Pharmaceutical science is a fascinating career path. If you have a passion for science, improving lives, and a curiosity for how unexpected organic items and chemical compounds can be used in medicine, a career in drug development may be right for you. Here’s how to begin a career in drug development.
Academic Requirements
To become a pharmaceutical scientist, you must have a strong interest in mathematics, biology, chemistry, and the scientific process. A college education is required for a career in drug development. In college, it’s best to major in pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacy, biology, chemistry, medicine, or engineering.
Soft Skill Requirements
Like most career paths, good communication skills are important. Drug development can be a very long process, so you’ll need to be able to stay motivated and help keep your entire team energized.
Failure is not uncommon in drug development. You must be able to handle failure and disappointment, as many drugs do not make it to the market.
Choosing a Focus
One of the most important steps in how to begin a career in drug development is choosing a focus. The drug development cycle is made up of multiple processes. Most pharmaceutical scientists will specialize in one specific area of one of the main stages.
A few common specializations include:
- designing new drug therapies using natural or synthetic ingredients
- uncovering new ways to use existing drugs to treat different types of disease
- studying the effects of disease and medication
- determining the most effective formulation and dosage for a specific drug
- work on improving the drug manufacturing process
- ensuring the consistent quality of prescription medications
Where To Work
Once you’re qualified to be a pharmaceutical scientist, it’s time to figure out where to work. Pharmaceutical scientists are employed by many institutions—from large drug manufacturing and biotech companies and contract research organizations (CROs) to academic institutions and governmental agencies.
You’ll likely work in laboratories as part of a large team of scientists and technicians developing new drug therapies. Others teach and work in offices near universities or hospitals, supervising clinical drug trials, or in manufacturing centers, overseeing the large-scale production of medications.
