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biomedicine careers?

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  • 21-01-2015 8:14pm
    #1
    pjm5
    Registered Users Posts: 10 ✭


    I know there are lots of areas of Biomedicine, ie Biomedical Science, Biotechnology, Bio engineering. Are these courses worth it?
    These courses lead to research careers or something, are there jobs for that in Ireland?
    I know I should really do what I like but I'm also concerned for the future, (a bit of thinking practical haha)
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    #2
    Dog walker 1234
    Registered Users Posts: 1,283 ✭✭✭Dog walker 1234


    As a medical scientist working in a hospital lab I would suggest that a hospital laboratory career should not be considered. I love my job but the future of the sector is towards more automation. This means that there will be a reduced need for medical scientists.
    As a course of study I feel that biomedical engineering may be the course to complete if you have the aptitude.


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    #3
    Dingle_berry
    Registered Users Posts: 885 ✭✭✭Dingle_berry


    pjm5 wrote: »
    I know there are lots of areas of Biomedicine, ie Biomedical Science, Biotechnology, Bio engineering. Are these courses worth it?
    These courses lead to research careers or something, are there jobs for that in Ireland?
    I know I should really do what I like but I'm also concerned for the future, (a bit of thinking practical haha)
    If you can find something to study that engages you, you will find work in it. Yes it may be easier to find work with a BSc than a BA in Latin but if the BSc is mind numbing for you you will develop an aversion to it, if you can push yourself to finish it.
    To my knowledge Biotechnology would be aimed at research and industry especially pharma.
    Bio engineering or Biomedical engineering can vary from a BEng in mechanical engineering with a few biology classes to courses focused on the design, manufacture and material science of implant devices.
    There are plenty of other courses and careers like Medical Physicists and Clinical Measurement Technicians. DIT has a good range of medically orientated degrees.
    Dog walker 1234 wrote: »
    As a medical scientist working in a hospital lab I would suggest that a hospital laboratory career should not be considered. I love my job but the future of the sector is towards more automation. This means that there will be a reduced need for medical scientists.
    As a course of study I feel that biomedical engineering may be the course to complete if you have the aptitude.
    I would agree that automation is becoming more common. The reproducibility of automation is what is best for the patient. However, there will always be a need for Medical Scientists to ensure the quality of tests and to troubleshoot abnormal results. There are also some tasks that do not lend themselves to automation, yet. Our equivalents abroad have adapted to the increase in automation by assuming extra roles & responsibilities, as nurses are doing here. Things like Clinical Scientists and the Specialist/Advanced Diplomas will hopefully be adopted here too.
    There are definitely more graduates than jobs in diagnostic pathology labs, with the three courses churning out ~90 graduates a year. The degree (essentially a BSc in Pathology) is a useful base for medical research.
    If anyone is thinking of doing a Biomedical Science degree to work in a diagnostic pathology lab make sure that it is one of the recognised degrees. Not one of the 'Biomedical Science' degrees that would require further work to qualify.


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    #4
    brozio7
    Registered Users Posts: 78 ✭✭brozio7


    pjm5 wrote: »
    I know there are lots of areas of Biomedicine, ie Biomedical Science, Biotechnology, Bio engineering. Are these courses worth it?
    These courses lead to research careers or something, are there jobs for that in Ireland?
    I know I should really do what I like but I'm also concerned for the future, (a bit of thinking practical haha)

    I did a biomedical science degree in NUI Maynooth, then went onto do a masters, I'm in the last month of my PhD in NUIG and starting a postdoc research job in March so those courses can lead to a research career........eventually (I started college in 2004!)

    If you want to get into research look for a course with a placement option or a long final year project. The contacts you make and the lab skills you build up during these placements or projects are vital to getting into a research career.

    I think there are jobs available in Ireland and hopefully there will be more in the future. Ireland does some good science relative to the small size of the country. We are particularly strong in immunology and biomaterial science in my opinion.

    At the moment alot of the biomed and bio engineering jobs in Ireland are in the medical device sector, most of the big companies have facilities here particularly around Galway.

    Best of luck!


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