Career prospects
Many biomedical scientists work for the NHS or private sector. Their modern laboratories are the hi-tech hubs of hospitals and at the cutting edge of healthcare. But if working in a general hospital laboratory isn’t for you, there are lots of other avenues to explore including:
- teaching
- drug testing
- medicine
- blood donation
- veterinary diagnostics
- food safety
- the brewing industry
- cancer screening
- the armed forces
- pharmaceutical research
- journalism
- sales and marketing
- government advisory
- and many more
Alternatively, you may decide to follow a career in research, forensic science or one of the other disciplines allied to the biomedical sciences
If travelling is your thing, you can use your training and skills in healthcare posts and projects around the world. Biomedical scientists are highly sought after for international healthcare projects in hospitals, schools and universities. You may want to become involved in voluntary work in developing countries on behalf of international bodies such as the World Health Organization or the Voluntary Service Overseas.
For a varied and physically demanding career, the armed forces biomedical scientists the chance to use a variety of skills and apply them to different scenarios and settings around the world. From setting up field hospitals to deal with the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone to working on a battleship off the coast of Bahrain, you’ll support medical teams across the armed forces with an essential clinical laboratory service.
Like any profession, you can get involved in professional activities where you can develop skills in media, politics, organising events and discussion groups, networking and professional representation and roles.