Welp MagazineIf you’re interested in finding a career in laboratory science, you’ll want to know all your options going in. But there are so many different fields within laboratory science, so where do you start? Familiarize yourself with the different careers that are in laboratories and their titles so that you know what positions to start looking for.
Laboratory Technicians
Every laboratory needs lab technicians. These positions help prepare specimens for experiments and oversee basic laboratory procedures. However, don’t confuse lab technicians with laboratory technologists, who handle more complex chemical and biological tests. In fact, laboratory technologists may supervise the laboratory technicians while they perform certain tests and follow instructions. If you’re considering starting your own laboratory, you’ll need to hire laboratory technicians to help with these everyday tasks.
Laboratory Professionals
Both laboratory technicians and technologists fall into the category of “laboratory professionals,” though there are many other positions included in this title. Other types of laboratory professionals include cytotechnologists, histotechnologists, phlebotomists, molecular biologists, clinical chemists, and cytogenetics technologists. These positions all have different specifications and job requirements; however, they all involve working in the lab and performing experiments. These laboratory professionals may analyze cells, examine microorganisms, test drug levels, and more.
Pathologist
Pathologists are specialty physicians who possess a degree in the medical field as an MD or DO. These physicians lead organ and tissue sample examination and use this information to make diagnoses. Pathologists oversee the lab process of analyzing laboratory tissue samples and more. Like how laboratory professionals have many distinctions, there are many kinds of pathologists as well. One can study to be an anatomic, forensic, clinical, surgical, or veterinary pathologist, which will determine your specialization.
When it comes to the different careers that are in laboratories, there are many positions to choose from. That’s why it helps to familiarize yourself with the jobs that involve working in the laboratory. Hopefully, this brief dive into the field of laboratory science acts as the stepping stone you need to find the right job for you.
