Biomedical scientist : Employers and vacancy sources

The National Health Service (NHS)  was one of the main employers of biomedical scientists but vacancies for trainee positions have recently declined. While there will still be opportunities for biomedical scientists in the NHS in the future, it seems likely that there will be considerably fewer vacancies than in the past.

Where opportunities are available, work will generally be carried out in clinical pathology laboratories and regional laboratories where the work may include molecular genetics and cytogenetics.

Another major employer is the Health Protection Agency (HPA) . Increasing numbers of biomedical scientists are also working in pathology and research laboratories in private sector hospitals.

Other employers include:

• National Blood Service (NBS)    
• Medical Research Council (MRC)   
• Health and Safety Executive (HSE)  
• Food Standards Agency  
• veterinary services;
• universities;
• some manufacturing firms (especially those producing pharmaceutical products);
• forensic laboratories;
• government departments;
• HM armed forces.

Biomedical scientists can also find work in healthcare projects worldwide with international non-governmental and voluntary organisations, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO)  and Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) .

Sources of vacancies

• Search graduate jobs on this site.
• Access-ScienceJobs
• The Biomedical Scientist  - professional publication from the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS), free to IBMS members
• Britishhealthsciencejobs  
• Careerscene  
• Jobs.ac.uk
• Labmed Recruitment   
• Mediplacements  
• Nature Jobs
• New Scientist Jobs    
• NHS Jobs     
• The Science Jobs    
• ScienceProspects   
• Local and national press.

Use the lists available from NHS Authorities and Trusts  and the Health Protection Agency (HPA)  to find contact details of local and regional centres. You can contact laboratory managers or personnel departments to enquire about vacancies.

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