What are neuroscience Jobs?

Are you thinking of becoming a neuroscientist but don’t know what areas you could work in?

In this brief guide we are going to answer the question ‘’What are neuroscience jobs?’’ We will detail each of the occupational fields of neuroscientists, the employment opportunities and the main activities of each one.

What are neuroscience Jobs?

Among the works in neuroscience you can find:

• Clinical psychologist
• Physician (MD or DO)
• Nurse
• Neuroimagin technician
• University professor

Neuroscience is the study of the brain, the central nervous system, and the science behind human thinking, emotions, and behavior. Neuroscientists describe the human brain and its functions, determine how the nervous system develops, and find ways to prevent and cure neurological diseases.

At the highest level, neuroscience is combined with psychology to create cognitive neuroscience, a discipline that was initially fully mastered by cognitive psychologists.

Today, cognitive neuroscience provides a new way of understanding the brain and consciousness, as it is based on a scientific study that unites disciplines such as neurobiology, psychobiology or cognitive psychology itself, a fact that will surely change the conception current knowledge about the mental processes involved in behavior and their biological bases.

Neurosciences offer support to psychoanalysis in order to better understand the complexity of mental functioning. The central task of neurosciences is to try to explain how millions of nerve cells in the brain function to produce behavior and how these cells are in turn influenced by the environment.

Trying to unravel the way in which brain activity is related to the psyche and behavior, revolutionizing the way we understand our behaviors and what is more important still: how our brain learns, how our brain stores information, and what are the biological processes that facilitate learning.

Neuroscience jobs are found in the medical, educational, research, and government scientific communities.

Medical field

Neurology: the specialty of the brain … and nerves

Neurology is the specialty that covers the field of medicine related to the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves), certain muscle disorders, and pain-related problems, especially pain. upside down. It is one of the medical specialties that has evolved most rapidly in recent decades.

The progress of basic and clinical neurosciences has led to a better understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system, the causes and mechanisms of neurological diseases, and the development of new therapeutic possibilities for many of them.

Neurosurgery

This important and necessary specialty can be defined as surgery of the central and peripheral nervous system. Therefore, a neurosurgeon will be a specialist in spinal pathologies, such as herniated discs and stenosis, both of the lumbar and cervical canal and tumors of the spinal cord.

In their day-to-day activities, a neurosurgeon is not only in charge of the surgical activity of their specialty, but must also attend to other tasks such as patient care before and after the intervention, the writing of discharge reports, the request for Complementary tests and request for consultations with other services.

The number of cases that a neurosurgeon can treat throughout his life is very high, encompassing all kinds of disorders and diseases.

Psychiatry

Psychiatry is the medical specialty that studies mental illnesses, their types, causes, courses and treatments. Psychiatrists, therefore, are doctors, who after graduating from; medicine, specialize in psychiatry.

Its most remarkable characteristic, and that allows it to be differentiated from a psychologist, is that it is trained and trained to provide types of treatments for the restoration of mental health that other professionals in the field do not, such as medication and brain stimulation therapies.

On the other hand, psychiatrists can also do a general health review, which includes the effects of medication and physical health.

Psychologists and Neuropsychologists

The objective of the psychologist is to evaluate and treat psychological disorders that may appear spontaneously (such as depression, anxiety), or as a result of an emotional shock or stress (such as grief, victim, breakups, conflicts family …).

After the evaluation, the psychologist can help you through a therapeutic work in an interview process whose number of sessions can vary (usually between 12 and 15 sessions). Or the psychologist can help to redirect you if necessary with a psychiatrist, a doctor, an educator, etc.

For professionals previously trained in the clinical or health field, a specialization in Neuropsychology will mean a great advance in the portfolio of services since the demands that as a professional in this field can cover are very wide, from developmental disorders to neurodegenerative diseases, from the approach to cognitive stimulation or neurorehabilitation.

Most psychologists have a doctorate (Ph.D.) or a doctorate in psychology (Psy.D.), and a doctorate and bachelor’s degree are required to practice clinical psychology, although a master’s degree may be sufficient for some positions in schools or companies.

Speech Therapists

Speech Therapists diagnose, evaluate, and treat a variety of communication (speech, fluency, language, and voice) and swallowing (chewing, swallowing, or gulping and eating) disorders.

In order to carry out their work, they provide counseling and education services to patients and their families, for example, they are dedicated to teaching them how to control and toughen their tongue so that the level of clarity in their voice can be increased. Likewise, most of these professionals instruct in sign language and lip reading.

Similarly, most of these professionals work with children; however, they can also see patients of all ages, since language difficulties can be sequelae of strokes or strokes, neurological diseases, mouth or throat cancer, and head injuries.

By virtue of this, they are commonly hired in hospitals, public or private health centers, rehabilitation centers and educational institutions. Also, there are Speech Therapists who prefer to dedicate themselves to the private practice of their work.

