Pharmacologist
Pharmacologists study the effects of drugs and chemicals on living things, and develop new products to help tackle disease.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
As a pharmacologist, you would:
- test combinations of chemicals and drugs to see what they do
- design and carry out experiments and clinical trials
- collect and analyse data
- assess the safety of products and calculate dosage levels
- write reports and publish research findings
- work with other clinical scientists to develop new products and manufacturing processes
Working environment
You could work in a laboratory.
You may need to wear protective clothing.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could become a research and development supervisor or manager, for example, with a pharmaceutical or biotechnology company.
You could also move into:
- drug licensing and patent work
- science publishing
- university teaching
- medical sales and marketing
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- science skills
- knowledge of biology
- knowledge of chemistry
- complex problem-solving skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with others
- thinking and reasoning skills
- maths knowledge
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
The most direct way to become a pharmacologist is by studying for a pharmacology degree.
You could also complete a postgraduate course in pharmacology, if you've done a degree in a related subject, like:
- biochemistry
- physiology
- microbiology
- biomedical science
Some courses include a year working in industry, which will give you an advantage when you start applying for work. You can also get experience by working as a lab assistant or through work shadowing.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
- 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology and chemistry
More Information
You could apply to do a Clinical Pharmacology Scientist Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship.
The apprenticeship takes around two and half years and is a mix of work-based training and study.
To apply, you'll need:
- to be working in a clinical research role
- a degree in medicine, biomedical science or pharmacy
More Information
Career tips
It's useful to look for work experience opportunities and internships while you are studying. This will give you the chance to gain laboratory skills like:
- sterilising equipment
- setting up analytical instruments
- working as part of a research team
- following safety standards and procedures
Professional and industry bodies
You can join the British Pharmacological Society for professional recognition, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.
Further information
You can find out more about a career in pharmacology and working in pharmaceuticals through the British Pharmacological Society and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry.
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External links
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.