pharmacologist

The work

Pharmacologists study the effects of drugs and chemical compounds on humans and animals. This role will include:

• investigating the safety and effectiveness of drugs
• advising on dosage
• creating tests to establish any side effects
• identifying elements which may contribute to the discovery of other new drugs.

Working as part of a multidisciplinary team including biochemists, biologists, geneticists, microbiologists, toxicologists, and pharmacists, they may be involved in running clinical trials of new drugs, or work in research and development.

Their duties are likely to include:

• assessing the therapeutic potential and biological properties of compounds which may be effective against disease
• screening biologically active compounds for potency, selectivity, safety and stability
• developing new approaches to designing, synthesising and producing drugs
• testing drugs on cells, tissue cultures, organs and animals
• conducting clinical trials on humans
• testing the safety of products such as pesticides, cosmetics, solvents and food additives
• assessing the effects of pollutants, poisons and pesticides.

Much of the work involves collecting, analysing and interpreting complex data using computers and sophisticated equipment.

Pharmacologists keep abreast of developments in their particular subject area, and write reports and present the findings of their own research to colleagues. They may also supervise support staff and manage and co-ordinate projects.

Hours and Environment

Pharmacologists normally work 37.5 hours a week, Monday to Friday. Occasionally experiments or clinical trials may involve working longer hours. Academics in universities and researchers in industry regularly work extra hours.

Protective clothing is worn to prevent contamination and to avoid contact with hazardous substances. Fieldwork may involve travel and periods away from home and attendance at scientific meetings and conferences.

Skills and Interests

To be a pharmacologist, you should:

• have an ability and an interest in science
• have an enquiring mind
• be creative and innovative in your approach to work
• have good problem solving skills
• be interested in developing new cures and treatments for diseases
• be able to work in and lead a team of scientists
• be able to work accurately and pay great attention to detail
• have an aptitude for maths, statistics and IT
• be able to analyse and interpret data
• have well developed written and verbal communication skills
• be patient and tolerant, able to respond positively when experiments fail.

Entry

A degree level qualification is essential if you wish to work as a pharmacologist. The most relevant subject to study is pharmacology, however, a degree in another biological science such as biochemistry, physiology, or microbiology may also provide a suitable background to a career in this field.

Pharmacology degree courses are available throughout the country, and may be studied full- or part-time, or as a sandwich degree course which includes spending a year working in the industry.

The minimum entry requirements for a pharmacology degree course are five GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) and three A levels/three or four H grades, including chemistry, biology and either physics or maths. An Access to Higher Education qualification may also be accepted for entry to certain courses. Please check with colleges or universities for exact entry requirements.

If you wish to work in research and development, you are likely to require a postgraduate degree in pharmacology or a PhD.

If you have four or more GCSEs/S grades including English language, maths and at least two science subjects, you may be able to begin a career in pharmacology at technician level via an apprenticeship. Through internal promotion and training you may be able to work towards becoming a pharmacologist, however, it is likely you will need a pharmacology degree which can be studied part-time allowing you to continue to work.

Training

Pharmacology degree courses involve studying a range of areas including:

• how medicines affect the body
• how the body handles medicines
• how new medicines are developed
• how diseases occur
• the importance and implication of drugs in society.

Several employers within this field run graduate recruitment schemes, or graduate apprenticeships, seeking to employ the most promising new graduates and train them on the job.

As an employed graduate, you will usually be trained by your employer in the specialist areas of technical and scientific methodology. To further develop you in your role, you may be encouraged to attend short external courses such as those offered by the British Pharmacological Society (BPS) or the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI); see Further Information for contact details.

Apprenticeships may be available for those under the age of 24. In England these are currently Apprenticeships (level 2) and Advanced Apprenticeships (level 3). To find out more about these, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk

Apprenticeships may be different in other areas. For further information see Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland

Opportunities

Pharmacologists are employed by a wide range of organisations in both the public and private sectors. These include the pharmaceutical industry, manufacturers of chemicals, food and drink products, household goods or cosmetics, NHS hospitals, the Public Health Laboratory Service, and government or charity-funded research institutes.

There are opportunities to take on supervisory and managerial responsibilities, and to move into other areas of work such as medical sales and marketing, drug registration, patent work, and information science.

A large proportion of pharmacologists work for multinational companies, so there may be opportunities to work abroad. Relocation may be necessary for career progression.

Pharmacology graduates wishing to work in medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine may be able to do so by completing a shortened degree course. Courses usually take four years to complete and are offered at several universities throughout the country. For more information check the BPS website.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

The starting salary of a pharmacologist is likely to be around £25,000 a year.
With experience, this can rise to around £36,000.
Senior pharmacologists can earn up to £50,000.
Pharmacologists in industry can earn up to £100,000.

Further information

16 Angel Gate
City Road
London
EC1V 2SG 12 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2DY
Tel: 020 7930 3477
www.abpi.org.uk

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