StemCell Therapy

GENETICS

A major in genetics can lead to careers in fields as diverse as agriculture, criminology, and communication. Below is a list, by no means comprehensive, of careers geneticists pursue. Browse through this list to get an overview of each kind of career.

Common careers

Geneticists conduct research in various fields of science, ranging from agriculture to wildlife biology. The list below describes some areas of research, listed in alphabetical order, in these fields.

Education: The minimum educational requirement to be hired as a plant geneticist is a bachelors degree in biology, genetics, agriculture, or a closely related field. Since genetics draws heavily on mathematics, statistics, and biochemistry, a solid foundation in these subjects is also important.

The minimal educational requirement for a plant genetics research assistant position is a bachelors degree in genetics, agronomy, crop science, or a related degree. The skill set required of a research assistant varies according to the research project and can include experience in working with certain crops or knowledge of particular plant diseases, ability to maintain greenhouse plants and database inventory records, and ability to analyze phenotypic and genotypic data and perform molecular biology techniques such as PCR and Western blotting.

A masters and PhD degree will strongly increase opportunities to conduct independent research.

Places of employment: Plant geneticists can find work in federal, state, or local government laboratories; agricultural experiment stations; botanical gardens, arboretums, national parks; university laboratories; or private agricultural companies.

Useful links:

Careers in genetics and the biosciences: http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/education/careers-6new.pdf

Genetics and plant biology career snapshot: http://nature.berkeley.edu/site/forms/oisa/gpb_career_snapshot.pdf

How can genetic information be useful in natural resource management? http://www.grcp.ucdavis.edu/projects/GeneticFactsheets/Vol_02_print.pdf

Education and Places of employment: A certificate or an associates degree in medical or veterinary technology is the minimum qualification to work as a technician in an animal genetics lab. A bachelors degree in science (for example, genetics, biology, biochemistry, or poultry science) followed by a masters degree in an area of specialization is likely to increase job prospects. If youre interested in bioinformatics, besides biology, courses in math, statistics, and computer sciences are essential. A PhD is usually required for teaching at the college level or for conducting independent research.

Places of employment: Animal geneticists can find work in animal biotechnology companies, breeding companies, livestock genetics industries, zoos, non-profit organizations involved in the conservation of endangered species, hatcheries, universities, and the federal government.

Useful links:

Texas A&M University Animal Genetics Laboratory: http://catdnatest.org/TexasAM.html

Texas A&M University Equine Embryo Laboratory: http://vetmed.tamu.edu/equine-embryo-laboratory

Animal geneticist. Knowing genes. Improving animals: http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/usda/careers/pdfs/AnimalGeneticist.pdf

Education: The minimum qualification required to work as a research technician or a research assistant in a laboratory conducting genetics-based entomological research is a bachelors degree in entomology, genetics, molecular biology, or a related field. In addition to a strong science background, some research technician positions require experience in DNA-based techniques and in maintaining insectaries as well as computer skills to collect and analyze data. Masters and PhD degrees increase opportunities for research.

Places of employment: These include government agencies, pest control and agrochemical companies, nature centers, and universities.

Education: For research positions, the minimum qualification is a bachelors degree in genetics, biology, environmental science, ecology, botany, zoology, or a related field. Masters and PhD degrees increase opportunities for research.

Places of employment: These include federal agencies (for example, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service), private and non-profit conservation and environmental organizations, nature and forest preserves, zoos, botanical gardens, and universities.

Useful links:

Conservation geneticist. A variety of career directions: http://medicine.jrank.org/pages/2097/Conservation-Geneticist-Variety-Career-Directions.html

Conservation genetics. The University of Utah. http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/archive/conservation/index.html

Education: Refer to the Forensics major section

Places of employment: Refer to the Forensics major section

Useful links:

National Center for Forensic Science: http://ncfs.ucf.edu/index.html

Wildlife forensics: http://www.enotes.com/forensic-science/wildlife-forensics

DNA forensics: http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/forensics.shtml

Forensic genomics: http://www.forensicgenomics.nl//index.php?parentContentID=&contentID=8ba4ff43-d52c-4b56-a975-1ecedcb96ee4

Research careers in forensics: http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/previous_issues/articles/2006_09_15/research_careers_in_forensics/

Education: A strong foundation in mathematics and science is good preparation for research in human genetics. Masters and PhD degrees increase opportunities for research. An MD-PhD degree, which provides training in both clinical and basic science, increases opportunities to conduct translational research.

