Becoming a neuroscientist is no easy task. It takes years of schooling and training to become a researcher in this field. But the journey is worth it, as neuroscientists are at the forefront of understanding how the brain works.
Many people choose to become neuroscientists because they are passionate about learning more about how the human mind works. Others may be drawn to the field because they want to find cures for neurological diseases. No matter what your motivation, there are many exciting opportunities in this field.
If you want to become a neuroscientist, here’s what you need to know.
1. What Is a Neuroscientist?
A neuroscientist is a scientist who specializes in the study of the nervous system. This includes the brain, spinal cord, and all the nerve cells and tissues that make up these organs. Neuroscientists are interested in understanding how the nervous system works, how it develops, and how it malfunctions in diseases. They use animal models, imaging technology, and a wide range of other scientific tools to answer basic questions about how the brain functions. However, many neuroscientists must also test their theories and discoveries in clinical trials with human participants.
The role of the neuroscientist is so important because it spans virtually every other field, including biology, psychology, chemistry, physics, and more. For instance, a neuroscientist can study how neurotransmitters work to affect mood with pharmacology; she can study how the brain creates memories using cellular-level imaging techniques, and she could study how the brain controls movement using genetic methods.
Neuroscientists look at the nervous system at all scales, from individual cells to whole organs. They can be involved in studying systems as large as the distribution of fibers in the optic nerve and studying them on a micro-scale (such as electron microscopy). Usually, neuroscientists specialize in specific topics within the nervous system, such as vision or memory.
However, neuroscientists don’t just study how the nervous system works; they also want to know why it doesn’t work in disease states. Neuroscientists may focus on a specific area of clinical research, such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease. Or, some neuroscientists may study various neurological disorders on their own. But all neuroscientists are interested in understanding how the brain functions normally and what happens when it malfunctions.
2. What Are the Duties and Responsibilities of a Neuroscientist?
Some of the duties and responsibilities of a neuroscientist include:
- Recruiting participants for clinical trials, experimental studies, or observational studies.
- Performing physical exams and behavioral assessments of study participants.
- Document any changes in the behavior of the study participant during the observation period.
- Administration patient follow-up after completing the clinical trial or experimental study.
- Diagnosing diseases related to the nervous system or brain.
- Conducting imaging tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scan of the human body.
- Diagnosing and treating nervous system-related problems using both surgical and non-surgical methods.
- Instructing surgeons during neurosurgeries.
- Analyzing patient data for clinical trials, experimental studies, or observational studies.
- Presenting findings during conferences and meetings with peers and other health professionals.
- Writing research papers to be published in peer-reviewed journals.
- Teaching medical students, interns, and residents how to perform clinical procedures related to the nervous system or brain.
3. What Are the Career options Available for a Neuroscience Major?
There are many different career paths that a neuroscience major can take. Some of the most popular options include brain surgeon, pediatric neurology specialist, clinical research assistant, and neuropsychologist. All these careers require at least a master’s degree in neuroscience or psychology. A bachelor’s degree in neuroscience is not enough to land you a job in a clinical setting.
– Brain surgeons treat diseases and injuries of the brain, spinal cord, nervous system, and surrounding blood vessels. A brain surgeon needs to complete four years of residency in general surgery followed by four more years in neurosurgery. After completing residency, they are eligible for board certification by the American Board of Neurological Surgery.
– Pediatric neurology specialists are doctors that specialize in diagnosing and treating diseases related to the nervous system or brain of children. A pediatric neurology specialist needs to complete four years of residency in pediatrics followed by three years of fellowship training in child neurology under the supervision of an experienced pediatric neurologist. After completing the fellowship, they are eligible for board certification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
– Clinical research assistants are responsible for managing clinical trials, experimental studies, or observational studies. They monitor patients’ health throughout the study and keep track of their progress throughout the process. A clinical research assistant needs to complete a bachelor’s degree in science followed by a master’s degree in biomedical sciences with a special focus on clinical trials. A bachelor’s degree in neuroscience is not enough to land a job as a clinical research assistant.
– Neuropsychologists are psychologists who diagnose and treat diseases related to the nervous system or brain of the patients. A neuropsychologist needs to complete four years of undergraduate training followed by four more years in graduate school for specialized training in clinical psychology. After completing graduate school, they are eligible for board certification by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). A bachelor’s degree in neuroscience is not enough to land a job as a neuropsychologist.
– Other careers that require a master’s or doctorate degree include neurologist, psychiatrist, research scientist, and professor.
4. What Is a Typical Day Like for a Doctor?
A doctor’s day starts very early in the morning and often goes on until late at night. While some days are less hectic than others, being a doctor requires being on call 24/7. It can be common to work 12 or more hours a day, six to seven days a week. Before beginning their shift, doctors usually look at any new patient information that came in during the night and reviewed each case carefully.
Normally, doctors work in teams with nurses and other healthcare professionals. During the day, they communicate regularly to update one another on the patient’s condition. They may discuss their patients in rounds or review them individually in-office conferences before making any treatment decisions. Doctors also attend surgeries when necessary to perform medical procedures when it is required for the care of their patients.
