When we hear the term “Life Sciences” we picture a lab coat and assume they lock themselves away in laboratories. There is far more to the life scientists’ role than we can explain by putting on a white jacket.
Life science is all around us. It is a far broader subject than any of us let on. This area of study and academia reflects everything from putting men (and other pronouns) on the moon, to studying the microorganisms that live at the bottom of our ocean. Life science is the kind of career you can imagine narrated by Sir David Attenborough. It is the rich fabric of life that connects us all. Studying it, researching it, and working in it, are some of the most admirable careers left in this world. To study life sciences is to advance humanity.
And yet most of us believe that it features no more than lab coat and a microscope.
Top Everyday Careers in Life Science
On that note, here are some of the careers that utilise knowledge in this exceptional area of learning on a daily basis. You are about to find out that life science jobs can be as mundane as office work – even though they are studying life itself.
The Data Manager
There is a specific type of data management that comes with laboratory research. A Clinical Data Manager is responsible for collating and curating evidence to back scientific research. They record, plan, and summarise pharmaceutical trials. CDMs focus on clarity and excellent record keeping. Although they don’t ‘science’ themselves, they do keep notes for the people that do.
The Programmer
The computer programmer has a place in life sciences. It is they who develop the software systems needed to run clinical trials, and to facilitate the records kept by CDMs. You can study computer programming in conjunction with medical modules to ensure you are first choice for this type of role. It’s not just about pdf’s and spreadsheets.
The Doctor and Nurse
It should go without saying, but any trained nurse or doctor has trained in life sciences. They must do this so they can save our lives. From taking blood and urine samples for the lab to improving their bedside manner to make you more comfortable, your medical staff are all life scientists, even if they don’t know it.
The Gym Teacher
A gym teacher studies biology. They learn about the mechanics of the body and how you keep it healthy. This study of the human form is a type of life science, which they then pass on to their students. People forget that gym teachers, personal coaches, and physiotherapists, are all life scientists. Just because your job is physical doesn’t mean you can’t don the lab coat when necessary.
The Sales Team
Finally, consider the sales team. Those who sell goods or services for pharmaceutical companies are in constant contact with the world of science. They must learn the ins and outs of each product they are trying to sell, thereby earning themselves skills they never knew they had.
