Biomedical sciences

What do biomedical scientists do?

Destinations at a glance

Biomedical sciences doctoral graduates from 2003-2007 working in the UK:

• The health and social work sector was consistently the biggest employer, accounting for 48%
• Education was an increasingly important sector and rose from 34%-40% in 2005 (37% over 2003-2007)
• 41% of biomedical sciences doctoral graduates became health professionals and associate professionals
• 31% worked in research roles, which was significantly less than biological sciences (over 60%)
• 22% were working as research staff in higher education
• 13% were working in 'education and teaching' roles

Common career paths

Career paths in biomedical sciences frequently have a vocational aspect.

You can start to navigate career options by looking at the Health sector and Science on the Prospects careers website. 

Career destinations can be roughly split into 'hands-on' (research based) and 'hands-off' (not research based, but related to the subject) choices.

Investigate where former researchers in your department or institution are now working. 

The following career profiles are from researchers with a biological science background, but can still offer ideas for career paths. 

• Andrea - zoology - zoo nutritionist
• Kat - developmental genetics - scientific information officer
• Rosalind - mammalian genetics - senior lecturer
• Seema - molecular bioscience - European program director
• Peter - oral biology - research associate
• Sam - immunology - regulatory affairs consultant
• Steve - zoology - senior training and development officer