Medical Scientist

Conduct research dealing with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health. Engage in clinical investigation, research and development, or other related activities.

On the job, you would:

Follow strict safety procedures when handling toxic materials to avoid contamination.
Evaluate effects of drugs, gases, pesticides, parasites, and microorganisms at various levels.
Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Medical scientists must be able to explain their research in nontechnical ways. In addition, they may write grant proposals in order to get funding for their research.

Critical-thinking skills. Medical scientists must use their expertise to determine the best method for approaching research questions.

Data-analysis skills. Medical scientists use statistics to evaluate research questions and information from clinical trials.

Decision-making skills. Medical scientists must determine what research questions to ask, how to investigate the questions, and which data answer the questions.

Observation skills. Medical scientists conduct experiments that require monitoring samples and other health-related data.

Personality

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Characteristics of this Career
		88%	Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
		86%	Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
		84%	Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
		82%	Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
		79%	Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
		78%	Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
		78%	Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
		77%	Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
		75%	Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
		73%	Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
		73%	Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
		72%	Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
		71%	Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
		71%	Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
		67%	Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
		63%	Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Strengths
		100%	Investigative - Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.
		56%	Realistic - Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
		56%	Artistic - Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Values of the Work Environment
		78%	Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
		78%	Recognition - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
		78%	Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
		75%	Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
		56%	Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Aptitude

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Abilities \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		78%	Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
		78%	Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
		78%	Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
		75%	Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
		75%	Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
		75%	Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
		75%	Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
		75%	Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
		75%	Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
		72%	Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
		69%	Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
		69%	Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
		60%	Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
		56%	Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
		56%	Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
		56%	Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
		53%	Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
		53%	Number Facility - The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Skills \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		75%	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
		71%	Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
		71%	Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
		70%	Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
		68%	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
		66%	Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
		63%	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
		61%	Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
		61%	Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
		59%	Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
		59%	Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
		59%	Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
		57%	Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
		57%	Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
		55%	Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
		52%	Operations Analysis - Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
		52%	Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Job Details

Responsibilities

Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.

Write grant proposals.

Prepare proposals or grant applications to obtain project funding.

Plan biological research.

Direct medical science or healthcare programs.

Monitor operational procedures in technical environments to ensure conformance to standards.

Research diseases or parasites.

Instruct college students in physical or life sciences.

Analyze biological samples.

Establish standards for medical care.

Research diseases or parasites.

Establish standards for products, processes, or procedures.

Advise others on healthcare matters.

Operate laboratory or field equipment.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent
		99%	Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
		96%	Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
		95%	Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
		95%	Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
		92%	Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
		89%	Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
		85%	Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
		79%	Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
		78%	Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets - How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
		75%	Level of Competition - To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
		74%	Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job?
		73%	Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
		72%	Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
		71%	Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
		68%	Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
		68%	Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
		67%	Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
		63%	Exposed to Hazardous Conditions - How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
		61%	Consequence of Error - How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable?
		57%	Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
		57%	Spend Time Sitting - How much does this job require sitting?
		57%	Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
		53%	Physical Proximity - To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people?
		52%	Letters and Memos - How often does the job require written letters and memos?
		71%	Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Tasks & Values
		90%	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
		87%	Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
		83%	Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
		82%	Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
		82%	Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
		81%	Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
		78%	Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
		77%	Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
		77%	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
		77%	Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
		76%	Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
		76%	Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
		71%	Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
		67%	Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
		66%	Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
		64%	Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
		62%	Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
		59%	Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
		58%	Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
		57%	Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
		56%	Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
		54%	Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
		53%	Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

What Medical Scientists Do

Medical scientists study human diseases in a variety of ways, such as by analyzing data from clinical trials.

Medical scientists conduct research aimed at improving overall human health. They often use clinical trials and other investigative methods to reach their findings.

Duties

Medical scientists typically do the following:

Design and conduct studies to investigate human diseases and methods to prevent and treat diseases
Prepare and analyze data from medical samples and investigate causes and treatment of toxicity, pathogens, or chronic diseases
Standardize drugs' potency, doses, and methods of administering to allow for their mass manufacturing and distribution
Create and test medical devices
Follow safety procedures, such as decontaminating workspaces
Write research grant proposals and apply for funding from government agencies, private funding, and other sources
Write articles for publication and present research findings

Medical scientists form hypotheses and develop experiments. They study the causes of diseases and other health problems in a variety of ways. For example, they may conduct clinical trials, working with licensed physicians to test treatments on patients who have agreed to participate in the study. They analyze data from the trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment.

Some medical scientists choose to write about and publish their findings in scientific journals after completion of the clinical trial. They also may have to present their findings in ways that nonscientist audiences understand.

Medical scientists often lead teams of technicians or students who perform support tasks. For example, a medical scientist may have assistants take measurements and make observations for the scientist’s research.

