investigation TV shows, but can entail tasks such as analysing illicit drugs or suspect situations.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
For graduates with a desire to work in the social advancement field, one career path is to work with an international non-governmental organisation, like the World Health Organization( WHO). With a goal to build a better, healthier future for people all over the world, WHO staff work side by side with governments and other partners to ensure the highest attainable level of health for all people.
MEDICINAL CHEMIST
Medicinal chemistry is an interdisciplinary science, drawing graduates from a range of different fields. A career in this area usually involves working on the development and testing of potentially therapeutic compounds. This might be within a company that is developing new products, for a research facility exploring new compounds, or at a regulatory agency testing pharmaceuticals for compliance.
PAINTS AND PROTECTIVE COATINGS SCIENTIST
Not all pharmaceutical science graduates go on to work with products for human consumption. Graduates can find a role working on the development of many of the products we come into daily contact with, such as paints, pigments and protective coatings. These compounds are present in our living and working spaces, our clothing, our food packaging and many, many other products and environments. We’ re exposed to them on a regular basis, so manufacturers must study them and be sure that they are safe.
PHARMACEUTICAL SALES AND MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE
The best people for selling the benefits of a product are often those with the deepest understanding of how it works. For complex products developed and manufactured using pharmaceutical or chemical science, there is often a need for technical sales and marketing representatives able to talk with authority about the science behind the product. This is a skill many graduates have and for some, sales and marketing can be their next step beyond the lab after working in research and development.
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