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Tag: careers in science

Career Profile: Cardiovascular Perfusion
Cardiovascular perfusion is probably one of those health care professions you have never heard of. These individuals are an integral member of open-heart and thoracic surgery teams. Now let’s dive into the details of what cardiovascular perfusionists do and how to become one.

What is the role of a cardiovascular perfusionist?

The primary responsibility of cardiovascular perfusionists is to operate a heart-lung machine (1). In open-heart and thoracic surgeries, these machines take over breathing and blood pumping for the patient, whose heart needs to be stopped in order to be operated on. In addition, cardiovascular perfusionists monitor the patient’s breathing and circulation. If anything is irregular, they must take the necessary corrective actions. The scope of practice of cardiovascular perfusionists also include administering intravenous fluids, blood products, and anesthetic drugs.

Where do cardiovascular perfusionists work?

Cardiovascular perfusionists work in hospitals, specifically ones that perform open-heart and thoracic surgeries.

How do you become a cardiovascular perfusionist?

This is a rather specialized health care profession, so currently Canada only has three training programs, offered by the Michener Institute of Education at UHN, the University of Montreal, and the British Columbia Institute of Technology. You should check the specific details of each program, but generally, they last two years and require applicants to have at minimum a Bachelors of Science degree. Registered nurses and respiratory therapists can also upgrade their skills using one of these programs.

Now that you know more about this health care profession, you should consider the field of cardiovascular perfusion if you are interested in health care, especially surgery, cardiology, and physiology.

References:
March 1, 2017
Career Profile: What is a Bioinformatics Scientist?
Bioinformatics is an exciting, emerging field of science that combines two seemingly unrelated fields: biology and computer programming. A bioinformatics scientist is someone who is trained to analyze biological data using computer software. Computers have become so ubiquitous and their capabilities so advanced that we can apply their power to helping answer questions regarding gene function, protein structure, molecular evolution, drug targets, and disease mechanisms. If this sounds like something you would be interested in pursuing, read on for more information on this career.

How do I become a bioinformatics scientist?

Bioinformatics scientists require extensive education. After earning a four-year undergraduate degree in biology or computer programming, the aspiring scientist would pursue graduate studies. It is usually during this time that you would specialize in bioinformatics. To work as a bioinformatics scientist, you need at least a Master’s degree or preferably a PhD in this field—note that these programs are a minimum of five years. Alternatively, you may attend medical school and then after graduation, enroll in further training specifically in bioinformatics. All in all, bioinformatics is a complex field and you need to be prepared to study for several years.

Where do bioinformatics scientists work?

Bioinformatics scientists are in high demand! They may work for a variety of employers, including universities, hospitals, private corporations, and government agencies. Bioinformatics scientists, given their specialized knowledge, are commonly asked to consult with other scientists and researchers. If hired by a university, they may have their own lab, supervising laboratory technicians and mentoring students. The working hours are typical nine-to-five, but longer hours or weekend work may be required.

What is the career outlook for bioinformatics scientists?

Very positive, in fact! The average US salary is a very comfortable $75,000. A quick search on Glassdoor indicated that in Canada, average salaries are around the same figure. Salaries are likely to increase as demand goes up—and demand is expected to rise. In the US, this career has grown by 16% since 2004 and 7,170 vacancies are expected to be filled by 2018.

Becoming a bioinformatics scientist is a difficult but rewarding career choice. If you love biology and you love computers, this may just be the perfect fit for you!

References:
February 27, 2017
Inspirational Leaders: Elon Musk

South African born Canadian-American entrepreneur, engineer, businessman and inventor Elon Musk is the perfect example of a limitless man. World-renowned billionaire and innovative mind in the spheres of the Internet, renewable energy and outer space technology; Musk’s resume is far too long to list. Musk was born June 28, 1971 to a Canadian mother and South-African father. Early on, he taught himself computer programming and then at age twelve, he sold his first code for a video game to PC and Office Technology magazine for $500. Multi-talented and passionate, Musk overcame a bully-filled childhood to become one of the wealthiest people in the U.S; his net-worth currently sits at 12.4 billion U.S.

“Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough” [Business Insider].

Musk attended Queen’s University in Ontario for two years and then transferred to the University of Pennsylvania where he completed a Bachelor of Science degree in physics. He began to pursue a PhD in applied physics at Stanford University, but left quickly to pursue goals in his many fields of interest.

“If something is important enough, even if the odds are against you, you should still do it” [finance.yahoo].

In 1999 Musk co-founded the online financial services and payment company X.com, which led to the creation of PayPal the very next year. Now Musk is the CEO and CTO of SpaceX—an aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company—and CEO and product architect and cofounder of Tesla Motors, an automotive and energy storage company. In 2013 Musk proposed the concept for “Hyperloop”—a commuting invention between major cities that would cut travel time significantly. As with a lot of his work, “Hyperloop” would be powered by renewable energy; reaching more than 700 mph in speed, the invention would push travelers in pods through a network of low-pressure tubes. Musk stated that his brainchild would take seven to ten years to be built and would cost approximately $6 billion, which is a very thrifty price in comparison to other American transit systems. The idea is still in the design phase, but prototype tests will be held in June 2016 at the SpaceX facility.

