Alternative Science Careers

The level of compensation for graduate students and postdocs takes into account the NIH salary guidelines, which are tied into the National Research Service Award (NRSA) stipend in effect. The NIH salary guidelines are a minimum amount that should be paid to the student or postdoc.

The Salary Guidelines for 2010 are listed below:

          Career Level                       Stipend for FY 2010

• Predoctoral                                   $21,180

Postdoctoral Years of Experience:

• 0 years                                           $37, 740
• 1 year                                            $39,756
• 2 years                                           $42,624
• 3 years                                           $44,304
• 4 years                                           $45,960
• 5 years                                           $47,940
• 6 years                                           $49, 836
• 7 years or more                               $52,068

Many universities use this payscale as a guideline, but pay higher salaries. Therefore, salaries may vary depending on geographic location, university, budgets, and funding.

Technorati Tags: Salaries

Love the sciences, but also interested in other industries? Not sure if you want to go to school for another 4-6 years to get a PhD in the sciences, especially when you are thinking about an alternative career? The good news- you might not have to. A newer program that offers a Professional Science Master’s (PSM) degree is available for those pursuing advanced degrees, and may represent the alternative to the PhD.

A Professional Science Master’s degree is an innovative two-year graduate degree designed to allow students to pursue advanced training and excel in science while simultaneously developing highly-valued business skills. PSM programs prepare students for science careers in business, government, or nonprofit organizations through training called “science-plus” programs.

The “science-plus” PSM program is based on the majority of coursework in science or mathematics. There is also additional business training, which is skill-based coursework in management, policy, or law. Interdisciplinary skills learned from this program may include communications, project or business management, computational skills, ethics, legal and regulatory issues, or intellectual property.

PSM programs emphasize writing and communciation skills, leadership, and team-building. Additionally, the programs require a “real-world” internship in a business or public sector enterprise. This is a great advantage to the students by providing the networking basis to potential employers.

The PSM began in 1997 and already there are 180 PSM degree programs available in 90 colleges and universities across the U.S., as shown by the stars in the map below.  There are approximately 4,000 enrolled students and over 6,000 graduates of the program, with 25% growth expected by 2012.

Source: www.sciencemasters.com

PSM programs are offered in various fields, including Biotechnology, Forensic Science, Financial Mathematics, Nanoscience, Environmental Science, Biosecurity, Bioinformatics, Analytical Chemistry, Applied Systematics, Science Entrepreneurship, Genetic Counseling, and Bioenergy.

For more information about the Professional Science Master’s degree and what universities offer programs, visit ScienceMasters at http://www.sciencemasters.com/.

a

Technorati Tags: degree program

Really enjoy food? Have a science background? Search no more- This may be your vocational calling. Become a scientist working with food flavoring.

All foods are characterized by their flavor based upon the flavor response. The flavor response occurs when receptors are activated as food is eaten, which sends signals to yield the sensory perceptions. The flavor response is a combination of sensory stimuli that includes aromatic stimuli, taste components (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami), chemical heat properties, and texture. The food industry utilizes their scientific knowledge on these flavor components to incorporate flavors into food products. There are many job opportunities open to those with science degrees in flavoring within the food industry. Jobs are available from developing the flavors, to getting the flavors into a final marketable product. Jobs include flavorists, analytical chemists, flavor-delivery specialists, and product developers.

Flavorists work to identify flavor characteristics and prepare a compound or reaction flavor derived from natural plants. They usually specialize in one of the general flavor categories, such as savory, sweet, salty, fruit, etc. To prepare a specific flavor, they may utilize flavor chemicals, essential oils, essences, or flavor extracts. After a specific flavor is prepared, it undergoes several reformulations to achieve the best character.

Supporting the flavorists are analytical chemists with expertise in isolation and identification of flavor components. They often use gas chromatograph/mass spectrometers to identify the structure of the
unique flavor chemical and its sensory strength. There are also synthetic chemists who synthesize and commercially manufacture specific flavor chemicals, which are called artificial flavors.

Once a flavor is developed, it has to be delivered to the product developer in a form that can be incorporated into a food or beverage manufactured commercially. This is where the flavor-delivery specialist comes in. The flavor-delivery specialist uses encapsulation technologies, material science, and physical chemistry to ensure that the flavor can be used in foods. This is often done in collaboration with the food manufacture and those working as product developers. Working in product development entails creating new products that the consumer wants.

Job opportunities as flavorists, analytical chemists, flavor-delivery specialists, and product developers are available in various types of companies, including flavor and food companies. Job titles may not be exact, but may include flavor scientist, scientist in flavor creation, scientist for flavor applications, and sensory scientist.

Some of the major flavor companies include Firmenich, Mastertaste, CHR Hansen, Senomyx, and International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. Many of the food and beverage companies also hire directly for flavoring.

