Nerdy Science Blog

Here’s some encouraging information for science majors: The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has forecasted most science occupations will experience faster or much faster than average employment growth from 2008 to 2018. How about a career in clinical investigating? That doesn’t sound all that nerdy, but it is perhaps an interesting occupation!

Medical science is forecasted as the fastest growing science sector. An increase in employment is projected for medical science fields including vaccines development, disease research, medical procedures and drug treatments.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has forecasted employment growth rates of 20% or higher (faster than the average for all occupations) from 2008- 2018 for the following science occupations:

• Biomedical engineers
• Environmental engineering technicians
• Medical scientists
• Environmental scientists and specialists, including health
• Biochemists and biophysicists
• Climate change analysts
• Environmental engineers
• Biologists
• Environmental restoration planners
• Environmental compliance inspectors

By the Way, the BLS has forecasted a whopping 72% employment growth rate for biomedical engineers! The median annual salary in 2009 for biomedical engineers was $77,400. I’m sure most college students would probably agree that biomedical engineers can be lumped together with nerdy science majors.

If your interested in becoming a science technician, there were about 270,800 jobs in 2008. Biological and chemical technicians held 54% of the jobs. The next in the list are environmental science and protection technicians (including health) and forest and conservation technicians.

Many science technician jobs only require an associate’s degree, however for some science technician positions such as a biological technician or forensic science technician, many employers prefer a bachelor’s degree. Many chemical technician positions in research and development require a bachelor’s degree. However, most chemical process technicians have an associate’s degree, typically in process technology.

Here are the science technician occupations with the highest median hourly wage in 2008:

• Nuclear technicians: $32.64
• Geological and petroleum technicians: $25.65
• Forensic science technicians: $23.97
• Chemical technicians: $20.25
• Environmental science and protection technicians including health: $19.34
• Biological technicians: $18.46

The science fields offer plenty of rewarding, good paying jobs. For many positions a master’s degree in not required. Associate and bachelor’s degrees are sufficient for many fun and interesting (and nerdy) careers.

A member of the BrainTrack writing team for two years, Brian Jenkins writes about a variety of education and career topics. He has contributed content to BrainTrack’s Careers in Science page.

I was reading malaysiakini news and came across this.

On Whatever happened to the bio-tech initiative?

Concerned Academic: This initiative has brought much grief to many young people. Let me tell you why. I was a lecturer in several private colleges in early 2000 to the present. There were thousands of students who took Biotechnology and Bio-Medical Sciences after intensive promotion by the government of the day and the private colleges. Well, most of these students now have very poor career prospects.

If you look at the job section of the papers, you can hardly see any jobs for people who took such courses. Most of the course required people with engineering and physical sciences degrees (physics, chemistry, materials science etc).

I think the government has a lot to answer for with their promotion of Biotechnology and nothing to show for it. So those who are thinking of doing bio-related courses, be warned. There are very few jobs for you upon graduation. Your prospects are either in teaching or in sales.

Youzi, one of the Nerdy Science Blog blogger commended that “doing science in Malaysia can be pretty depressing, and passion killing most of the time.”  She also shared her experience working in private lab as another painstaking experience as she was required by the private sectors to create miracles.

Just in case some of you who study in Monash don’t know about this, tomorrow (6th March) is the “Graduate Careers Fair” for ngineering, Computing/IT and Science.

It will be held at the sport centre (building 1), from 3 pm to 6 pm.

I’ve been thinking of working in Australia in the future.

Australian Visa Bureau:

Qualified science workers are finding many job opportunities in Australia at the moment, according to research by employment consultant Kelly Services. Scientists considering Australian immigration may find their specialist skills in high demand.

People with chemistry degrees are in high demand due to the mining boom and the expanding pharmaceuticals industry, Online Recruitment reports. Environmental scientists are also finding many job opportunities as ,climate and water issues become a priority. Geologists and mining industry professionals are also needed.

The highest salaries are being paid in Perth, where there is a shortage of experienced laboratory technicians and chemists, especially people with laboratory skills such as wet chemistry skills, instrumental analysis and quality systems. Older workers are finding themselves more popular than ever before as a source of skills and experience.

Hmm…. Damn! I’m majoring in biotechnology and immunology. Am I marketable in Australia?

thestar online:

Imagine being in a profession where you get to work surrounded by cosmetics and all things beautiful.

TO most women, Lilywati Arshad, 36, has an enviable job – she is surrounded by make-up and cosmetics for most of the day.

What is more, as scientific manager for L’Oreal Malaysia, Lilywati works for a leading cosmetics company. One can practically see the fashionistas out there turning green with envy!

According to Lilywati, the main tasks as a scientific manager of a cosmestics company are:

1. regulatory – registration of the cosmestics products, products packaging, working with Health Ministry, etc.
2. scientific – explain to public via press the science behind the products, dealing with scientific community, handles complaints, etc.