As someone who grew up reading science fiction novels and imagining what it would be like to actually live in space, Musk is living the dream of every kid like him. He owns famous and fast European cars, is married to a beautiful British actress and his company SpaceX launched a rocket that sent the first commercial vehicle to the International Space Station. He has spoken many times about colonizing to Mars, and this science fiction fan might just do that. It’s so easy to dream, and so hard to make those dreams a reality. Musk proves that it is possible to transfer ideas from simple musings into real physical things. And even though he is immensely talented and smart, Musk says that personality is just as important when creating innovative products: “[My biggest mistake is probably] weighing too much on someone’s talent and not someone’s personality. I think it matters whether someone has a good heart” [Business Insider].

Sources:

www.teslamotors.com
www.spacex.com
www.gawker.com/230076/an-alternate-history-according-to-elon-musk
www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_15138666
www.biography.com/people/elon-musk
www.businessinsider.in/11-Elon-Musk-Quotes-That-Show-His-Genius

January 26, 2016
Exciting Careers in Computer Science: STEM

The following is a list of exciting careers in computer science you may want to consider pursuing after you finish your studies in high school. Despite what observers may think, the computer science industry has many options for new graduates to pursue:

Computer Science Teacher
Has your dream always been to teach the next generation of students? Why not combine the best of both worlds and teach your passion? As a computer science teacher your day to day will involve preparing lesson plans for students, demonstrating computer theories to students and interacting with school administrators as well as parents. If you plan to pursue this teaching path, you will need to acquire an additional education degree after completing your bachelor’s program in a related technological field.

Software Engineer/Programmer
As a software engineer or programmer, your day to day will involve coding, so it is essential that you have mastered some programming languages during your studies. These languages will allow you to build software designs. Currently, this is one of the most sought after professions as every industry is in need of technological advancement. From healthcare to the gaming and film industries, as a programmer you will have the opportunity to be exposed to any of these industries. Another perk of pursuing this occupation is often times you will be able to work remotely and communicate with your colleagues electronically. So if you’re someone that thrives on your own schedule, this might be the job for you!

Network/Systems Administrator
Network or system administrators manage the networks or IT infrastructures of different organizations. The role involves making sure equipment such as servers, desktop work stations and mobile devices are running in the most efficient and secure way possible. While some companies choose to outsource their data network administration to IT service providers, this position is still essential to many industries. As a student interested in pursuing this occupation, you can also look into more business driven coursework like network communications and business systems design.

Enterprise Architect
As the name surely explains, being an enterprise architect is no easy task for it involves creating blueprints for data communication within organizations. The design is critical to how the organization responds to IT security threats. They are able to analyze the needs by working with managers and the Chief Technology Officer of the company. Often times this occupation requires a substantial amount of experience after completing a bachelor’s degree–but certainly an exciting career path to look forward to!

Regardless of which career in computer science you’re interested in, make sure to learn more about them by taking on some internships and co-op positions before university or college, and while in university or college. There is nothing quite like first-hand experience to tell whether a job is the right fit for you. Happy internship hunting!

Sources:
http://www.computerscienceonline.org/careers/#CS-Careers-on-the-Rise
http://www.computerscienceonline.org/careers/#Choosing-a-CS-Specialty-or-Subfield
http://www.computerscienceonline.org/careers/#The-Importance-of-Soft-Skills

January 26, 2016
Careers in Science

Science is one of the largest fields of study, today. From the evolution of humans to the development of the solar system, science has been there to explain the world’s strangest phenomenon. Steven Hawking, a famous scientist once said, “I believe there are no questions that science can’t answer about a physical universe.” Many fields of science exist: life science deals with biology and botany, natural science deals with astronomy and the solar system and earth science focuses on geology. There are so many directions to go when it comes to pursuing a career in the sciences!

Biochemists are scientists that specialize in biochemistry. This is a special branch of chemistry that studies the chemical processes of living organisms. This branch of science combines chemistry and biology to solve problems. They study the internal workings of organisms such as their proteins and how they communicate. Biochemists can be employed in different areas such as hospitals and agricultural services. Biochemists in hospitals work to find new methods of treatment to discover the causes of certain diseases. While in the agricultural world, biochemists work to create pest-resistant crops, and monitor the effects of pollution on the environment. Biochemists usually have a post-secondary degree in science. The work setting is usually laboratory based and the hours of works are normally from 9am to 5pm. Salary can range from $23,000 a year to $65,000 depending on the employer and experience level.

Oceanography is related to the branch of natural science. It is a highly specialized field that involves the study of oceans, their ecosystems, and the marine life inhibiting them and of the geology of the sea floor. The sub branches of oceanography include marine biology (the study of the organisms in the ocean) and the work environment is between laboratories in and out of water. The salary range is between $44,000 and $78,000 annually depending on experience.

Geology is an earth related science that studies the earth’s structures and processes such as earthquakes, landslides, floods and volcanic eruptions. Geologists are employed by government agencies and energy companies, especially for oil drilling. Geologists spend a lot of time doing field research as well as in the laboratory, conducting tests. All scientific careers require some kind of post-secondary training, and this one in particular is no exception. The average salary for geologists in Canada is approximately $76,534.

A career in the sciences may lead you in many different directions. Whatever direction you choose to take, you must be passionate about it because you will most likely have to study your butt off- and for a long time. Choosing a science related career is a real contribution to this world because it requires research into the world we live in, thus, helping us learn more about it.

Sources:

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_science3.html
http://www.biochemistry.org/Education/Schoolsandcolleges/Whatisbiochemistry.aspx
https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/biochemist.aspx
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/oceanographer.html
http://noaacred.blogspot.ca/2010/09/day-in-lives-of-oceanography-team.html
http://geology.com/articles/what-is-geology.shtml

November 25, 2015