5. Salary of a Neuroscientist
The average salary of a neuroscientist in the United States is $77,580. However, this number can vary significantly depending on the level of experience and education of the neuroscientist. A neuroscientist with a master’s degree typically earns around $50,000 annually, while those with a Ph.D. can earn upwards of $100,000. Some neuroscientists may also earn bonuses, commissions, or profit-sharing depending on their place of employment.
The salary of a neuroscientist depends on various factors, such as the location of their place of work, the number of years they have been in practice, and their education. For example, a neuroscientist working for a lab or pharmaceutical company could earn about $100,000 per year, while those employed by research institutions may earn around $95,000 annually. Neuroscientists who work in private practice or hospitals would typically make around $75,000 per year. However, this number also fluctuates based on the area of their specialization and education level.
6. The Job Outlook for a Neuroscience
Neuroscientists have a promising job outlook. There is a need for qualified professionals to fill open positions in the field of neuroscience, and many of these jobs are not filled due to a lack of qualified applicants. In order to be considered for one of these jobs, you must first undergo some training which can lead to careers in clinical research or academia. For those who want more hands-on experience, there are also opportunities as lab technicians or graduate students that will provide an excellent foundation for a future career in the field. It’s important to note that this profession requires patience and dedication because it takes up time from other activities such as family life and hobbies.
7. How Long Does It Take to Become a Neuroscientist?
It takes a minimum of 10 years to become a neuroscientist. A student must complete an undergraduate degree, followed by a graduate program in neuroscience. After that, they may pursue a career in research or teaching. There are also many opportunities for post-doctoral study and research.
The ten years are divided into many segments. Some students will complete their undergraduate degree in 4 years; others may take six or more years. Likewise, graduate programs generally require 4 to 6 years of study for completion, but some students may take longer if they are required to do a thesis instead of taking the non-thesis option or if they’re entering a master’s degree program after their undergraduate studies.
8. The Pros and Cons of Being a Neuroscientist
The best thing about being a neuroscientist is that it’s an exciting, rewarding job where you are able to make a difference in the lives of people. One of the main benefits is that you are always learning new things. It can allow you to travel and meet new people while getting paid for it.
One interesting benefit of being a neuroscientist is that the work isn’t done by 9-5 pm like many other jobs. Sometimes scientists have to spend long hours doing experiments or working on projects, but it can vary depending upon your career path and what you are working on.
Neuroscientists also always have opportunities for advancement in their field because they are always looking for those with the most knowledge and experience.
One of the disadvantages of being a neuroscientist is that it can be difficult to leave your house because you are always doing experiments, running tests, or studying literature. It is also not as easily accessible as some other jobs, which can make it difficult to enter into the field if someone doesn’t go to college for it.
Another disadvantage of being a neuroscientist is dealing with stress. There are times when scientists have to work long hours, personally ask friends and family for help, or even look outside their field of study for assistance. Another issue is that sometimes there can be disagreements between other scientists, which can hurt relationships, create bad publicity or even land someone in jail.
One of the main disadvantages of being a neuroscientist is that there have not been many major improvements in neuroscience in the past few decades. This means that most research has already been done, and what you are doing is just following along with it instead of innovating.
9. Top Recruiting Companies for a Neuroscientist
If you’re looking for a career in neuroscience, you’ll be happy to know that there are many great companies out there that are always on the lookout for talented neuroscientists.
Below is a list of just some of the top recruiting companies for neuroscientists. So don’t hesitate to apply if any of these companies catch your eye!
Neuroscience and Behavior Network (N&BN)
This company has been at the forefront of finding outstanding neuroscience talent since 1983. They place their candidates in both academic and industrial positions across all areas of neuroscience research.
Academy Group
As a specialist recruiter for scientific, medical, and technical professionals, this group recruits for various positions in neuroscience. They welcome scientists of all levels to apply and be considered for their roles.
Adecco Neuroscience
This company seeks top talent and provides temporary, contract, and permanent staffing services to employers in life sciences and healthcare organizations. They place skilled candidates with offices throughout the world.
Expert Network
They work with employers and job seekers in a number of different fields, including neuroscience. They’re unique because they feel that matching the right people to the right companies can provide long-term benefits for both parties.
Spencer Stuart
This company specializes in placing candidates in executive, board director, and senior-level management positions at private companies. They are contracted to recruit for neuroscience jobs that are not advertised publicly.
10. Best Colleges to Study Neuroscience
It is no secret that neuroscience is one of the most fascinating and rapidly-growing fields of study today. But with so many colleges to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you?
Here is a list of the ten best colleges to study neuroscience in the United States. These schools offer top-notch programs in this exciting field, as well as plenty of opportunities for research and hands-on experience. So if you’re interested in studying the human brain, these are some great schools to consider.
- 1. MIT
- 2. Caltech
- 3. Stanford
- 4. Harvard
- 5. Yale
- 6. Princeton
- 7. Brown
- 8. UPenn
- 9. Duke University
- 10. Johns Hopkins University
Conclusion
The field of neuroscientist is growing at an exponential rate. The demand for this type of work has never been higher, so it’s a great time to get in on the ground floor and start your career as one today! Whether you choose to specialize in brain-computer interfaces or opt-out of clinical neuroscience altogether, there are plenty of ways that you can apply what you learn about how the human mind works when crafting new strategies for success. We hope this article helped give you some ideas on where to go from here with your education goals.
