Pharmacologist
Research new, sustainable drugs and medicines and make sure people use them safely.
About the job
What it's like
You'd do research to discover and develop new drugs and medicines, and to make sure they are used safely.
You’d study the effects of drugs and other chemical substances on cells, animals, humans and the environment. You would work in a research team with scientists and other staff.
You might specialise in:
clinical pharmacology, looking at the effects of medicine on people in clinical trials
neuropharmacology, examining the effects of drugs on the nervous system
You would:
design, set up and carry out experiments
analyse data using complex equipment and measuring systems
test drugs on cells in labs and through clinical trials on humans
write reports and make recommendations based on the results of experiments and research
use the results of research to develop new products and manufacturing processes
study the unwanted or harmful effects of drugs
test the safety of manufactured products
Some of your duties may involve animal research.
You'd share the results of your work with colleagues, for example by presenting at meetings and conferences, and publishing reports.
You might also supervise support staff and manage and co-ordinate projects.
Green job
In this job you could be doing work to help the environment. You could:
do environmental impact assessments for drugs
follow green chemistry principles in drug synthesis to reduce waste, energy consumption and the use of hazardous chemicals
Explore more information about this job
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- understanding
- taking responsibility
- implementing ideas
- attention to detail
- social conscience
- problem solving
- verbal communication
- listening
- supporting
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Biology
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Chemistry
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Human Biology
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Maths (Mathematics)
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Physics
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Applications of Mathematics
You'd need a degree (SCQF Level 9/10) in pharmacology. Other degrees such as biological sciences, biomedical science, immunology, medicinal chemistry or pharmacy might also be accepted by some employers.
Most undergraduate courses ask for at least four Highers at B or above (SCQF Level 6) some universities may require AABB (first sitting) for entry.
The University of Dundee offers a BSc Life Sciences course. You'd need two Highers at B including Biology or Chemistry and one other subject. This course has been developed for those with high academic potential who experienced disadvantage.
Many people who do this job also have postgraduate qualifications such as a Master of Science (MSc) (SCQF Level 11) or a doctoral degree (SCQF Level 12) in a relevant subject.
There's a chance that you could work towards this position from related positions such as a laboratory technician although this would be much less common.
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