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Research scientists plan and lead experiments and investigations on a range of scientific topics.
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; on shifts
What you do will depend on the area of science you specialise in.
You could:
You may need to wear protective clothing.
You could work in a laboratory or at a university.
Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time.
You can get into this job through:
You usually need a first or 2:
You could study an integrated postgraduate master's course. These courses include independent research and are designed to lead directly to a PhD.
You'll usually need:
You could do a level 7 research scientist degree apprenticeship.
This apprenticeship typically takes 2 years and 6 months to complete.
It may give you some of the skills you need to become a research scientist.
Employers will set their own entry requirements.
It may be possible to start as a research assistant or graduate industrial scientist. You would need to study part time for a PhD while you work.
UK Research and Innovation and other industrial companies sometimes offer studentships. This would give you the opportunity to do a PhD while getting practical research experience.
It may improve your chances of finding work if you've got work experience in a research department or your degree included a placement in a research environment.
As a graduate you could look for postgraduate training opportunities offered through Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP). In a KTP you would get the opportunity to run a research project together with an organisation and a university or research body.
You can find out more about a career in scientific research through the Science Council.
You can learn more about careers as a researcher and find useful resources at Vitae.
As a scientist with research councils or organisations, you could progress to a senior research or laboratory management position.
In an academic post, once you've gained experience and published original research, you could progress to senior research fellow or professor. This involves leading your own team.
You could demonstrate your commitment to professional development and work towards professional recognition like Chartered Scientist.
You can find out more about a career in scientific research through the Science Council.