Places of employment: These include medical centers, research institutes, hospitals, and biotech companies.

Useful links:

The future of genetics. Career opportunities for young scientists. http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2006_09_29/noDOI.6711002142138644027

National Human Genome Research Institute Research Investigators: http://www.genome.gov/10000297

Microbial genetics involves studying the genetics of microbes such as bacteria and fungi. Listed below are some areas of research.

Education: An advanced degree in science may not be required for entry-level positions as a research assistant in a microbial genetics laboratory. However, a masters degree in genetics, genomics, or microbiology followed by a PhD increase opportunities for research.

Places of employment: These include government agencies, medical centers, universities, pharmaceutical companies, the agricultural industry, and diagnostic laboratories.

Useful links:

Bacterial geneticist/genomicist: http://www.genome.gov/GenomicCareers/career.cfm?id=1

(Also, explore areas of research within the fields of bioinformatics and computational genetics as they overlap with those in the field of statistical genetics.)

Education: Training to become a statistical geneticist can begin with an undergraduate degree in mathematics, statistics, physics, or computer science followed by a graduate degree in statistical genetics. It is also possible to begin with an undergraduate degree in biology or genetics followed by courses in statistics in graduate school. The key is to have a strong background in both biology and mathematics. Computer programming skills are an asset.

Places of employment: These include biostatistics and epidemiology departments in universities; state or federal genetic, genomic, or health centers (for example, the National Institutes of Health (NIH)); and biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and pharmacogenomic companies.

Useful links:

Count on it (Article from naturejobs.com on skills required and employment opportunities in statistical genetics): http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/2007/070222/full/nj7130-946a.html

Carolina center for genome sciences, Bioinformatics and computational biology training program: http://genomics.unc.edu/training/bcb.html

Statistical genetics short coursefeaturing Mendel software: http://genomics.unc.edu/events/statgen/ (This course was held in 2010, but check Web site for updates.)

University of Washington, Summer Institute in Statistical Genetics: http://www.biostat.washington.edu/suminst/sisg/general

University of Michigan, Center for statistical genetics: http://csg.sph.umich.edu/index.php (Examples of job descriptions within the field of statistical genetics)

Genetic Analysis Workshop. Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research: http://www.gaworkshop.org/index.html

A review on the field of statistical genetics: http://schizophreniabulletin.oxfordjournals.org/content/33/1/95.abstract

Statistical geneticist: http://medicine.jrank.org/pages/2857/Statistical-Geneticist.html

Nature Reviews Genetics. Computational genetics: http://www.nature.com/nrg/focus/compgen/index.html (Collection of papers on computational genetics)

Education: A bachelors degree in genetics, biology, biomedical science or a related field is the minimum qualification for entry-level positions as a research technician in the field of veterinary medicine. Masters and PhD degrees lead to opportunities to conduct independent research.

Places of employment: These include veterinary genetic laboratories, private companies that offer veterinary genetic services, universities, animal breeders, biotechnology companies, and medical research institutes.

Education: For research positions, the minimum qualification is a bachelors degree in wildlife biology, zoology, or a related field. Masters and PhD degrees increase opportunities for research.

Places of employment: Federal agencies (for example, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service), private and non-profit conservation and environmental organizations, nature and forest preserves, zoos, and wildlife genetics laboratories in universities.

Useful links:

Conservation genetics: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/archive/conservation/

Clinical geneticists are doctors who work with patients to identify, diagnose, and treat genetic diseases. They may also conduct research on genetic disorders; teach interns and residents about the diagnosis and management of clinical genetic disorders; and have administrative roles, for example, planning and coordinating large-scale screening programs for genetic diseases.

Education: After obtaining a medical degree, clinical geneticists complete 2 years of residency in medical disciplines approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), followed by a 2-year ACMGE-accredited residency in clinical genetics. They may then obtain certification (which involves passing an examination administered by the American Board of Medical Genetics) in one of four specialties: clinical genetics, clinical biochemical genetics, clinical cytogenetics, and clinical molecular genetics. (Clinical biochemical geneticists, cytogeneticists, and molecular geneticists may have either an MD or a PhD degree in genetics or a related biological science.)

Places of employment: Clinical geneticists work in research centers, hospitals, or medical centers or have private practices.