Neuroimaging Technician

Neuroradiology is the branch of radiology that encompasses diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed using imaging techniques, both in adults and in children, in relation to the following areas of interest: skull, brain and meninges, extracranial head, neck, spine, spinal cord, cranial and spinal nerves, and cervical, cranial, and spinal vessels.

These procedures require equipment of high technical complexity and high cost such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and intra-arterial angiography.

University professor

Many neuroscientists wish to spread their knowledge via teaching. As a university professor you will prepare and give classes, seminars and small classes. College professors evaluate work, write student progress reports, and correct tests.

They participate in team meetings with other university professors to discuss course issues, and have contacts with external organizations, such as examining boards and local companies.

They help develop students’ analytical skills and encourage independent research and study. They also help students who may be experiencing difficulties with their studies.

College professors must keep up with developments in their specialty fields. Higher education professors do research in the fields of their specialty, with the aim of publishing the conclusions of their studies.

Research

Scientific researchers seek to understand and improve human health by conducting research and experiments. Research neuroscientists work as a team with other researchers to carry out their studies and understand human disease. Researchers must have a doctorate in neuroscience or also some medical degree.

With a master’s degree you can be a researcher in universities.

In universities, the research professor is responsible for the development of this university aspect. You must research your area of ​​expertise, critically and systematically analyzing practical activity. It will also work to get the student to appropriate their deep scientific knowledge and thus guide their learning.

You can also work in government programs, in various institutes such as the National Institute of Health and the Department of Health and Human Services.

You will carry out research on a practical topic of interest, such as behavioral studies, mental illnesses, sleep disorders, neurodegenerative disorders such as Azheimer, etc. Yes, you will spend a lot of time in labs and collecting information.

Pharmaceutical and biotech companies

If you are not interested in pursuing a scientific field, you can become a sales representative for pharmaceutical companies.

The Medical Representatives promote, market and distribute a variety of medicines, controlled drugs and other pharmaceutical products both to health professionals and medical establishments.

In this sense, Medical Representatives can choose to work independently or autonomously or to be hired by pharmaceutical companies, laboratories, health centers or organizations.

Acting as a Medical Representative does not require specific academic training; However, although it is not essential to have studies in Pharmacy, Medicine and other Health Sciences, it can be useful to establish yourself as a professional in the area.

It is important to bear in mind that this position focuses more on Sales than on the scientific area per se, by virtue of this, most job offers require a minimum of one year experience in that field.

Does a neuroscience job worth it?

Being a scientist and studying the brain is one of the most exotic professions you can imagine. When you explain your work to acquaintances and friends, you will see their pupils widen in amazement. Being a neuroscientist means dedicating yourself to understanding the most complex organ in the universe.

It means having the privilege and opportunity to add a grain of sand to the vast (still virtually unknown) desert of what we know about this computing machine, and to be able to write a short but indelible line in the history of neuroscience.

Actually, being a neuroscientist means more things on a day-to-day basis. Month after month and year after year, you will be permanently challenged to learn something new. At first, you will have to read and catch up to become an expert in your field (there are thousands of fields, also within neurosciences, but you will have to choose one).

When you are the one who knows the most, you will know what is left to know. You will propose your hypothesis, your intellectual creation, a version of the world originally yours.

Do you find it fascinating? It is, but wait, this isn’t the whole story. Nobody said it was easy. Sometimes, for better or for worse, it will be hard.

FAQS: What are neuroscience jobs?

What are 5 jobs of neurology?

5 Neuroscience Careers

• Machine Learning Engineer.
• Neurosurgeon.
• Neuroscience Researcher.
• Pharmaceuticals Scientist.
• Cognitive Neuroscientist.

Is neuroscience a career?

What can I do with a neuroscience PhD?

PhD in Neuroscience Careers

• Research Scientists
• Neuroscientists
• Medical Writers
• Neurosurgeons

Is a neuroscience major hard?

Yes and no. It is difficult because you will see a lot of chemistry and biology without a doubt, but beyond that, the material is very superficial, although full of memorization and terminology.

Is Neurology a good career?

Yes, neurologists are currently in high demand, in addition to the fact that there are more and more advances on the human brain and new technologies for its study.

In this brief guide we answered the question ‘’What are neuroscience jobs?’’ We detailed each of the occupational fields of neuroscientists, the employment opportunities and the main activities of each one.

If you have any questions or comments please let us know!

References

Ben. (2017, November 29). Neuroscience Jobs Available in a Variety of… Retrieved November 3, 2020, from Peterson’s website: https://www.petersons.com/blog/neuroscience-jobs-available-in-a-variety-of-industries/

Where Are the Neuroscience Jobs. (2011, November 18). Where Are the Neuroscience Jobs? Retrieved November 3, 2020, from Science | AAAS website: https://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2011/11/where-are-neuroscience-jobs

Research and Other Opportunities. (2020). Retrieved November 3, 2020, from Harvard.edu website: https://mbb.harvard.edu/pages/research-and-other-opportunities

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