Pharmacologist

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

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Biology - Pharmacologists study how drugs and chemicals affect living organisms, so a deep understanding of biology is essential. They need to know how cells, tissues, organs, and body systems work in order to understand how a drug interacts with the body and what side effects it might cause.
• Chemistry - Pharmacologists test combinations of chemicals and drugs to understand their effects, so they need a strong grasp of chemical structures, reactions, and molecular behaviour. Understanding how molecules bind to receptors and how chemical properties affect how a drug is absorbed and broken down is central to the work.
• Mathematics - Pharmacologists use maths to calculate dosage levels, analyse experimental data, and apply statistical methods to determine whether results from clinical trials are significant. They also use mathematical models to predict how drugs will behave in the body over time.

Also relevant

• Physics - Pharmacologists use analytical instruments such as spectrometers and imaging equipment that rely on physical principles like electromagnetic radiation and optics. An understanding of physics also helps when studying how drugs are delivered to the body, for example through diffusion and fluid dynamics.
• Computer Science - Pharmacologists increasingly use computational modelling and simulations to predict how new drug molecules will interact with biological targets before testing them in the lab. Skills in programming and data analysis help them handle large datasets from clinical trials and genomic studies.
• English Language - Pharmacologists write detailed research reports, publish findings in scientific journals, and communicate complex results to colleagues and regulatory bodies. Being able to present information clearly and precisely is important when their work influences decisions about drug safety and approval.
• Psychology - Pharmacologists working on drugs that affect the brain – such as antidepressants, painkillers, or treatments for neurological conditions – benefit from understanding how behaviour, cognition, and mental health relate to brain chemistry. This helps them design better experiments and interpret the effects of new compounds.