November 27, 2009
By Biospace.com
Overview
Molecular diagnostics offers positions as researchers, clinical biologists, biological scientists, and teachers. One of the fastest growing areas of laboratory medicine, it provides clinical studies of how structural variations in genes (DNA and RNA) are associated with the development of chronic diseases. A diagnostic molecular biologist is an allied health professional who performs diagnostic tests on various specimens to help identify types of diseases, their causes and preventative measures.
Step 1
Go to reputable online sites to find information on molecular biology jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) website offers information pertaining to different fields in the health care and biotechnology industries. Check out their occupational handbook, which provides information on nature of work, education, training requirements, employment, job outlook, projections data, earnings, and other similar or related jobs. Visit www.bls.gov and type in “molecular diagnostics” in the search field. The search will yield information on “Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians,” which are the common job classifications used for molecular diagnostics. Visit National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences, which is an international agency that accredits and approves educational programs in the clinical laboratory sciences or related health professions.
Step 2
Attend summits or conferences sponsored by biotech companies. Summits and conferences feature guest speakers who will discuss innovative topics backed by research. Some of these topics include molecular diagnostics. Learn more about the different jobs in this field by meeting people who work in the different areas of molecular diagnostics. One example is the Biomarker World Congress, a conference sponsored annually by Cambridge Healthtech Institute, attended by different professionals from the biotech industry. Visit biomarkerworldcongress.com to find future dates.
Step 3
Go to career expos and job fairs. For example, Biospace.com provides a list of upcoming career events sponsored by some of the leading companies in the biotechnology industry from all over the world. You can research jobs in the molecular diagnostics fields by attending these fairs and by finding what positions are available.
Step 4
Sign up with an online job hunting site that offers a list of available jobs. For example, phds.org offers lists of job opportunities for those who completed graduate and postgraduate studies. Their lists contain information they gather from different written or online sources.
Step 5
Apply as an intern or fellow to learn more about the different jobs in molecular diagnostics. For example, the Center for Cancer Research (CCR) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) offer internship or fellowship programs. They offer full time and part time internships or fellowships all year long. By becoming an intern or a fellow, you will learn additional information about the different jobs in molecular diagnostics while accumulating hands-on experience. The experience will be beneficial for future job prospects in similar or related fields.
Step 6
Read published completed projects or researches by people who work as molecular biologists. An example is the ACS (American Chemical Society) Publications, which publishes peer-reviewed researches online and on paper. Read journals pertaining to molecular diagnostics and learn more about the different jobs by reading through completed projects.
Tips Go to a library and read different publications or classified ads from different local and non-local newspaper agencies.
References
Biospace.com: Biotech and Pharmaceutical News & Jobs
Biotech Career Events
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook
Center for Cancer Research
PhD and Science Jobs
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