• Question: Why should I enter a genetic/DNA based job? What are the best opportunities in the job/s?

    Asked by anon-341352 on 2 Dec 2022.
    • Photo: Matthew Swift

      Matthew Swift answered on 2 Dec 2022:

      There’s so many opportunities, if you find DNA interesting or its applications interesting or a challenge it’s definitely something for you. We have such great understanding of DNA and genetics now we’re at the start of an age hopefully of personalised medicine based on our genetics to treat cancer and to possibly replace limbs and organs. All this work is out there for us to explore and it could be you leading the charge on it!

      It’s all there for you!

    • Photo: Katie Pickup

      Katie Pickup answered on 2 Dec 2022:

      There’s definitely a lot you can do with a genetics or molecular biology-related degree if that is what you are interested in! Lots of people from my course have gone on to do PhDs like I have, because we wanted to find out more about how DNA works and contribute to research in the field. But if you still want to do similar research but in a different setting you can work in industry, eg in pharma companies. There are plenty other non lab jobs as well that you can do that still involve research in this field, eg in science policy, science communications or data related jobs -these are just a few areas! And if after a degree in this field you realise you don’t want to do this sort of thing for a job, it’s still a very employable degree, as a lot of science degrees are -I know quite a few people working in finance or consulting after doing a biology degree.

    • Photo: Charli Corcoran

      Charli Corcoran answered on 2 Dec 2022:

      There are a lot of opportunities in this field, at all levels! And because genes are present in all life, you can really find an area that you are interested in and work on that!! There are opportunities in universities, or the private sector as well.

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