By Josephine Reid
Lab coats along with the occasional uniform scrubs are worn for functional reasons including storage, chemical spills, and a status indicator. There are a variety of specific fields that require the use of lab coats.
Biomedical engineers combine biological science with engineering to develop cutting-edge medical devices. The field keeps pace with the innovative changes in medical research. This career involves creating and testing new techniques for the medical field. Biomedical engineers work for universities, manufacturers, hospitals and research and development teams with a median salary of more than $85,000. Biomedical engineers have a 4-year bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering or natural science, and many biomedical engineers have an advanced degree as well.
As the climate continues to change, environmental scientists observe changes to habitats, take samples of natural resources and analyze ecosystems. Environmental scientists draw upon knowledge and techniques from many natural science fields. Depending upon the area of interests, environmental scientists work outdoors to collect data and then analyze data in a lab. Some environmental scientists work with advocacy groups and policymakers as they share their findings. The median salary for an environmental scientist is over $63,000. Most environmental scientists have a master’s degree in the natural sciences.
Forensic science technicians combine a love for science with an interest in solving crimes by going to crime scenes to assess ways to collect evidence. They also analyze evidence in a forensic lab. According to the professionals at Microscope.com, technicians run blood samples and recreate crime scenes in a lab setting. Working with police members, experts, and detectives to identify information concerning evidence is a regular part of the workday. Crimes can occur any time of the day, and technicians must be ready to work accordingly. This career requires at least a bachelor’s degree in the natural sciences, and the median salary is more than $50,000 per year.
Changes in the field of neuroscience offer an exciting time to pursue a career as a neuroscientist in the 21st Century. With a renewed focus on mapping the human brain to advance knowledge in disease and brain function, brain mapping analysts play a creative role in the field. These neuroscientists work at institutes, universities and medical labs to assign specific areas of the brain to a host of abilities and diseases, largely through imaging. This research requires working on independent research as well as part of a team to assess results, all in a lab coat! Careers in neuroscience require a doctorate-level degree in neuroscience or the life sciences. The median salary for a medical scientist is over $76,000.
