Research scientist (medical): Job description

The aim of medical research is to increase the body of scientific knowledge on topics related to medicine through the use of experiments. Medical research scientists may also work to develop new, or improve existing, drugs, treatments or other medically related products. 

Research can be carried out at various levels and may range from investigating the underlying basis of health and disease to conducting clinical research to investigate methods of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human disorders. Molecular research may be carried out using appropriate cell and animal models, or human volunteers may be used to study the clinical effects of various factors.

Typical work activities

Medical research takes place in higher education institutions, research institutes, hospitals and industry. The specifics of the role vary according to the setting, but much of the work is laboratory-based. Tasks typically include:

• planning and conducting experiments and analysing or interpreting the results;
• keeping accurate records of work undertaken;
• using specialist computer software to analyse data and to produce diagrammatic representation of results;
• teaching and supervising students (in higher education);
• writing and submitting applications and progress reports to funding bodies that support medical research (outside industry);
• discussing research progress with other departments, e.g. production and marketing (in industry);
• constantly considering the profit/loss potential of research products (in industry);
• collaborating with industry, research institutes, hospitals and academia.

Medical research scientists are also concerned with disseminating the results of their work to others. This includes:

• sharing the results of research with colleagues through presentations or discussions at team meetings;
• preparing presentations, and delivering these at national and international scientific conferences;
• writing original papers for publication in peer-reviewed medical or scientific journals. (In industry, there is usually less pressure to publish.)

Scientists also need to keep up to date with other research being carried out in, or related to, their field of study. Activities that enable them to stay in touch with developments and advances in their field include:

• reading relevant scientific literature and journals;
• attending scientific meetings and conferences in order to hear presentations from other researchers and participate in informal discussions with scientists from other parts of the world.