Biology A-Level

MICROBIOLOGIST:

By understanding microbes, microbiologists aim to solve a range of problems affecting our health, the environment, climate and food and agriculture. This can include the prevention, diagnosis and control of infections and disease, as well as ensuring that food is safe, understanding the role that microbes play in climate change, and developing green technologies.

As a microbiologist, you’ll focus on the biology of microorganisms at both the molecular and cellular level, as well as their ecology, including viruses, bacteria, archaea, fungi, algae and protozoa.

Microbiology is a vast subject which overlaps with other areas of life sciences, such as molecular biology, immunology and biochemistry.

Specialist areas include:

• medicine
• healthcare
• research
• agriculture and food safety
• environment and climate change

Tasks vary depending on your area of specialism. For example, clinical scientists working in microbiology will be involved in preventing, diagnosing and controlling the spread of infections, whereas those working in manufacturing may be involved in quality control, checking for signs of contamination.

RESEARCH SCIENTISTS (Medical & life sciences):

As a medical research scientist, you’ll plan and conduct experiments to increase the body of scientific knowledge on topics related to medicine. You’ll also develop new, or improve existing, drugs, treatments or other medically-related products.

Medical research takes place in higher education institutions, research institutes, hospitals and industry. The level of research is wide ranging from investigating the underlying basis of health or disease, to conducting clinical research and investigating methods of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human disorders.

Molecular level research may be carried out using appropriate cell and animal models, or human volunteers may be used to study the clinical effects of various factors.

As a researcher in life sciences, you’ll mostly be involved in planning and conducting experiments and analysing results. This could either be for a definite end use, such as to develop new products, processes or commercial applications, or to broaden scientific understanding in general.

You’ll usually carry out your experiments and research on your own, but you’ll typically be part of a larger team and will share your findings and relevant information with colleagues. This is sometimes done at international conferences or through the publication of research papers.

You can find employment in commercial or government laboratories, hospitals and higher education institutions.

MEDICINE:

Medicine is a vocational degree, allowing you to develop both the practical and clinical skills specific to medicine and the professional and personal attributes necessary to become a doctor.

Jobs directly related to this degree include:

• Anaesthetist
• Cardiologist
• Clinical radiologist
• General practice doctor
• Hospital doctor
• Neurologist
• Ophthalmologist
• Pathologist
• Psychiatrist
• Surgeon

VETERINARY:

Veterinary surgeons provide medical care to a range of animals, from domestic pets to those in farm and zoo settings and wild animals with injuries

Your role as a veterinary surgeon (often known as a vet) will be to safeguard the health and welfare of animals. It’s likely you’ll do this in a general practice, where you’ll be responsible for the medical and surgical treatment of a range of animals.

You’ll use your practical skills and knowledge of animal physiology, nutrition and medicine to diagnose illnesses, prescribe medicines and perform surgery. You’ll also manage anaesthesia during procedures and will work to prevent disease in animals and the spread of disease.

As a veterinary surgeon, you’ll need to:

• work from a surgery or visit animals in their living environments, such as a farm or stables
• carry out home visits, which only some vets do
• handle, examine and treat all species of animals, including domestic animals, farm livestock and horses
• meet and consult with the owners and carers of various animals, including zookeepers
• carry out tests such as x-rays, blood samples and ultrasound scans
• give advice to farmers on issues such as nutrition, breeding and herd health
• routinely visit farms to check the health of livestock
• immunise animals against different types of disease
• euthanise old and terminally ill animals
• perform surgery, including managing anaesthesia
• work on out-of-hours emergency cases when on call
• provide suitable paperwork for animals travelling abroad, as well as inserting identification microchips
• maintain up-to-date records
• liaise with, and refer to, other professionals within the industry
• inspect certain animal products to ensure they are safe for human consumption
• manage the practice finances, promotional activities and recruitment, if you work as a practice partner research diseases, test and manage infection outbreaks, investigate food safety issues and complete paperwork for pet passports, if you work for a government agency.