Geneticist

Earnings (Yearly Median): $107,460 per year (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023)

Employment and Outlook: Average growth (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022–2032 employment projections)

O*NET-SOC Code: 19-1029.03

Related Career Clusters: Health Science; Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources

Scope of Work

Geneticists study the traits and characteristics passed through heredity from parent to offspring in an organism. The information they uncover about genes can help these scientists learn more about the development of an individual's physical traits at a molecular level. It can also reveal more information about a species, as well as how a given population of that species is interconnected. Geneticists conduct research on genomes (the complete set of an organism's genetic information), DNA, and other biological features, compiling large quantities of data to create models and analytical frameworks. Based on their research, they often generate scientific reports and literature, including books and scholarly articles, that they present to scientific peers at conferences.

Education and Coursework

Geneticists typically complete several years of undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate education. At the undergraduate level (four-year college or university), they must take courses in a number of scientific disciplines. Among these are mathematics and chemistry, biology, and other physical sciences. Aspiring geneticists may major in one or more of these scientific disciplines, with an emphasis on biology. They also need to take courses in computer science and statistics, which will prove essential in doing genetic research. Undergraduates must also hone their writing, public speaking, and research skills by taking courses in social sciences in addition to physical and natural science courses.

After graduating from college, future geneticists pursue graduate degrees, beginning with master's degrees and then PhDs. Although some genetics-oriented students may stop at the master's level, the majority of these scientists continue to their doctorates. Earning a PhD in genetics can take between four and six years, although the dissertation phase can take longer. For the first few years of PhD programs, students take advanced courses in fields of relevance to genetics: biochemistry, molecular biology, botany, and agricultural sciences (the latter two are useful in the study of the genetics of crops and plant life). This coursework is structured and accompanied by work in a laboratory setting, giving students knowledge of the latest research techniques. After completing this coursework and the laboratory-training phase of their graduate education, candidates must embark on independent research projects, which are usually funded by the universities at which they are enrolled, government or private scientific foundations, or pharmaceutical manufacturers. This research will culminate in an extensive document known as a dissertation, which if completed, would be published in a relevant professional scientific journal. The dissertation is also an important tool for a job candidate: The research conducted at this level may help geneticists obtain jobs with either one of their project funders or other organizations.

Career Enhancement and Training

Most geneticists who begin their careers after graduate school obtain further training as entry-level laboratory or research assistants. In this capacity, they work with experienced scientists at universities, pharmaceutical, or other scientific research laboratory facilities. This training helps them apply the knowledge and experience they obtained in graduate school to researching genetics in specific fields of study, such as pharmaceutical development, crop genetics, and epidemiology. It will also help them develop new research techniques, formulate models, and write new scientific papers for publication.

In addition to their basic laboratory work, geneticists must become skilled in computer science. They need to be proficient in computer-modeling software, which is used to create multidimensional images and frameworks. Computer-modeling software is also essential in compiling and collating large quantities of data. Much of the fundamental knowledge and capability in this arena is obtained while at the undergraduate and graduate levels. However, as both software and technologies used for computer modeling evolve, biophysicists must keep abreast of these changes to conduct comprehensive research.

Geneticists must become highly proficient in computer software and related technologies. Much of their basic training should have been received at the undergraduate level, but as these computer applications continue to improve, it is useful for geneticists and their scientific peers to familiarize themselves with the latest in word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and database software.

Like other scientists, geneticists benefit greatly from networking with their peers through professional societies and associations. The American Genetic Association, the Genetics Society of America, and the American Society of Human Genetics are among the many genetics-related networking organizations in the United States and around the world.

Daily Tasks and Technology

The daily responsibilities of geneticists vary based on the field in which they apply their knowledge. In general, however, they collect samples, conduct research on genomes and related biological subjects, collate data, generate models, and use the information to generate reports and scientific papers. These responsibilities include utilizing existing research practices to analyze DNA samples, gene expression, protein complexes, and other basic genomic components.

