Advice for those wanting to pursue a Biomedical Science career

OP

Original post by BookWorm578

Do you do research? What do you do as part of your job roles? What career route(s) did you take? What did you study? Why microbiology? Do all microbiology labs smell badly?

We do sometimes research yes! we often look for ways to optimise the diagnostic pathway so we will evaluate different analytical methods and provide technical reports - sometimes they get published. but the vast majority of our work is diagnostic.

I studied for an accredited degree in Biomedical science. Initially I didn’t want to become a BMS I was going to do medicine, but I had such a good experience with my research project I decided to stay. After I graduated I worked for a water company as a chemistry analyst to get some professional lab experience then after than I moved into the NHS as a laboratory assistant. I did that for about 6 months then applied for a trainee Biomedical scientist post. Once I passed I went on to become a specialist.

I sort of fell into microbiology by accident. the pandemic hit and I saw an opportunity and took it and I ended up falling in love with it because it is a very varied role. Unlike most disciplines, it has not yet been completely taken over by automation. We are still very much as the bench culturing, dissecting tissue, analysing blood and doing a lot of microscope work and we liaise with clinicians a lot to discuss patient results.

Microbiology is so fascinating because you really do learn a lot about infection, and how antibiotics work and you learn a lot about how to interpret antibiotic sensitivities and the mechanisms that drive resistance - we use a lot of PCR for that sort of stuff. Yes, it can be smelly but not all of the smells are not always bad believe it or not… for example streptococcus anginosus (commonly causes abscesses) smells like caramel

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 3

Pkoy

1

Original post by 028CONWOCH01

Hi everybody! I recently joined this forum to offer my advice really. I am a specialist biomedical scientist working in medical microbiology. Happy to answer any questions for those wanting to enter the field and to try to shed some light on it as i never really had the correct info when I did my degree.

I would love some help, I’m looking to do a postgrad in Biomedical Science (Haematology), but my undergrad was in Forensic Science, so I don’t have a biomedical background. Would it be worth doing an accredited master’s and then aiming for a Band 2/3 job while completing top-up modules afterward? Also, since I didn’t do a biomed undergrad, could the top-up modules be a huge workload? Feeling a bit panicked and unsure about my options—any advice would be really appreciated!

Reply 4

Original post by 028CONWOCH01

Hi everybody! I recently joined this forum to offer my advice really. I am a specialist biomedical scientist working in medical microbiology. Happy to answer any questions for those wanting to enter the field and to try to shed some light on it as i never really had the correct info when I did my degree.

There are a few things about Biomedical Science that l found difficult to accept. First of all, the universities that offer accredited IBMS degrees are not elite ones, oddly enough. Second, as you have already pointed out, the profession is being largely automated, and l imagine AI will also reduce the need for qualified Biomedical Scientists in the future. Thirdly, there aren't that many openings for graduates in hospitals, and that has been an issue for decades. About 30- 35 years ago the profession wasn't regulated or accredited, so the lab work was done by lab assistants with little or no knowledge of Biomedical Sciences!

It is a career pathway that really doesn't have a great outlook. A minority of graduates may succeed in getting a job, and gradually rise up the ranks. The majority won't ever get a job in the profession, and will end up training for other NHS professions, or end up working in a university lab, or a company that offers routine lab services, such as Eurofins.

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 5

OP

Original post by Pkoy

I would love some help, I’m looking to do a postgrad in Biomedical Science (Haematology), but my undergrad was in Forensic Science, so I don’t have a biomedical background. Would it be worth doing an accredited master’s and then aiming for a Band 2/3 job while completing top-up modules afterward? Also, since I didn’t do a biomed undergrad, could the top-up modules be a huge workload? Feeling a bit panicked and unsure about my options—any advice would be really appreciated!

You need to have your undergraduate degree assessed by the institute of
biomedical sciences. you may need to do top
up modules

Reply 6

OP

Original post by Physician

There are a few things about Biomedical Science that l found difficult to accept. First of all, the universities that offer accredited IBMS degrees are not elite ones, oddly enough. Second, as you have already pointed out, the profession is being largely automated, and l imagine AI will also reduce the need for qualified Biomedical Scientists in the future. Thirdly, there aren't that many openings for graduates in hospitals, and that has been an issue for decades. About 30- 35 years ago the profession wasn't regulated or accredited, so the lab work was done by lab assistants with little or no knowledge of Biomedical Sciences!
It is a career pathway that really doesn't have a great outlook. A minority of graduates may succeed in getting a job, and gradually rise up the ranks. The majority won't ever get a job in the profession, and will end up training for other NHS professions, or end up working in a university lab, or a company that offers routine lab services, such as Eurofins.

You are of course welcome to your opinion. However, I disagree entirely. If you are a doctor you should know this… or do you just throw broad spectrum antibiotics at everyone and hope
for the best ?

Reply 7

Original post by 028CONWOCH01

You are of course welcome to your opinion. However, I disagree entirely. If you are a doctor you should know this… or do you just throw broad spectrum antibiotics at everyone and hope
for the best ?

What do you disagree on? I am not a medical doctor. The medical profession has it's own problems.

https://news.sky.com/story/amp/gps-working-as-uber-drivers-because-they-cant-find-jobs-as-medics-warn-of-unprecedented-crisis-13317540

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 8

OP

Original post by Physician

What do you disagree on? I am not a medical doctor. The medical profession has it's own problems.
https://news.sky.com/story/amp/gps-working-as-uber-drivers-because-they-cant-find-jobs-as-medics-warn-of-unprecedented-crisis-13317540

Then why is your username Physician… both misleading and illegal.

Reply 9

Original post by 028CONWOCH01

Then why is your username Physician… both misleading and illegal.

