Are You Suited For A Career In Drug Research & Development?

For those considering a career in the field of pharmaceuticals, it is a fascinating field with many possibilities for growth. #Drug research# firms are always on the lookout for motivated and intelligent individuals who are eager to put their skills to use. Before you commit to a particular field, though, it is always useful to have an idea of what that world will be like.

Drug formulation companies go through a long and arduous process to get their compounds to market. Not only must they invest years in research and development, they must then conduct up to 10 years of clinical trials to win approval by the FDA for use in the U.S. Analytical Method Development & Validation is an important area of pharmaceuticals that is currently underserved amond new graduates.

There are many jobs in the world of pharmaceutical research. Of course there are researchers, taking the form of chemists, pharmacists, chemical engineers, packaging engineers, and manufacturing workers. The working conditions are as good or superior to the working conditions in other manufacturing industries. Even the jobs classified as low-skill or entry level have a great environment due to the sensitive nature of the drugs being produced.

The environment is typically clean, air conditioned, quiet, with plenty of lighting. Contamination must be avoided at all costs, so buildings are equipped with ventilation systems to whisk away fumes, dust, and other contaminants. Lab workers often must work with toxic chemicals and handle infectious cultures that make those systems vital.

For those that work in the industry, they typically work for large firms. Firms with over 1000 employees employ about half of the workers in the pharmaceutical industry.

About half of the jobs in the pharmaceutical industry are jobs in production, material moving, or maintenance. Scientists, technicians, managerial, administrative and sales make up the rest of the professions in this field. In fact, there is room for workers at all levels.

For those looking to get a foot in the door without post-high school education, production and maintenance work is available with on the job training. Experience typically leads to more skilled jobs down the line. Formal education and job experience are required for other, more skilled positions. Because the pharmaceutical field depends on scientific innovation, it is not surprising that half of the workers have a bachelor’s degree or graduate degree. This doubles the figure for all industries combined.

The pharmaceutical industry is an attractive field to work in, and there are tremendous growth opportunities for the motivated individual.

Will Brannigan has been writing on science and medical topics for the past ten years. Pharmaceutical Research and Development and Analytical Method Development has always been of particular interest.