When geneticists' research fails to yield further information, they may modify their analytical techniques or introduce new ones. Among the many different technologies used by geneticists are "electron guns," automated liquid-handling systems, and microbiology analyzers. Computers also play an essential role in geneticists' daily activities; laptops, as well as larger personal and analytical computers, are used heavily in the laboratory. In this arena, geneticists use analytical and scientific software, and bioinformatics. This is the application of computer and statistics systems to biological research), and basic operating systems and suites.

Geneticists' work is performed mainly in laboratory settings at universities, hospitals, private research facilities, and medical and pharmaceutical manufacturing organizations. Senior-level geneticists supervise laboratory staff including research assistants, interns, and technology operators. They maintain lab records and notebooks and review data collected by lab personnel. These genetic researchers carefully monitor the progress made by staff on their assignments and ensure that the tasks performed are consistent with the overall project's parameters and deadlines.

Many geneticists are also university professors, teaching related courses to undergraduate and graduate students. In this area, they develop curricula and course syllabi, grade papers and exams, and monitor students' projects in the laboratory. They also keep abreast of the work of their peers by reading scientific journals and other literature.

Furthermore, geneticists use the data and models generated through their research to write and publish reports, scientific papers, articles, and books. They must therefore use word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software to write these materials and present them to their superiors and their clients and to their peers at scientific conferences.

Earnings and Employment Outlook

Geneticists' annual earnings vary based on both the arena in which they work and the level of their experience. For example, entry-level geneticists may earn less than half of what some senior-level geneticists working in the private sector earn. For biological scientists in general, the median annual salary was estimated at $107,460 in 2023 by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Many biophysicists receive their pay through grants (one-time payments from a foundation or the government), which means that annual budgets can be subject to dramatic changes if the anticipated grants are not approved. Pay offered by pharmaceutical or medical manufacturers, for example, is more consistent.

Genetics is a relatively new scientific field, with much growth potential and enormous implications for the modern world. Geneticists can help predict and address genetic diseases and hereditary conditions as well as birth defects. They also make it possible for medical and pharmaceutical researchers to better understand and treat diseases. The technologies and research practices utilized in this field continue to unearth new information about the human genome. In light of this fact, genetics has expanding implications in health care, agriculture, and even archeology and paleontology, as geneticists are sometimes called upon to analyze specimens from millions of years ago. As a result, geneticists will continue to be in demand, with opportunities available in a wide range of industries.

Related Occupations

• Biochemist/Biophysicist: Biochemists and biophysicists focus on the chemical and mechanical aspects of a living organism.

• Epidemiologist: Epidemiologists study the root causes and spread of disease among humans and other organisms.

• Agricultural and Food Scientists: These researchers study the development and use of crops and food products, sharing a number of common areas of research with those of geneticists.

• Medical Doctor:Physicians obtain a wide range of coursework during their training, including genetics. In many situations, medical doctors and geneticists work together on research projects as well as with individual patients.

Future Applications

The life sciences fields, which include genetics, continue to grow, due in no small part to the need to understand inherited health conditions such as high cholesterol and certain types of cancer. Ongoing research on birth defects and genetic disorders promises steady developments in the field. Additionally, new technologies are being developed that are capable of analyzing genomic samples in greater detail than ever before. In light of these trends, demand for geneticists is growing, particularly for those with the knowledge and capability to utilize this technology. The pharmaceutical and medical industries call for frequent innovation, making the applications for genetics potentially vast.

In addition to healthcare applications, geneticists will be in demand as scientists research both genetically modified crops and the impacts of climate change on life on Earth (both in the past and present). Genetics has clear implications for these growing research areas as well as for those in the health care arena.

Bibliography

"Biochemists and Biophysicists." Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Dept. of Health, 17 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/biochemists-and-biophysicists.htm. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.

"Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023: 19-1029 Biological Scientists, All Other." US Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment Statistics, United States Department of Labor, 3 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes191029.htm. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.

"Summary Report for: 19-1029.03 - Geneticists." O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, 9 Aug. 2024, www.onetonline.org/link/summary/19-1029.03. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.