HS Careers Questions

[Copperhead96]

I am a High School student, and I need a careers interview. I would like to be a medical scientist studying human genetics and the microbes and microorganisms we come in contact with. So, if you fit this description, could you please answer the following questions?

 

1. What do you like most about your job?

 

2.What do you like least about your job?

 

3.How did you get your start? What did you do during/after high school to get to where you are?

 

4.What advice would you give to a student looking to eventually enter your career?

 

5.What is your favorite type of cell?

 

 

Thank you to those who take me seriously! I appreciate your time.

[CharonY]

To be fair, your description actually mixes different types of research directions. For example it is mostly microbiologists that look at biota, even in humans. There is certainly a certain overlap, depending on the aspects of human/microbiota interaction. Human genetics has usually different directions, some that may be medical, some that are not. But with few exceptions (a handful of groups maybe) there is little overlap. Also there is the question what you look at, e.g. genetics on the population level, or genetics on the molecular level.

 

With regards to the the actual career, most fundamental biomedical research is conducted in universities. Some is done in companies, usually for applied research (including development of products). Research teams may contain technicians (usually master's degree) as well as researchers with a PhD. In academia there are few permanent positions that are mainly involved in research. Most tenured positions involve heavy teaching loads. And these are usually very competitive. Being actual in the lab tends to be a phase during your career that you have to grow out of to a certain extent (unless you go the technician route).