There are five broad categories of life science jobs: academic, government, industrial, non-profit and miscellaneous. Here’s a look at 166 job titles in the life sciences industry.
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The life sciences are very broad and include jobs in chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, toxicology, botany and more. This means that those on the hunt should do their research about all the possible roles before they begin applying.
Loosely speaking, there are five broad categories of life science jobs: academic, government, industrial, non-profit and miscellaneous. To help with your job search, here’s a look at the five categories and specific jobs within them.
1. Academic Jobs
The idea here is that the jobs are in academia, i.e., at colleges or universities, although it should also include educational institutions such as teaching at the middle school and high school level as well.
In academic research, which is prevalent in the life sciences, there are numerous support positions for professional researcher’s work, including research assistants and research technicians, field researchers, and internships.
2. Government jobs
The U.S. federal government is the single largest employer in the country, with 1.6 million full-time, permanent jobs. Life science jobs are common in the NIH and various divisions of the Department of HHS, including the CDC. Less obvious areas for life science jobs are the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Department of Defense, the NISH and NASA.
3. Industrial jobs
The industrial category can range from research at small biotechnology companies to large multinational pharmaceutical companies. These will include technician jobs—even for those with only high school diplomas at the pharmaceutical manufacturing end—to post-doctoral positions.
4. Nonprofit jobs
Nonprofit jobs are unique in nature, as almost every job in the life sciences can also be a nonprofit job. Keep in mind that working for a nonprofit may come with a lower salary. However, the work could be more fulfilling or insightful than a job at a typical for-profit organization.
5. Miscellaneous jobs
As the title indicates, miscellaneous jobs refer to any position that doesn’t fit into the above categories.
Life science, as a term, is extremely broad. This means there are plenty of jobs for computer scientists, data scientists, engineers, project managers, mathematicians, statisticians and others who hope to break into the field.
Here’s a list of 166 science job titles that can be used to aid in your job search.
Once you’ve pinpointed the job titles that align with your interest, find job openings available now on BioSpace‘s job board.
A - D
• Analyst
• Analytical Lab Technician
• Analytical Services Chemist
• Assay Development Specialist
• Assistant Field Technician
• Assistant Technician
• Associate Professor
• Bioanalytical Scientist
• Biochemist
• Bioinformatics Research Scientist
• Biology Professor
• Business Analyst
• Business System Analyst
• Cell Biology Scientist
• Cell Line Development Manager
• Chemical Engineer
• Chemical Technician
• Climate Data Analyst
• Clinical Data Research
• Clinical Pharmacology Professor
• Clinical Pharmacy Assistant
• Clinical Research Associate
• Clinical Research Coordinator
• Clinical Research Director
• Compliance Technician
• Computational Chemistry Manager
• Computer Programmer
• Computing Consultant
• Conservation Technician
• Development Technologist
• Drug Evaluator
• Drug Regulatory Affairs Manager
E - L
• Environmental Data Analyst
• Environmental Emergencies Assistant
• Environmental Emergencies Planner
• Environmental Health Scientist
• Environmental Project Analyst
• Environmental Research Assistant
• Environmental Scientist
• Environmental Services Representative
• Environmental Specialist
• Exploration Director
• Field Applications Specialist
• Field Technician
• Financial Analyst
• Forensic Chemist
• Forensic Scientist
• Gene Editing Manager
• Genetic Counselor
• Grants/Proposal Writer
• Groundwater Technician
• Hardware Designer
• Health Research Assistant
• Health Technology Assistant
• Hospital Accounting Analyst
• Hospital Research Assistant
• Human Factors Engineer
• Immunology Scientist
• Industrial Designer
• IT Support Staff
• Institutional Research Director
• Insurance Representative
• Intranet Specialist
• Intranet Support
• Junior Analyst
• Laboratory Assistant
• Laboratory Instructor
• Laboratory Manager
• Laboratory Technician
M - R
• Market Access Analyst
• Market Access Associate
• Marketing Consultant
• Medical Communications Director
• Medical Physics Researcher
• Medical Research Assistant
• Medical Research Technician
• Medical Scientist
• Medical Services Assistant
• Molecular Biologist
• Molecular Scientist
• Oncology Researcher
• Operations Clerk
• Operations Research Analysis Manager
• Operations Section Manager
• Operations Supervisor
• Operations Team Leader
• Operations Unit Manager
• Organic Lab Research Assistant
• Organic Lab Worker
• Pharmaceutical Assistant
• Pharmaceutical Marketing Assistant
• Pharmaceutical Research Analyst
• Pharmaceutical Research Assistant
• Pharmaceutical Research Technician
• Pharmaceutical Technician
• Pharmacovigilance Supervisor
• Pharmacy Affairs Assistant
• Pharmacy Assistant
• Pharmacy Innovation Assistant
• Power Regulator
• Process Engineer
• Process Inspector
• Process Research Manager
• Product Engineer
• Product Test Specialist
• Production Team Leader
• Production Test Supervisor
• Professional Programs Assistant
• Project Manager
• Public Health Specialist
• Quality Assistant
• Quality Assurance Manager
• Quality Assurance Technologist
• Quality Control Analyst
• Quality Control Manager
• Quality Control Supervisor
• Regulatory Affairs Associate
• Regulatory Affairs Director
• Regulatory Officer
• Rehabilitation Engineering Assistant
• Reimbursement Analyst
• Research Assistant
• Research Chemist
• Research Team Leader
• Research Technician
• Research and Development Associate
• Research and Development Chemist
• Research and Development Director
• Research and Development Manager
• Research and Development Supervisor
• Research and Development Technician
• Research and Development Tester
• Research and Innovation Manager
• Research Scientist
• Researcher
• Retail Analyst
• Safety Data Specialist
• Sales Analyst
• Satellite Data Analyst
• Science Technician
• Scientific Artist
• Scientific Programmer
• Scientific Project Manager
• Scientific Writer
• Senior Pharmacy Student
• Software Developer
• Software Engineering Assistant
• Solid Waste Field Technician
• Special Projects Coordinator
• Statistician
• Stem Cell Researcher
• STEM Career Advisor
• Structural Biologist
• Structural Engineer
• Systems Analyst
T - Z
• Technical Application Specialist
• Technical Support Technician
• Technical Writer
• Technology Research Analyst
• Technology Research Manager
• Technology Specialist
• Therapeutic Director
• Total Quality Management Director
• Total Quality Manager
• Toxicologist
• Transportation Project Manager