Medical scientists usually specialize in an area of research, with the goal of understanding and improving human health outcomes. The following are examples of types of medical scientists:

Clinical pharmacologists research new drug therapies for health problems, such as seizure disorders and Alzheimer’s disease.

Medical pathologists research the human body and tissues, such as how cancer progresses or how certain issues relate to genetics.

Toxicologists study the negative impacts of chemicals and pollutants on human health.

Medical scientists conduct research to better understand disease or to develop breakthroughs in treatment. For information about an occupation that tracks and develops methods to prevent the spread of diseases, see the profile on epidemiologists.

Work Environment

Medical scientists held about 119,000 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of medical scientists were as follows:

Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences	36%
Hospitals; state, local, and private	19
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private	19
Medical and diagnostic laboratories	5
Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing	4

Medical scientists typically work in offices and laboratories. In the lab, they sometimes work with dangerous biological samples and chemicals. They must take precautions in the lab to ensure safety, such as by wearing protective gloves, knowing the location of safety equipment, and keeping work areas neat.

Work Schedules

Most medical scientists work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.

Getting Started

Education:

36%

Doctoral Degree

25%

Post-Doctoral Training

How to Become a Medical Scientist

Medical scientists typically have a Ph.D. and sometimes are certified medical doctors as well.

Medical scientists typically have a Ph.D., usually in biology or a related life science. Some get a medical degree instead of, or in addition to, a Ph.D.

Education

Medical scientists typically need a Ph.D. or medical degree. Candidates sometimes qualify for positions with a master’s degree and experience. Applicants to master’s or doctoral programs typically have a bachelor's degree in biology or a related physical science field, such as chemistry.

Ph.D. programs for medical scientists typically focus on research in a particular field, such as immunology, neurology, or cancer. Through laboratory work, Ph.D. students develop experiments related to their research.

Medical degree programs include Medical Doctor (M.D.), Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.), Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), and advanced nursing degrees. In medical school, students usually spend the first phase of their education in labs and classrooms, taking courses such as anatomy, biochemistry, and medical ethics. During their second phase, medical students typically participate in residency programs.

Some medical scientist training programs offer dual degrees that pair a Ph.D. with a medical degree. Students in dual-degree programs learn both the research skills needed to be a scientist and the clinical skills needed to be a healthcare practitioner.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Medical scientists primarily conduct research and typically do not need licenses or certifications. However, those who practice medicine, such as by treating patients in clinical trials or in private practice, must be licensed as physicians or other healthcare practitioners.

Training

Medical scientists with a Ph.D. may begin their careers in postdoctoral research positions; those with a medical degree often complete a residency. During postdoctoral appointments, Ph.D.s work with experienced scientists to learn more about their specialty area and improve their research skills. Medical school graduates who enter a residency program in their specialty generally spend several years working in a hospital or doctor’s office.

Job Outlook

Employment of medical scientists is projected to grow 10 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 7,500 openings for medical scientists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Demand for medical scientists will stem from greater demand for a variety of healthcare services as the population continues to age and rates of chronic disease continue to increase. These scientists will be needed for research into treating diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and cancer, and problems related to treatment, such as resistance to antibiotics. In addition, medical scientists will continue to be needed for medical research as a growing population travels globally and facilitates the spread of diseases.

The availability of federal funds for medical research grants also may affect opportunities for these scientists.

Contacts for More Information

For more information about research specialties and opportunities within specialized fields for medical scientists, visit

American Association for Cancer Research

American Physician Scientists Association

American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science

American Society for Clinical Pathology

American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics

The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

The Gerontological Society of America

Infectious Diseases Society of America

National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Society for Neuroscience

Society of Toxicology

Similar Occupations

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of medical scientists.

Occupation	Job Duties	Entry-Level Education	Median Annual Pay, May 2022
Agricultural and Food Scientists	Agricultural and food scientists research ways to improve the efficiency and safety of agricultural establishments and products.	Bachelor's degree	$74,940
Biochemists and Biophysicists	Biochemists and biophysicists study the chemical and physical principles of living things and of biological processes.	Doctoral or professional degree	$103,810
Epidemiologists	Epidemiologists are public health workers who investigate patterns and causes of disease and injury.	Master's degree	$78,520
Health Education Specialists	Health education specialists develop programs to teach people about conditions affecting well-being.	Bachelor's degree	$59,990
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians	Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians perform medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.	Bachelor's degree	$57,380
Microbiologists	Microbiologists study microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, algae, fungi, and some types of parasites.	Bachelor's degree	$81,990
Physicians and Surgeons	Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance.	Doctoral or professional degree	$229,300
Postsecondary Teachers	Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level.	See How to Become One	$80,840
Veterinarians	Veterinarians care for the health of animals and work to protect public health.	Doctoral or professional degree	$103,260