Is Medicine the right course if I want a career in research?

will90099

I am a leaving cert student currently aspiring to hopefully get a future career in medical research like immunology, genetics, drug development etc. I was always thinking of doing pharmacy as chemistry is my favourite subject, but the medicine course is apparently the best option to begin a career in medical research as you can apply for masters and specialise and its more prestigious.

Does anyone have any good advice on what the best course would be to get a career in medical research? Thanks

echo beach

If chemistry is your favourite subject that doesn't mean you should do pharmacy, or medicine. There isn't that much chemistry in the pharmacy degree and probably less in medicine.
If you want to study chemistry do a science degree. Doing medicine may be the best choice but think long and hard about the amount of work over many years that it will involve before you get to do any research.

It is difficult for anyone to know what they really want in their teens. There are no end of opportunities and ways to reach your goal so keep your options open.

will90099

will90099 wrote: »

I am a leaving cert student currently aspiring to hopefully get a future career in medical research like immunology, genetics, drug development etc. I was always thinking of doing pharmacy as chemistry is my favourite subject, but the medicine course is apparently the best option to begin a career in medical research as you can apply for masters and specialise and its more prestigious.

Does anyone have any good advice on what the best course would be to get a career in medical research? Thanks

Hi, I'm currently doing medical research in immunology. If you're interested in a career in research you should definitely do a science course that interests you, not medicine. While you can (and are expected to) do some research during a medical career it's definitely not 'more prestigious', nor will it be your priority or day job as a doctor. The majority of your time will still be spent working in hospitals and seeing patients, not in the lab.

The standard path to a career in research is to do an undergraduate degree in a science, followed by a PhD, with the option of doing a masters in between if you feel the need. A PhD is a higher degree by research so once you've completed that you're qualified for research jobs.

I'd recommend if you're interested in medical research to look into some of the undergraduate degrees that 'specialise' in this; Human Health and Disease in TCD and Biomedical and Life Sciences in UCD are both science courses with a focus on human biology and clinical research. If you're interested in chemistry and drug design a course like Molecular Medicine in TCD might suit you better. Those are just the ones I know off the top of my head so go do some reading about the different science courses available to you. Your best option is to pick one that seems the most interesting /enjoyable; as long as they include a research project component no particular course will give you an advantage in getting a PhD position after.

will90099

Deleted User wrote: »

Hi, I'm currently doing medical research in immunology. If you're interested in a career in research you should definitely do a science course that interests you, not medicine. While you can (and are expected to) do some research during a medical career it's definitely not 'more prestigious', nor will it be your priority or day job as a doctor. The majority of your time will still be spent working in hospitals and seeing patients, not in the lab.

The standard path to a career in research is to do an undergraduate degree in a science, followed by a PhD, with the option of doing a masters in between if you feel the need. A PhD is a higher degree by research so once you've completed that you're qualified for research jobs.

I'd recommend if you're interested in medical research to look into some of the undergraduate degrees that 'specialise' in this; Human Health and Disease in TCD and Biomedical and Life Sciences in UCD are both science courses with a focus on human biology and clinical research. If you're interested in chemistry and drug design a course like Molecular Medicine in TCD might suit you better. Those are just the ones I know off the top of my head so go do some reading about the different science courses available to you. Your best option is to pick one that seems the most interesting /enjoyable; as long as they include a research project component no particular course will give you an advantage in getting a PhD position after.

Thanks so much that's really useful advice I am also worried about job prospects if I want to go into research. Do you know if there are many opportunities currently? Genetics and Immunology are 2 areas that really interest me. I was thinking about medicine and pharmacy but the worry was for me is that they are too focused on their respective professions and don't really take into account careers in academic research.

will90099

will90099 wrote: »

Thanks so much that's really useful advice I am also worried about job prospects if I want to go into research. Do you know if there are many opportunities currently?

It 's very competitive in academic research (ie working in a university), only about 10% of PhDs will get permanent jobs in academia. However there's no shortage of opportunities outside academia, whether it be research in industry (eg pharma companies etc) or other non-research science jobs. You won't know what you want to do until you get to that stage though so for now just be rest assured that you'll have no problem getting a job with a science PhD!

will90099

echo beach wrote: »

If chemistry is your favourite subject that doesn't mean you should do pharmacy, or medicine. There isn't that much chemistry in the pharmacy degree and probably less in medicine.
If you want to study chemistry do a science degree. Doing medicine may be the best choice but think long and hard about the amount of work over many years that it will involve before you get to do any research.

It is difficult for anyone to know what they really want in their teens. There are no end of opportunities and ways to reach your goal so keep your options open.

