Research scientist
Research scientists plan and lead experiments and investigations on a range of scientific topics.
Typical Salary
£27,000 – £48,000
per year
Working Hours
39–41
hours per week
Day-to-day tasks
As a research scientist you could:
- write research proposals and apply for funding
- plan, design and do experiments
- record and analyse results
- present findings in journals and at conferences
- develop new products and ways to apply new discoveries
- teach and supervise students' research projects
We've identified this as a potential green job
For a research scientist to be a green job, you could:
- carry out research which supports the environment like turning waste products into fuel
- work with reusable or recyclable equipment
- use materials from local suppliers to reduce emissions from shipping
Skills needed
- science skills
- maths knowledge
- complex problem-solving skills
- thinking and reasoning skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to use your initiative
- excellent written communication skills
- the ability to work well with others
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to get into this role
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
Career progression
As a scientist with a research council or organisation, you could move into a senior research or laboratory management position.
In an academic post, once you've gained experience and published original research, you could progress to senior research fellow or professor and lead your own research team.
You could open up further opportunities for career development by gaining Chartered Scientist status.
You can get more details about career development options through Vitae.