• Question: How long do you have to train to be a scientist?

    Asked by maddie8879 to Darren, Deuan, Duncan, Lori-An, Michelle on 18 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Lori-An Etherington

      Lori-An Etherington answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      Hi, it depends on what you want to do in science. You could work as a science technician straight from school, a research assistant job requires you to have a degree in a science subject and for jobs like a postdoctoral research assistant you would need a science PhD. A degree usually takes 3-4 years and a PhD takes a further 4 years.

    • Photo: Darren Nesbeth

      Darren Nesbeth answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      The quickest would be 3 year BSc, 3 year PhD – so 6 years.

    • Photo: Deuan Jones

      Deuan Jones answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      I know one or two people who’ve found jobs in companies straight after school, there are also jobs as technical staff (experts in particular equipment for example) for people who’ve done a degree in a science subject. But most people doing research have a PhD. In England that means a 3 year degree and a 3 or 4 year PhD – a lot of people also do a year placement in a drugs company for example during their degree – so can be up to 8 years. By the time you start doing a PhD though you are actually doing science research, and by the end of a PhD you’re often not really any different from someone with a PhD.

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