How do I Become a Genetic Scientist?

The mysteries of DNA and genetics are being unraveled genetic scientists. Locating, analyzing, and decoding genes, as well as genetic mapping, could be part of the job. To work as a genetic scientist, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and, in some cases, a medical degree.

A college degree in chemistry or biology is beneficial in becoming a genetic scientist. Having a biology or chemistry major as an undergraduate will help you prepare for the more rigorous science studies you’ll encounter in graduate school. Additionally, getting good grades and having a high overall grade point average (GPA) in college can help you persuade a graduate program that you have the science knowledge and academic potential to succeed in graduate school.

Graduate school applications are typically submitted during the final semester of college. If you want to be a genetic scientist, you should get a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in genetics because jobs for those with less than a doctoral degree are scarce. The Ph.D. in genetics takes four to six years to complete and includes courses in biochemistry, biomedical ethics, biophysics, chemical systems biology, comparative medicine, and a dissertation on a genetics-related topic.

If you want to be a genetic scientist, you should consider going to medical school and earning a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree to supplement your knowledge of genetics and expand your career options. In fact, many genetic scientists hold MD degrees, and it is not uncommon for genetic scientists to leave their scientific lab work and pursue a career in medicine with patients. If you want to go to medical school, you’ll need to fill out a medical school application and take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), which evaluates your science, writing, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. Doing well on the MCAT is important because your MCAT scores will tell medical schools whether you have the potential to succeed in medical school.

After completing your education and becoming a genetic scientist, you can pursue a variety of career options. For example, you could work as a research genetic scientist at a university, doing both research and college teaching. A biotechnology company might be a good fit for you. Alternatively, you could work as a laboratory genetic scientist for a pharmaceutical company or a police department, conducting research to aid in crime investigations. By contrast, you could pursue a career as a medical geneticist or physician who specializes in diagnosing patients who have illnesses of genetic origin.