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HOW TO BECOME A RESEARCH-SCIENTIST:
By SimoTheFinlandized / Paul P. (2022 CE)
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These are the basic steps you should
follow to become a research scientist:
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1) OBTAIN A BACHELOR'S DEGREE:
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Aspiring research scientists should
start by pursuing a bachelor's degree
that's relevant to the field they're
most interested in. If you are unsure,
a general degree in clinical research
can be a good option. If you want to
research medicine, chemistry or biology,
a degree in biochemistry, biology,
pharmacology or pre-med can work well.
If you are interested in being a computer
and information research scientist,
then a degree in information technology
is appropriate.
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2) COMPLETE A MASTER'S DEGREE:
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After obtaining a bachelor's degree,
aspiring research scientists should
begin working toward a master's degree.
Some schools offer a program that
combines a bachelor's and master's
program, allowing students to begin
graduate coursework immediately upon
obtaining their bachelor's. If your
university doesn't offer this program,
you will likely have to complete the
Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
before applying to graduate degree
programs. These programs usually last
two to three years. The coursework you
complete as part of your program will
vary depending on the degree you're
pursuing, which should be relevant to
the field you're entering. However,
some common topics in many fields are:
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- Teaching skills
- Writing for research papers and grants
- Advanced science and mathematics courses
- Public-speaking classes to prepare
students for presenting research findings
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3) GAIN EXPERIENCE:
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To better qualify for research positions,
aspiring research scientists should
consider entering the workforce for
one to two years before pursuing a
Ph.D. program. They could also defer a
master's degree program for one or two
years and pursue a position as a research
assistant to obtain hands-on experience
before continuing their academic studies.
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4) PURSUE CERTIFICATIONS:
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While it's usually not a requirement
for research scientists to obtain
licensing, certifications are available,
which can differentiate you from other
candidates. The Association of Clinical
Research Professionals (ACRP) offers
several certifications that you may want
to consider such as the Certified Clinical
Research Associate, Certified Principal
Investigator or ACRP Certified Professional
designations.
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5) CONSIDER A DOCTORATE:
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If you are interested in becoming a
lead research scientist, you should
consider pursuing a doctorate after
completing your master's program.
Doctoral programs typically take
between four and five years to
complete. Doctoral candidates must
perform original research during the
time they're a student and their
progress is monitored by school
faculty or an advisor. As part of
their program, they also defend their
research through formal processes.
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SOURCES:
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https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/
career-development/how-to-become-a-
research-scientist
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