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10 Reasons to Go into Clinical Research |
Clinical research is one of biggest areas of biotechnoloy and here areten reasons why you might want to consider it as a career.
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There is a huge push to develop new medications and medical products and get them to market as quickly as possible. At the same time, there is a declining interest in a career in clinical research, especially among physicians. High demand coupled with limited resources equals opportunity.
The opportunity is there for a good career in clinical research, but how do you know if it is the best career for you? Here are ten reasons for you to go into clinical research; ten questions to ask of yourself to help you decide if it is the best career choice for you.
- Do you like working on a multidisciplinary team? Clinical research teams include physicians, pharmacists, nurses, technicians, statisticians, computer programmers and others. The teams are usually pretty egalitarian, with each individual having equal authority. If you enjoy working with a variety of people on a common project, you might enjoy clinical research.
- Do you like having a variety of career opportunities? Clinical research jobs are available in hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, research facilities, and other settings. You can work in nearly any area of the United States or Canada and be involved in clinical research.
- Do you enjoy making good money? Silly question, right. Clinical research jobs are among the highest paid in the biotechnical sector.
- Do you like to help people? Clinical research ultimately benefits people, but you also get to help people in the everyday duties of your job. Research is done under strict guidelines and protocols in order to protect both study participants and consumers. By doing your job well, you are helping a lot of people.
- Would you like to help get life-saving drugs and products to market faster? Carefully done research shortens the time it takes to get drugs and products approved. If you want to be part of finding a cure for Alzheimer’s, or migraine headaches, or premature births…and getting that cure into the hands of clinicians, then clinical research is for you.
- Are you detail-oriented? Clinical research requires careful record keeping and attention to detail.
- Do you like an intellectual challenge? Clinical research is intellectually challenging. Whether you are developing research protocols, interpreting a clinical trial so that a prospective study participant can understand it, or interpreting the data, you’ll find plenty of intellectual stimulation in clinical research.
- Do you like to work with people? The biggest difference with laboratory research and clinical research is that you get to work with people in clinical research. There’s a big responsibility involved in carrying out research on human subjects, but products cannot get to market without it. If you enjoy working with people you will enjoy partnering with people who are willing to enroll in research studies.
- Do you like being on the cutting edge? That’s where clinical research is—on the cutting edge of what’s new in healthcare and medicine.
- Do you like working with data? You don’t have to be a math major or a statistician (though it does help to have a basic understanding of statistics), but you do need to enjoy working with information. Clinical research involves gathering data, and you have to be accurate and detailed with the data you gather. The math majors and statisticians also have a role on the team, as they interpret the data other team members collect.
If these qualities describe you, you might consider a career in clinical research. There is a demand for clinical researchers. A career in clinical research will put you on a team that makes an important contribution to society.
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