On biological science

Evil Sadistic Bastard · Post by **Evil Sadistic Bastard** » 2003-06-07 07:56pm

What are the prospects for a person with a degree in bio science? I just got ym university posting yesterday and apparently that's what I'll be studying in 2005-6.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-06-07 07:59pm

Med School? Biology teacher?

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2003-06-07 08:17pm

Research at a university maybe.

Mark S · Post by **Mark S** » 2003-06-07 08:23pm

bio weapons for the spooks?

Ravencrow · Post by **Ravencrow** » 2003-06-07 08:31pm

To be perfectly honest, a basic degree in biomed science doesn't get you as far as say, an engineering degree. A basic degree qualifies you to be a lab tech. A first class honours might get you a bit further. If you can do your honors after BSc, do it.

In Singapore, you have to have at least a masters to do research quite independently. However a PhD is required if you want to head your own project. A life of science, is a life of frustration, politics and small victories. You have to have passion in this field. I don't know what it's like in other countries however. That's the way it usually is in Singapore at least.

What do you want to do after you get that degree, research or sales? I know that people in biomed sales do very well with just a basic degree in science. That's the other alternative for what to do with a degree in science.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2003-06-07 08:57pm

A BSc will be quite sufficient (if a 1st) for most jobs, but the higher up stuff is better having an MA (Ph.D is something I don't really want to do) but since biotech is merging with nanotech and computing plus it's the fastest growing industry now, I'd say prospects are damn good.

I may work for DSTL Porton Down, the MoD's biological/chemical/nuclear and R&D facility.

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2003-06-08 12:11am

I personally would like to earn a Ph. D and become a professor/researcher. Specifically in herpetology... I will probably end up a high school teacher/researcher(summer is good)

Evil Sadistic Bastard · Post by **Evil Sadistic Bastard** » 2003-06-08 03:36am

Ravencrow wrote:To be perfectly honest, a basic degree in biomed science doesn't get you as far as say, an engineering degree. A basic degree qualifies you to be a lab tech. A first class honours might get you a bit further. If you can do your honors after BSc, do it.

In Singapore, you have to have at least a masters to do research quite independently. However a PhD is required if you want to head your own project. A life of science, is a life of frustration, politics and small victories. You have to have passion in this field. I don't know what it's like in other countries however. That's the way it usually is in Singapore at least.

What do you want to do after you get that degree, research or sales? I know that people in biomed sales do very well with just a basic degree in science. That's the other alternative for what to do with a degree in science.

Are you from Singapore as well? You talk you've had experience with this kind of thing.

I just received my posting on Saturday, so I'm trying to chart my life out. FInding out what exactly I can do with that little Bio Science degree of mine is just one of the first few steps in doing that.

Trytostaydead · Post by **Trytostaydead** » 2003-06-08 03:43am

Depends on what you're after and what you do with that degree. A biology degree is incredibly large and varied. Usually people will want to go to gradschool, med, pharm, dental, optometry.. etc

Ravencrow · Post by **Ravencrow** » 2003-06-08 07:06am

Evil Sadistic Bastard wrote:
Are you from Singapore as well? You talk you've had experience with this kind of thing.

I just received my posting on Saturday, so I'm trying to chart my life out. FInding out what exactly I can do with that little Bio Science degree of mine is just one of the first few steps in doing that.

Yes, I am from Singapore, I am a lab tech working in a research lab, holding a BSc in Molecular Genetics (not from NUS).

I'm not trying to discourage you, but doing science research in Singapore is not a smooth path. Your first paycheck will be measily compared to other BSc grads and you'd be working like a dog. What keeps you there is your passion for science and new knowledge. View that degree as a first step to getting higher degrees which will in turn gain you access to independence of doing the research that you really want to do (if that is what you want to do). That's the way it works in our country. As you may have already know, the higher qualification you have around here, the more respect you get. It's gonna take some time (maybe a lot of time) before that attitude changes.

There are many fields in biomed science. Your basic degree will cover a lot of ground, you will probably specialise further and narrow down to your specific field of interest in higher degrees. When you finish your BSc, look for a lab to work in that allows you to do your higher degree while you work. NUS has programs like that, so does other labs like A*STAR or any lab that is under the government ministries (DSO, DMRI, Ministry of Environment) - however expect to sign some kind of bond if you take up their offers or scholarship programs.

Feel free to PM me if you got any questions.

InnerBrat · Post by **InnerBrat** » 2003-06-08 08:59am

I'm looking for a jobb right noe, and there's tonnes of vacancoes in the biomedical research labs in terms of cellular and molecular research. Pay's good.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2003-06-08 10:17am

innerbrat wrote:I'm looking for a jobb right noe, and there's tonnes of vacancoes in the biomedical research labs in terms of cellular and molecular research. Pay's good.

Indeed. This week's issue of New Scientist has a good section for graduates on what to look for and most of it is good for bio graduates. The jobs sections always has more biology/biochem/biophysics etc. posts going than any other area.

Ravencrow · Post by **Ravencrow** » 2003-06-09 06:11am

There's certainly no lack of jobs in the biotech industry. One can even venture overseas for more opportunities and advancement of oneself. I heard the next big thing is proteomics and bioinformatics, and perhaps bioengineering.

Kaljamaha · Post by **Kaljamaha** » 2003-06-09 07:16am

I'm currently finishing my master's degree in genetics. I intend to stay strickly on the researcher path. The pay is lousy, and the hours are long, but I don't mind, since it doesn't really seem like work because I love doing it.

Anyway, job opportunities for bio people should be abound. You can go for research, or you can go and work for the various firms that produce research tools, such as Qiagen, Promega, Amersham Pharmacia etc. However, if yoy want to expand your opportunities, I suggest you study Computer Science in addition to Biology. If you can claim knowledge in C++, SQL, Perl, Matlab and the like, you can get a job practically in any place that relates to biology, and they'll be lucky to have you.

Starscream · Post by **Starscream** » 2003-06-10 12:14am

http://alpha.furman.edu/~snyder/careers/careerlist.html

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2003-06-10 03:55am

EEP!

http://199.245.200.110/

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2003-06-10 07:36am

Ravencrow wrote:There's certainly no lack of jobs in the biotech industry. One can even venture overseas for more opportunities and advancement of oneself. I heard the next big thing is proteomics and bioinformatics, and perhaps bioengineering.

An upcoming new one that fascinated one of the doctors I had for molecular biology is glycomics since she was a big fan of sugars and knew that they were just as necessary and diverse and complex as any protein etc.