Career Opportunities for Majors in Genetics


Introduction

An undergraduate major in genetics is offered by the Department of Genetics within the Division of Life Sciences. Students in this major have the opportunity to participate in research and learn how discoveries in science are made. Courses cover a wide range of topics, from molecular genetics to genomics and bacterial physiology. This course of study prepares students for careers in biological research, biotechnology, and the health professions.

Most graduating majors attend graduate or professional school (medicine, dentistry, optometry, osteopathic medicine, etc.) or obtain a technical position doing research in industry or in an academic institution. Many careers do not require a specific major but rather a wide range of demonstrated skills and accomplishments. Regardless of your career choices, increase your marketability to employers through internships, responsible work experience, good grades and involvement in college activities. Job opportunities are substantially enhanced for students with other marketable skills such as computers, mathematics or language. A bachelor's degree is sufficient for many technician jobs in the medical field, lab/research assistant positions, or testing jobs. An advanced degree is required for most other positions in the scientific and medical research fields.

A Sample of Related Occupations

Biochemist Gene Therapist Parasitologist
Bioinformatics Technician Genetic Counselor Patent Specialist
Biomedical Researcher Geneticist Pharmaceutical Sales Rep.
Biophysicist Genomics Researcher Pharmaceutical Researcher
Biostatistician Hospital Administrator Physician Assistant
Biotechnologist Immunologist Plant Geneticist
Botanist Industrial Hygienist Public Health Assistant
College Professor Laboratory Technician Research Assistant
Cytogeneticist Marine Biologist Scientific Librarian
Ecologist Medical Doctor Teacher
Embryologist Medical Record Tech. Technical Writer
Environ. Health Educ. Medical Technician Toxicologist
Environ. Impact Analyst Microbiologist Veterinarian
Food & Drug Inspector Molecular Biologist Zoologist
Forensics Specialist Mycologist

Types of Employers

Private and Non-Profit Organizations
Biotechnology Firms Hospitals
Bioinformatics Centers Laboratories
Cell & DNA Repositories Medical Instrument Companies
Clinics Pharmaceutical Companies
Colleges/Universities Public/Private Schools
Environ. Consulting Firms Research Foundations
Forensic Labs Scientific Journals
Food Manufacturers Soap/Cosmetics Companies
Genome Research Centers Testing Labs
Health Care Providers Textbook Publishers

 
Government Agencies
Air Pollution Control Food & Drug Administration
Centers for Disease Control National Institutes of Health
Dept. of Agriculture NJ State Dept. of Health
Dept. of Environ. Protection OSHA
Environ. Protection Agency Peace Corps/Vista
Federal Bureau of Investigation

Jobs Obtained by Rutgers Graduates
 
Associate, BioArray Solutions Project Manager/Marketing Manager, Self Employed
Lab Technician, CABM Research Associate, Rutgers University
Lab Technician, Rutgers University Research Scientist, Fox Chase Cancer Center
Lab Technician, Univ. of Vermont School of Medicine Scientific Recruiter, Kelly Scientific Resources

 
Graduate Schools Attended
Cornell Univ., Weill Grad. Sch. of Medical Sciences (PhD Genetics) Univ. of Medicine & Dentistry of NJ (MS Biomedical Sciences)
U. Mass., Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (PhD Gene Expression) Univ. of Medicine & Dentistry of NJ, NJ Medical School (MD)
Univ. of Medicine & Dentistry of NJ (PhD Neuroscience) Univ. of Pennsylvania (PhD Cell & Molecular Biology)



 

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Created by the Rutgers University, New Brunswick Career Services staff

 

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Updated 7/2/07

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