Useful links:

American Board of Medical Genetics. Training options: http://www.abmg.org/pages/training_options.shtml

American Board of Medical Genetics. Specialties of genetics. http://www.abmg.org/pages/training_specialties.shtml

Clinical geneticist. http://www.bookrags.com/research/clinical-geneticist-gen-01/

American Board of Medical Specialties: http://www.abms.org/who_we_help/consumers/about_physician_specialties/medical.aspx

Careers in genetics. Genetics Society of America: http://www.genetics-gsa.org/pages/careers_fisher.shtml

Clinical laboratory technologists or scientists perform chemical, biological, hematological, immunologic, microscopic, and bacteriological tests. For example, they may examine body fluids for the presence of bacteria, determine the concentration of compounds such as blood glucose, and prepare blood samples for transfusion. They not only perform laboratory procedures, but interpret test results, conduct research, develop new test methods, perform quality control, and supervise clinical laboratory technicians.

Technologists in large laboratories specialize in a particular field of laboratory science. For example, cytotechnologists examine cells for chromosomal abnormalities.

Education: The minimal educational requirement to qualify for an entry-level position as a clinical laboratory technologist is generally a bachelors degree with a major in medical technology or one of the life sciences.

Bachelors degree programs in medical technology include courses in chemistry, biology, microbiology, math, statistics, management, business, computers as well as specialized clinical laboratory science courses. These programs are offered by universities and academic medical centers, and graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree are eligible to apply to them.

To find a clinical laboratory scientist/medical technologist program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), refer to http://www.naacls.org/search/programs.asp.

Graduates of a clinical laboratory science program are eligible for national certification as a clinical laboratory scientist/medical technician by passing an exam administered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification. (For a listing of the certifications and qualifications offered by the board, visit http://www.ascp.org/boc.)

For information on the eligibility criteria for these examinations, visit http://www.ascp.org/FunctionalNavigation/certification/GetCertified/TechnicianCertification.aspx.

Certification and accreditation can also be obtained through the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) and the American Medical Technologists (AMT).

Useful links:

Clinical laboratory science program, MD Anderson. http://www.mdanderson.org/education-and-research/education-and-training/schools-and-programs/school-of-health-professions/programs-and-courses/clinical-laboratory-science/index.html

American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science: http://www.ascls.org/?page=Career_Toolkit

Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos096.htm

Cytogenetics is the study of chromosomal abnormalities underlying human diseases. A cytogeneticist prepares biological specimens such as blood, amniotic fluid, bone marrow, and tumors for chromosome analysis. This involves preparing cell cultures and staining chromosomes using techniques such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and knowledge of techniques such as PCR, fluorescence microscopy, nucleic acid purification, agarose gel electrophoresis, and immunofluorescence staining. For a detailed list of skills expected of cytogenetic technologists, refer to the PDF prepared by the Association of Genetic Technologists (AGT). You can find it here: http://www.agt-info.org/Documents/Cyto%20Statements%20of%20Competence%202001.pdf

Education: The minimum educational requirement to be a cytogenetic technologist is an undergraduate in genetics, biochemistry, or biology followed by a cytogenetic technology program and certification (which is required by some laboratories). Choose a cytotechnology program that is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.

An undergraduate degree in cytogenetics may be followed directly by certification. A national certification exam is offered by the Board of Registry of the American Society for Clinical Pathology.

Places of employment: Cytogenetic technologists may find work in research institutions, hospitals, and medical laboratories.

Useful links:

MD Anderson Cancer Center, cytogenetic technology program: http://www.mdanderson.org/education-and-research/education-and-training/schools-and-programs/school-of-health-professions/programs-and-courses/cytogenetic-technology/index.html

Mayo Clinic cytogenetic technology program: http://www.mayo.edu/mshs/cytogen-cytogen.html

Cytogenetic technology program: http://www.uthscsa.edu/shp/cyto/success.asp

Occupational network online, Cytogenetic technologists: http://online.onetcenter.org/link/summary/29-2011.01

Cytogenetic Technologist: http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/40/ls05-cytogen-tech.pdf

Health Careers Center, Cytogenetic Technologist:

http://www.mshealthcareers.com/careers/cytogenetictechnologist.htm

http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-i-become-a-cytogenetic-technologist.htm

http://education-portal.com/cytogenetic_technologist.html

Association of genetic technologists: http://www.agt-info.org/

Molecular genetic technologists study DNA for various purposes: to determine familial cancer risk, to diagnose neurological disorders, to identify microbiological agents, to match tissues for organ transplantation, to identify disaster or crime victims, and to determine parentage.

The following are some examples of skills molecular genetic technologists should have, according to the Statements of competence for molecular genetic technologists.

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