Medical Scientist

Medical scientists typically do the following:

• Design and conduct studies that investigate both human diseases and methods to prevent and treat them.
• Prepare and analyze medical samples and data to investigate causes and treatment of toxicity, pathogens, or chronic diseases.
• Standardize drug potency, doses, and methods to allow for the mass manufacturing and distribution of drugs and medicinal compounds.
• Create and test medical devices.
• Develop programs that improve health outcomes, in partnership with health departments, industry personnel, and physicians.
• Write research grant proposals and apply for funding from government agencies and private funding sources.
• Follow procedures to avoid contamination and maintain safety.
• Many medical scientists form hypotheses and develop experiments, with little supervision. They often lead teams of technicians and, sometimes, students, who perform support tasks. For example, a medical scientist working in a university laboratory may have undergraduate assistants take measurements and make observations for the scientist’s research.

Medical scientists study the causes of diseases and other health problems. For example, a medical scientist who does cancer research might put together a combination of drugs that could slow the cancer’s progress. A clinical trial may be done to test the drugs. A medical scientist may work with licensed physicians to test the new combination on patients who are willing to participate in the study.

In a clinical trial, patients agree to help determine if a particular drug, a combination of drugs, or some other medical intervention works. Without knowing which group they are in, patients in a drug-related clinical trial receive either the trial drug or a placebo—a pill or injection that looks like the trial drug but does not actually contain the drug.

Medical scientists analyze the data from all of the patients in the clinical trial, to see how the trial drug performed. They compare the results with those obtained from the control group that took the placebo, and they analyze the attributes of the participants. After they complete their analysis, medical scientists may write about and publish their findings.

Medical scientists do research both to develop new treatments and to try to prevent health problems. For example, they may study the link between smoking and lung cancer or between diet and diabetes.

Medical scientists who work in private industry usually have to research the topics that benefit their company the most, rather than investigate their own interests. Although they may not have the pressure of writing grant proposals to get money for their research, they may have to explain their research plans to nonscientist managers or executives.

Medical scientists usually specialize in an area of research within the broad area of understanding and improving human health. Medical scientists may engage in basic and translational research that seeks to improve the understanding of, or strategies for, improving health. They may also choose to engage in clinical research that studies specific experimental treatments.  

• Research and development in medical device, biotechnology companies
• Colleges, universities, and professional schools
• Hospitals
• Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing
• Offices of physicians  
• FDA 

Soft Skills

• Ability to work independently or with teams
• Communication skills
• Compassion and empathy 
• Creative, original thinking
• Critical thinking 
• Excellent technical writing skills 
• Objective data analysis 
• Persuasiveness
• Project management
• Resourcefulness and reasoning
• Skills for coordinating and instructing activities
• Sound judgment and decision-making, sometimes under pressure
• Time management

Technical Skills

• Databases and query software
• Desktop publishing 
• Enterprise resource planning software 
• Good near vision
• Imaging software 
• Integrated development environment software 
• Knowledge of scientific software, such as IBM SPSS Statistics or Minitab 
• Map creation software, such as ESRI ArcGIS 
• Object or component oriented development software 
• Perceptual speed
• Strong math skills
• Technical reading comprehension
• Technical writing skills
• Knowledge of a wide range of medical tools, including atomic absorption spectrometers, benchtop centrifuges, beta counters, blood gas analyzers, calorimeters, chemistry analyzers, coagulation analyzers, colorimeters, and dozens more

Medical Scientists research and propose lifesaving drugs and treatment options to be presented to customers and patients. Their jobs carry massive responsibilities and they’re expected to conduct extremely thorough research, find solutions, and ensure proposed products or drugs are safe for human use. Mistakes or oversights can lead to patients becoming ill, experiencing unexpected side effects, negative drug interactions, or even dying. 
 
The opposite side of that coin is the pressure to work fast and find viable solutions to medical problems that are causing illnesses or casualties. So, while Medical Scientists have to be extremely careful and thorough, they also experience a sense of urgency when the heat is on, and may feel stress or frustration when things don’t work out. There is potential risk of exposure to contagious diseases or germs, which is why they must always practice good hygiene and wear proper personal protective equipment, when needed. 

This is a growing field, in part, because life expectancy itself is growing! Medical Scientists are needed to find better treatments for patients who are living longer yet still struggling with chronic conditions requiring pharmaceuticals. 
 
Society is still plagued by cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer’s, and other widespread medical dilemmas that must be addressed through continuing efforts. The COVID-19 pandemic created a rapid spike in research as nations struggled to fight the spread and find a vaccination, even as the virus mutated into many strains. Meanwhile, other viruses continue to change and build immunity to existing vaccines, thus requiring constant updates. 
 
The increasing mobility of our global population means that as persons travel from country to country, viruses and diseases could run rampant without preventative solutions from the medical community. Meanwhile, cutting edge nanotechnology is revolutionizing the medical industry, with Medical Scientists needed on the frontlines of research. 

Medical Scientists spend their lives devoted to helping improve the health of others. They were probably always interested in things such as math, chemistry, biology, or science, and how those things might be used to specifically benefit people. As behind-the-scenes workers, they are not interested in the limelight, so much as in achieving results. 
 
Their drive and determination could come from childhood experiences, such as perhaps having a loved one who succumbed to a particular illness that had no effective cure. However, their feelings don’t get the better of them. Those in the Medical Science field must be both compassionate yet objective, optimistic yet cautious and analytical so their judgement isn’t clouded by emotion. They’re methodical leaders, who may have directed teams in school activities involving complex logistics and meticulous organizational planning.