Current job postings are available for Kraft Foods, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, McCormick & Company, Pepsi, General Mills, CPS Inc, and Kellogg Company. There are many other job postings as well on most of the major job search sites.

Have fun working by creating new flavors for food.

Technorati Tags: flavor scientist

The growing consumerism and a fast paced lifestyle have led to a greater demand for packed and processed food. The challenge most food processing units face today is to produce food items which contain minimal amount of chemicals and preservatives yet have optimum appeal and shelf-life. And this has raised the demand for food technologists in the food processing sector.

Food technology has become a lucrative career option for the talented youngsters, thanks to a growing demand for packaged and processed food.

What does a food technologist do?

The primary job of a food technologist is to check the raw materials, maintain clean and hygienic conditions and quality of the food. They examine the food, conduct checks for contamination and adulteration and certify the nutritional value of food. The food technologist should devise improved techniques for processing, conservation and preservation of food items. They must also analyze current consumer trends and latest technologies to develop new product ideas.

What is food technology?

Food technology is the study of production, storage, preservation, canning, packaging and distribution of food products. It covers all areas of food processing and includes all types of foods like meat, fruits, vegetables, cereals, fish, egg, milk, spices etc.

Required skills:

Aspiring food technologists should have a scientific bend of mind, power of observation, intelligence and an interest in health and nutrition. They must be able to work well as part of a team and must have effective communication skills. A genuine interest in the scientific and technological development of food and high standards of cleanliness are other required traits.

Eligibility:

Candidates who have studied physics, mathematics, chemistry, and biology at the 10+2 level can seek admission to short term certificate and diploma courses in food technology. Students who have done B.Sc in physics, mathematics, biology and chemistry or a B.tech in food technology can seek admission to an M.Sc course in food technology. Those who have done graduation in home science, nutrition, dietetics and hotel management are also eligible for higher studies in food technology.

Job prospects:

Food technologists with professional qualification have ample job opportunities. You can find jobs with food processing companies, food research laboratories, hotels, restaurants, educational institutions, government bodies and catering establishments. Public sector undertakings employ food technologists as food inspectors or health inspectors. With experience, one can work as a freelance consultant or health doctor in school/colleges. The sector also offers great entrepreneurial opportunities in the form of dynamic delivery networks and home catering services.

The author is the editor of dailylearningtips.com, a website that provides information on careers and courses and practice tests for UPSC, MBA, TOEFL and Bank tests.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Manjusha_Nambiar
http://EzineArticles.com/?Careers-in-Food-Technology&id=1946872

Technorati Tags: food science

-
by ASPET Staff

The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) is the premier scientific organization for pharmacologists. Since 1908, ASPET has been committed to providing our members with the tools and resources to advance their careers, promote their research and discipline, and build lasting relationships with fellow colleagues. Over the last 100 years, ASPET has grown to over 4,500 members. Our membership includes researchers and students in academia, industry, and government from all over the world. We are extremely proud to be associated with some of the world’s most prominent scientists, including 16 Nobel Laureates, who have made major contributions to pharmacology. ASPET members continue to make a major impact in health and medicine, receiving high honors and appointments throughout their career.

ASPET membership is open to anyone with a genuine interest in pharmacology and experimental therapeutics. Member benefits include free online subscriptions to all ASPET journals, reduced publication fees to publish in ASPET journals, reduced registration fees to attend the annual meeting, awards opportunities, and much more. Students receive their first year of membership free. Explore the benefits and become a member today at www.aspet.org.

Technorati Tags: ASPET, pharmacology, scientific society

-
A recent article was posted on the Pharmalot Blog by Ed Silverman highlighting the average salaries, employment growth rates, and job opportunities within the biotech and pharma sectors. The post presented highlights from the industry-wide report written by the Battelle Institute and the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO).

-
Highlights from the report include:

• The U.S. biotech sector paid an average annual salary of $77,595 in 2008, up 9% from 2006. This is in comparison to the average annual wage of $45,229 in the total U.S. private sector, which means that biotech companies are paying $32,366 more than the average company.
• The average annual salary in the U.S. pharma sector was $93,378 in 2008.
• Although there have been substantial job losses (nearly 312,000 people) in the sector during the recent recession, new jobs have been also been created. The job losses can be contributed mostly to consolidation of companies. New job creation is occurring in research, testing, and medical laboratories. In fact, more than 176,000 jobs have been added in this area since 2001.
• The estimated annual growth rate for the life sciences industry is 1.5 percent until 2018.

Technorati Tags: biotech, pharma, salary

Listening to the career talks at the EB conference, one piece of advice stood out to me. Katrice Albert, the Vice Provost and Chief Diversity Officer for the Office of Academic Affairs at Louisiana State University, gave this suggestion- create a personal and professional advisory board.

Be diligent- start creating your advisory board and get the advice you need. Become successful and help others do the same by sharing your advice as well.