Biomedical researchers investigate best practices in human health and discover new health solutions. They may test the effectiveness of a drug or investigate the potential of different natural substances or chemicals to become new drugs, both skills that require an understanding of biology and chemistry. They may also perform trials of the effectiveness of medical devices such as pacemakers or MRIs or do research to develop new devices, for which they must be proficient in biology, chemistry, and physics.
A variety of college majors cater to future medical researchers, including biology, microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry, and physics. Students who are interested in the field should have some core training in life science. Ohio State University has actually developed a specific major in biomedical science that prepares students for medical school but also offers research and social policy courses, with the opportunity for undergraduates to begin participating in cutting-edge medical research in their first year of school. Research opportunities like these have been shown to improve the chances that a student will stick with the degree, according to “Inside Higher Ed.” Biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and biochemical engineering are majors that give undergraduates the flexibility of moving directly into the workforce, if they are not ready for graduate school immediately after receiving their bachelor’s degrees.
Regardless of the particular aspect of medical research a student wants to pursue, a graduate doctoral degree, either a Ph.D. or an M.D., is required. Some researchers have both, and many medical schools offer dual-degree programs. These graduate degrees typically require seven years to complete and are extremely rigorous, though in the case of the Ph.D., full financial support is often provided.
Because they help develop new drugs and medical treatments, biomedical researchers play a huge role in economic expansion, according to "Forbes" magazine. But many students who start science and math, or STEM degrees, in college switch to different majors - about 40 percent of all first-year students. Educators believe that this is partly because science professors have traditionally been more focused on research than on quality teaching and because students often want to see an immediate connection between their studies and their impact on the world. Biomedical research is responsible for many dramatic improvements on the condition of human life and is a well-paid career - don't give up on this field when courses become tough.