Illegal? 😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Reply 10

OP

Original post by Physician

Illegal? 😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

yes, it’s a protected title under UK law - Section 49 of the medical act. You have to be on a professional register otherwise it’s false representation That's why we have registers. To protect the public from people pretending to be healthcare professionals. it’s quite evident you don’t know a great deal about how healthcare works. So we will leave this conversation here .

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 11

Original post by 028CONWOCH01

yes, it’s a protected title under UK law - Section 49 of the medical act. You have to be on a professional register otherwise it’s false representation That's why we have registers. To protect the public from people pretending to be healthcare professionals. it’s quite evident you don’t know a great deal about how healthcare works. So we will leave this conversation here .

It is quite evident that you don't know how medical law works. What do you think would happen if you tried to make a case to a judge that l used the name Physician on TSR, without even once ever declaring that l had studied Medicine or practiced as a Doctor? You would get laughed out of the court room, and warned not to waste the time of the court again. Please do not be stupid, if you can at all help it. IBMS accredited degrees are not offered by Russell Group or other top UK universities because that would mean dumbing down the course content.

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 12

ashish_sharma09

1

What does it really mean not to do the Biomedical science degree from an accredited university? What are the career options if degree is done from a reputed Russell group university. Can you not work in NHS or become a biomedical scientist?

Reply 13

Original post by ashish_sharma09

What does it really mean not to do the Biomedical science degree from an accredited university? What are the career options if degree is done from a reputed Russell group university. Can you not work in NHS or become a biomedical scientist?

If you do it at a non-IBMS accredited uni, you can still become an NHS Biomedical Scientist, but you have to get a placement of about a year in an NHS Biomedical lab, where you detail your experience a log book. You then apply to the IBMS to gain accreditation. Their website offers more info on this.

The Biomedical Science courses at Russell Group universities are aimed at those who might want to pursue an academic research career, but the door remains open to an NHS based career, although there are far more Biomedical Science graduates than jobs in the NHS.

If you want a career in academia, l would suggest studying Molecular Biology and Genetics. The skills and knowledge you learn will set you apart from Biomedical Science graduates, who don't obtain the same depth of training in these disciplines. Biochemistry is also a good choice, but bear in mind that it is quite different to MB and Genetics, even if there is some overlap.

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 14

HealthcareSci

11

Original post by ashish_sharma09

What does it really mean not to do the Biomedical science degree from an accredited university? What are the career options if degree is done from a reputed Russell group university. Can you not work in NHS or become a biomedical scientist?

Biomedical Scientist is a protected title in the Uk which means you cannot work as one unless you are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. That registration process needs a Certificate of Competence from the IBMS.

You either need an IBMS accredited degree *or* a different degree that the IBMS has assessed and you complete any additional top up modules. Those would be in your own time and at your own cost (no student loan will cover it) and then cost can easily be £15k. So if you are considering working as a biomedical scientist then I would personally make sure I had an accredited degree to cover all my options.

(Despite what another poster is saying you can go into research with a non-RG degree).

Edited to add: a university isn't only reputable if it is Russell Group. Go for a degree that will give you the best opportunity to get into the career you want.

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 15

Sparklygreentea

Original post by 028CONWOCH01

yes, it’s a protected title under UK law - Section 49 of the medical act. You have to be on a professional register otherwise it’s false representation That's why we have registers. To protect the public from people pretending to be healthcare professionals. it’s quite evident you don’t know a great deal about how healthcare works. So we will leave this conversation here .

Sorry Physician, OP is correct. I mean the chance anyone could charge you from your TSR Profile alone is slim but all the same, be careful with protected titles you can be charged seriously under UK law

Reply 16

Original post by Sparklygreentea

Sorry Physician, OP is correct. I mean the chance anyone could charge you from your TSR Profile alone is slim but all the same, be careful with protected titles you can be charged seriously under UK law

Don't be silly. The law actually states:-

The use of any of these words and expressions in a company or business name could be a criminal offence.

You were quick to jump on the bandwagon thinking you were right. You won't be jumping off it as quickly by admitting that you were very, very wrong!

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 17

Original post by HealthcareSci

Biomedical Scientist is a protected title in the Uk which means you cannot work as one unless you are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. That registration process needs a Certificate of Competence from the IBMS.
You either need an IBMS accredited degree *or* a different degree that the IBMS has assessed and you complete any additional top up modules. Those would be in your own time and at your own cost (no student loan will cover it) and then cost can easily be £15k. So if you are considering working as a biomedical scientist then I would personally make sure I had an accredited degree to cover all my options.
(Despite what another poster is saying you can go into research with a non-RG degree).
Edited to add: a university isn't only reputable if it is Russell Group. Go for a degree that will give you the best opportunity to get into the career you want.

The only UK universities with a great reputation are those in the Russell Group, plus the likes of Bath, Lancaster, and St Andrews.

Beyond that there is another group of good research universities: Reading, Aberdeen, Kent, Leicester, Swansea, Royal Holloway, Aston, Loughborough, UEA, Strathclyde, Surrey, SOAS, City- St Georges, Brunel, Heriot Watt, Sussex, Goldsmith, Dundee, Keele.

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 18

OP

Original post by ashish_sharma09

What does it really mean not to do the Biomedical science degree from an accredited university? What are the career options if degree is done from a reputed Russell group university. Can you not work in NHS or become a biomedical scientist?

you can, but you would have to have your degree assessed and take the prescribed modules required (if any) - The core modules are usually Medical microbiology, haematology and transfusion practice, Medical Genetics and genomics, Clinical chemistry, Immunology and a laboratory based research project.

Reply 19

OP