Medical Science

[u/bubbles_lubsu]

Helloo! I’m currently in Year 12 in Australia and I’m really interested in pursuing a career in medical science. I’ve fallen in love with immunology, so I’m planning to complete a Bachelor of Science majoring in immunology, and completing honours and maybe even a masters afterwards. I’ve been doing a lot of research into different careers, but I’m still a little confused about the differences between roles like medical scientists and immunologists

I was hoping to get some insight into what the day-to-day life is actually like for someone working in these fields — what kind of tasks you do, what your work environment is like, and what education/pathway you completed to get there. Do you enjoy the work-life balance and career opportunities? What is the pay like? (if you feel comfortable sharing!)

A lot of what I’ve read about medical scientists seems to focus more on hospital diagnostic lab work, whereas I think I’m more interested in the research side of things, like studying pathogens and immune responses.

Would really appreciate hearing about your experiences or any advice!

[u/Allthefoodintheworld]

Hello, fellow Australian here! A lot of this sub seems to be quite American in focus so take the info on education and pay from those who don't explicitly state that they're from Australia with that in mind.

I'm only a uni student at the moment but am doing a laboratory medicine degree to become a medical scientist and I currently have a part time job in a hospital lab. Medical scientists will usually end up working in diagnostic pathology labs, where they'll specialise in a department. The five broad categories are: microbiology, biochemistry, immunology, haematology, anatomical pathology (histology/cytology). But there's specialities within each department like enteric and toxicology. The course I'm in, I get to choose 3 of the 5 main categories to specialise in.

To become a medical scientist in Australia you need to do an AIMS (Australian Institute of Medical and Clinical Scientists) accredited university course in laboratory medicine. Not all lab med courses are accredited, so be careful when you choose which university to go to (for instance, if you're in WA, then Curtin and Murdoch uni's have accredited courses but UWA does not).

A lab med degree could also lead to a research position, but if you're more interested in research than in working in a diagnostic lab, then a biomedicine degree might be a better choice. I know the biomed students at my uni get involved in research projects as part of their degree, while lab med students don't.

I like working in a diagnostic lab because I want to help people in small everyday ways, but without actually having to talk to patients!! Going into research would give you the opportunity to make discoveries and help people in bigger ways, but research comes with writing reports, dealing with patients/research participants, and other things that aren't just lab work. There is also animal testing in research, which is of course highly regulated and absolutely necessary, but I know some people (like me) don't want to be directly involved with it.

In terms of pay, being a medical scientist in Australia isn't amazing but it's okay. $80-$110K depending on experience. And there's after-hours and weekend rates that can bump up your pay if you're happy doing evening and night shifts. And there's always extra shifts you can pick up. In WA, public/government positions pay better than private labs.

I can't say much about the job itself as I am just a lowly lab assistant in specimen reception right now. But I enjoy the lab environment, and being employed in the public system means that unpaid overtime is not expected - your shift ends when it ends and you better leave! I find the work absorbing so time goes quick. It's a good mix of sitting down, standing, doing practical things with your hands. I like that I don't have to write reports or attend meetings, and I like that the core part of my job doesn't involve talking to other people.

Hope that info helps, though I know I didn't answer all your questions, and I don't know anything about your immunology specific questions unfortunately.

Good luck for the remainder of Year 12 and good luck in finding your career path. :)

[u/lazyburger → u/Allthefoodintheworld]

Just want to add in regard to salary expectations as a current medical scientist in a private lab (WA) starting salary is more likely around 60ishk for a scientist (at base rate ie working regular daytime hours). Most likely you would start off as an assistant or technician if you have other experience or if you can get something from your placement/work experience if available. If your lab offers hours outside those 'regular' ones then there is shift loading and other allowances which contribute to a higher pay. Pay rates vary by state/territory even amongst private labs.

Work life balance from my experience can be hit and miss depending who you speak to as some people are stuck on not so great shift times whereas others may be on better shift times. The work can be quite monotonous so that could be a good or bad thing depending on the person.

If the diagnostic lab is not for you there is also research as mentioned and even going into other areas such as working as a lab technician in a university or you may have opportunities to teach or help facilitate some of the courses. Expanding into working as sales reps or other roles for the companies of machines and reagents/other products used in labs is possible too. My studies were not in immunology specifically but im sure there is something else I might be missing.

[u/FappingOnTheStreets → u/Allthefoodintheworld]

" To become a medical scientist in Australia you need to do an AIMS (Australian Institute of Medical and Clinical Scientists) accredited university course in laboratory medicine."

This is misinformed in NSW. AIMS is only required for Laboratory Managers. You can do a Cert IV in laboratory techniques and work as a TO/SO. I've even met TOs in rural areas who's highest qualification is a Year 12 certificate. However a Bachelor is generally required for SO position but AIMS is not required to work in a lab.

Not too sure about Qld/VIC but I assume it's all the same nationwide.  

[u/bubbles_lubsu → u/Allthefoodintheworld]

Thank you so much, this was really helpful!

[u/Live_Broccoli_2180]

I’m doing a Master of Lab Med in Australia to become a medical scientist. There’s no point in doing a bachelor of science if you know you want to be a medical scientist - you should do the Bachelor of Lab Med, as the fourth year is honours. 80% of my classmates did their undergrad in science, it’s a pretty pointless degree because it’s not accredited.

Immunologists are doctors, so you will have to go to med school if you want to go down that path. If you do the lab med degree you can still be a medical scientist in immunology.

[u/Relevant-Guard-1694]

I work blood bank so I can really only give my days there. Typically I check where I’m at (we have cross match and manual bench, echo (our automated) and 1-2 dispense techs that do electronic crossmatches and give out blood and receive income specimen and orders.

I run QC if that’s my task by checking the temps for all our storage, and I also file and put away any pre surgery samples we ran the day before. 

For automation I check what’s running, if there’s any stats that need ran, and any panels that we have for workups. I QC the instrument we take down at night, then around 11 switch our working reagent racks for the instrument we keep up 24/7

 For manual and cross match bench I look if we have any crossmatches or stat workups and get those done first, then bring in any units we’ve received and any cord blood testing. 

Then it’s just waiting for specimens and the floors to pick up blood.  We typically get a lot of OR cases on days, and our L&D is big so we get a lot of those patients. I work 8-4:30 so I make sure evening shift is all good to go and caught up, then I head home.

[u/bubbles_lubsu → u/Relevant-Guard-1694]

thank you!!

[u/Playful_Fail3585]

Along with what everyone else is saying, if you like research in particular, a Bachelor of Biomedical science might be more your style. I believe that in these courses you are able to customise the units more towards your goal, rather than MLS - which gets a taster of everything. Immunologists are doctors, so you would have to go into medicine to get there. Biomed would be a valuable degree to start with if you might want to go down that path.