For many of us, the idea of a job in science conjures up thoughts of pretty broad-stroke careers such as biologist, doctor, or engineer. We start to wonder how on Earth there can be a need for more research into certain topics and maybe even ponder the possibility that we are running out of new things to discover. These thoughts couldn’t be more wrong – in fact, the field of science is alive and well and growing faster than ever!
If you have ever been even the slightest bit curious about why something is built the way it is or how certain processes in natural systems work, or even something as simple as how to communicate better with your peers, chances are a science-related position is behind discovering the answers. Indeed, science-related jobs are the foundation of how our world works. Unfortunately, the vast majority of people only scratch the surface of the possible science careers out there.
But how does someone interested discover all of these jobs? Better yet, once you do find your dream career, how do you make sure you are qualified to land the position?
Some of the Craziest Jobs You Can Dream Up
What is the strangest thing you can imagine doing for a living? Chances are, there is someone out there living that life. Take these crazy science jobs for example. Here are some more weird jobs you could do thanks to science:
Fermentation Scientist: Like beer? Wish there was some way you could get paid to taste beer and tinker around with the fermentation process all day? Turns out you can! Fermentation scientists, or zymologists, are professionals who study the microorganisms that are involved in the fermentation process. They specialize not only in different fermented foods such as beer, cheese, or pickles but also in different stages of the fermentation process.
Insect Counter: It might come as a shock, but insects are a really important part of our ecosystems and are responsible for nearly all of the foods we have to eat. But overall insect populations are in decline globally. Entomologists, scientists who study every aspect of insect lives, are working to get a handle on the problem, which means collecting, identifying, and counting insects.
Cosmetic Scientist: If you’re into beauty products you might consider a career in cosmetic science. These are the professionals that are responsible not only for the scent and compositions of our shampoos, conditioners, makeup, and other bathroom products but also the safety of them. You could be responsible for the research of new products or the quality control testing of products already on the shelves among other things.
Sports Psychologist: many professional athletes are dealing with a lot of stress and many seek out professional help for dealing with it. Others are specifically looking for techniques to cope with game-day stress or blocking out the pressure to optimize their performance. This is where sports psychologists come in – they specialize specifically in the stressors that athletes are facing and help them work through them.
Aquarist: Have you ever wondered who puts together the tropical aquariums in museums or other natural resource centers all across the globe? Another scientist is responsible for this. Aquarists are professionals who work to create and maintain healthy, realistic ecosystems for fish that come from all over the world for people to learn about.
Getting Qualified for Your Dream Career
Attaining one of these crazy careers will take a fair amount of work and may end up being a pretty winding route. For instance, most science positions require at least a Bachelor’s degree in some sort of broad science fields such as biology, chemistry, physics, or engineering. Many also look for professionals that have a second degree that allows them to specialize a bit more. For example, an entomologist may get a Bachelor’s degree in biology and a higher-level degree specifically in entomology.
Many science-based, or STEM, careers have a real gender bias, which can make breaking into them harder for women. Increasing the number of women in STEM careers has been a major goal of educational policy experts (some of whom are scientists studying social psychology and how people learn). The gender gap is slowly decreasing – in some fields more quickly than others – which is a positive sign.
If you have the education and the drive to pursue a career in science, you’ll have to gain experience, which may mean working from the bottom up. The first step in this entire process is building a strong resume that showcases your qualities and experience in order to catch the eye of your future employer. It takes work, but providing real examples is the best way to go.
There are hundreds of different, interesting careers in science fields. For nearly every question that gets an answer, there are thousands more that are waiting for the right scientist to come along. If science is something you are interested in, chances are you will lead a life searching for answers to some of the questions that interest you most.
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