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Research and the lab

Biomedical Research Scientist

Investigates the causes of human disease and looks for better ways to diagnose, treat and prevent it, through lab and clinical research.

Biomedical research scientists work in universities, research institutes, hospitals and drug and biotech companies. It suits curious, persistent people who can live with failed experiments and enjoy working out why they failed.

Also called Medical researcher, Clinical research scientist, Postdoctoral researcher or Research fellow.

At a glance

Way in
PhD, often in biomedical science, biochemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology and medicine
Pay in the US
$103,410 a year, the medianFor medical scientists, except epidemiologists, 2025
Pay in the UK
£27,000 starting to £48,000 with experienceFor a research scientist, the nearest National Careers Service profile
US outlook
Much faster than average, 2025-2035
Suits you if
You are curious about disease and patient enough to test ideas again and again.

Pay is a guide: it moves with the country, the employer, the sector and the years in the job. Figures from O*NET OnLine (US) and the National Careers Service (UK); see the sources below.

The work

What does a biomedical research scientist do?

  • Plan experiments to test an idea about how a disease starts or how it might be treated.
  • Work with cells, tissues, model organisms or patient samples using a range of lab methods.
  • Analyse data with statistics and software and decide what the results really show.
  • Write grant applications and publish papers in scientific journals.
  • Present at conferences and supervise students and junior researchers.

Where they work

  • University research groups
  • Medical research institutes
  • Teaching hospitals
  • Pharmaceutical companies
  • Biotech start-ups

Skills

The skills a biomedical research scientist needs

  • Experimental designcontrols, replicates and testable questions
  • Lab methodscell culture, molecular techniques and imaging
  • Data analysisstatistics and coding in R or Python
  • Scientific writingpapers, grant bids and reports
  • Resiliencekeeping going when results do not come
  • Collaborationworking with clinicians, statisticians and other labs

Route in

How to become a biomedical research scientist

  1. Take a degree in biomedical science or a related life science, getting as much lab experience as you can.
  2. Go on to a PhD, straight after your degree or a research master's, or part time while working as a research assistant.
  3. Work as a postdoctoral researcher to build your skills, publications and contacts.
  4. Apply for fellowships or permanent posts to lead your own group, or move into industry research.

Degrees people take

  • Biomedical science
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular biology
  • Pharmacology
  • Medicine

Doctors can also become research scientists by combining clinical training with a PhD, as clinician scientists.

Practise for it

The quizzes and tools that fit

Also on biofideX

Next to it

Careers to weigh against it

Sources

Where the facts come from

Written for biofideX from these public sources. The pay figures are theirs, copied as published, last read 2026-10-25.

Requirements differ by country and change over time; check with the body that registers the profession where you will work. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we'll correct it.

Career Paths

55 careers, side by side

Each with what it asks, how people get in, what it pays and the quizzes that fit it.

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