Employment opportunities and work profile of pharmacists

The field of pharmacology has been in the limelight since the development of different vaccines for the COVID-19 pandemic. You also have to thank countless pharmacists and pharmacologists for their contribution towards the eradication of other dangerous diseases like Smallpox and Tuberculosis.

The pharmacological industry in India is one of the largest industrial sectors in the county. An India Brand Equity Foundation report put the annual turnover of the industry at Rs 129,015 crores in 2018. The industry employs millions of people with different pharmacological degrees and backgrounds.

Considering a B. Pharmacology degree can allow you to explore the countless diverse career opportunities in the field. Let’s take a look at some of the most interesting pharma career profiles available to you as a B. Pharma graduate.

1. Clinical research associate: Clinical research associates (CRA) are hired to conduct and run clinical trials for new treatment techniques, drugs, medicines, or even surgical tools. The trials are conducted to test these medicines and treatment techniques for their risks, benefits, and effectiveness before they are released into the market. The CRAs are involved in all the stages of a clinical trial from identification of a trial site to closing the trial.

1. Biochemical scientist: Biochemical scientists carry out a range of laboratory and scientific tests on tissue or bio-samples to help clinicians in diagnosing their properties and characteristics. They also test the efficacy and effectiveness of different medicines and treatments. Most biomedical scientists specialize in four sections—infection sciences, blood sciences, genetics, or molecular pathology.

1. Medical writer in the pharmacological field: Professional medical writers in pharmaceuticals work closely with drug development teams and companies to record their clinical trials and write research papers on the subject. These publications focus on the effects of the new drugs in-depth. They can also be tasked with conducting background research for different clinical trials as well as draft license renewals and contracts.

1. Medicinal chemist: Medicinal chemists are mostly involved in drug discovery and manufacturing processes. They use a wide range of chemistry techniques, and tools to create pharmaceutically active molecules and enzymes that can combat specific diseases or bodily malfunctions. Most medicinal chemists work with other clinical scientists to test these pharmaceutical agents for their action and efficacy.

1. Clinical immunological scientist: Clinical scientists working in the immunological department of a research organization or pharma company develop or carry out different tests on patients with pre-existing immunological conditions. These can include allergies, autoimmune disorders, or even antibody deficiencies. The scientists are also responsible for interpreting the test results and passing them on to the clinical scientists.

Apart from these jobs, you can also explore other roles like a regulatory affairs officer, pharmacological neuroscientist, scientific laboratory technician, or medical sales representative. You can also explore jobs like community pharmacist, pharmacologist, or toxicologist. 

Enrolling in a master’s program in pharmacology today can help you get a financially rewarding advanced role in the industry.