Would the general science degree in TCD be a good idea to pursue or is it not too important what initial degree I choose

will90099

will90099 wrote: »

Would the general science degree in TCD be a good idea to pursue or is it not too important what initial degree I choose

That would be an excellent choice if you want flexibility in the field you ultimately specialise in, but you can go into research from any science degree so don't feel tied down to just that course!

will90099

Deleted User wrote: »

It 's very competitive in academic research (ie working in a university), only about 10% of PhDs will get permanent jobs in academia. However there's no shortage of opportunities outside academia, whether it be research in industry (eg pharma companies etc) or other non-research science jobs. You won't know what you want to do until you get to that stage though so for now just be rest assured that you'll have no problem getting a job with a science PhD!

Thanks again are university exam results quite important so and taken into account when going for a job?

Jlayay

Doing medicine right now! If you are strictly into research and not into patient care or treating patients, then I think a science degree followed by a research PhD would be the right course for you.

There's definitely clinical research in medicine and a lot of physicians do take part in research, but they do that alongside patient care. So it is down to your interests.

will90099

Jlayay wrote: »

Doing medicine right now! If you are strictly into research and not into patient care or treating patients, then I think a science degree followed by a research PhD would be the right course for you.

There's definitely clinical research in medicine and a lot of physicians do take part in research, but they do that alongside patient care. So it is down to your interests.

Ya I am really not into patient care I would only do it for the sake of the medicine course. I know it's stupid and not right to look at courses based on points but that is kinda what I am doing. Like I am really worried about employability after and would a medicine degree stand me in a better position

spurious

will90099 wrote: »

Ya I am really not into patient care I would only do it for the sake of the medicine course. I know it's stupid and not right to look at courses based on points but that is kinda what I am doing. Like I am really worried about employability after and would a medicine degree stand me in a better position

Seriously, listen to what people are saying on this thread.
If all you want is employability, you could do a Level 5 PLC for Healthcare Assistant. They are always being looked for.

will90099

will90099 wrote: »

Thanks again are university exam results quite important so and taken into account when going for a job?

Yes, of course your exam results are important. Scientific research is intellectually challenging so if you want to work in research you'll need to work hard, as getting a PhD position is competitive and not something I would recommend you pursue if you don't perform well in university. You'll need a minimum of a 2.1 in your degree to be considered for most PhD positions.

How many points your course was is entirely irrelevant once you get into college and won't be a factor when you apply for PhDs or science jobs. Seriously, if you don't want to be a doctor don't do medicine (ditto for pharmacy etc); there's lots and lots of good science courses that would be an excellent foundation for a career in research, or other science related (and unrelated!) careers should you decide research isn't for you (which plenty of people do, it's hard to know it's what you want to do until you've tried it!)

echo beach

will90099 wrote: »

Ya I am really not into patient care I would only do it for the sake of the medicine course. I know it's stupid and not right to look at courses based on points but that is kinda what I am doing. Like I am really worried about employability after and would a medicine degree stand me in a better position

If you aren't into patient care don't do medicine. You will be miserable and it isn't fair on sick people.
Lots of people do medicine or pharmacy just because they get the points and their schools and parents push them towards it. There is a feeling that doing a science degree is a 'waste ' of points because you could get in with less than you achieve. This is complete nonsense. Points are set by supply and demand and have nothing to do with the merits of the course.
A student with the potential for high points has the potential to get a first class honours degree and do a PhD, when you can call yourself doctor if that is what you really want. More important you will be very employable, if not in the mega bucks league.
The rare ability to see beyond points and narrow career options will stand you in better stead than exam results.

will90099

Thanks everyone for the advice. From what it looks like I will definitely look more into a science degree as it looks like a better option than a medicine or pharmacy degree if I want to do research in the future.
TCD have a general science course that would definitely look like a good choice currently.
Am planning on going to a career guidance counsellor for more advice. Thanks.

will90099

spurious wrote: »

Seriously, listen to what people are saying on this thread.
If all you want is employability, you could do a Level 5 PLC for Healthcare Assistant. They are always being looked for.

Employability is not the only thing I am looking for but obviously it's interesting to know though but it is certainly not my main priority.

zl1whqvjs75cdy

I would suggest that if your worried about employability you should look at a degree with a placement in a company included. The dcu biotechnology degree is very well thought of in industry,and can provide both research and industrial careers down the road. Just my 2 cents.

will90099

I did research online and asked a career guidance counsellor for advice and he recommended I do medicine as I will have more options in the future.

Fishorsealant

Don't take this the wrong way but as a leaving cert student I presume you in fact know very little about genetics, immunology and drug development. Not that I am claim to be an expert in any of these fields myself but if you could get some work experience in these areas or try learning a bit more about them yourself first. It's just that clinical subjects at university don't really share any resemblance with the leaving cert subjects imo. I would be skeptical about any leaving cert student who tells me they are very interested in studying such specific things.

aine92

You'll have more options in the future down the line if you do medicine, but research probably won't be one of them. Dont listen to your guidance counselors, listen to the 10 other people working directly in this field that have first hand experience.

Med isn't a career you take lightly and you will struggle from day 1 if you did not choose it for the vocation it is.