Pharmacology is the study of drugs and how they react and interact in the body. As long as there are diseases, viruses, and other sickness in the world, there will be a need for people interested in pharmacologist jobs to develop medicines to treat them and to ensure that those medicines work. A career in pharmacology can lead a person down a number of paths, depending on which degrees have been obtained and the working environment that is desired.
People with pharmacology qualifications often venture into research. Clinical pharmacology is one such branch that offers this opportunity. The pharmaceuticals industry tends to be a major provider of clinical pharmacologist jobs.
New treatments are only possible if professionals can design chemical compounds that have the potential to cure illnesses. Then, individuals are needed to perform tests to ensure that those chemical compounds work properly. Pharmacologists working in these capacities often answer questions about whether a proposed substance reaches the site in the body where it is needed, how long the substance remains in the body, and if the body is able to eliminate the substance without harming the individual.
For those who prefer pharmacologist jobs that allow interaction with the public, clinical research is an option. This area of the industry is concerned with effectiveness of medicines that have been proposed and passed preliminary tests. To determine whether or not those drugs do what they are prescribed to do, professionals need to assess patients in a clinical setting.
Biological research is one of the pharmacology jobs that a person may choose if she enjoys working in laboratory settings and wants to address problems that are still unsolved. Professionals in this area of pharmacology often work in universities or with non-profit institutions. They may study medical conditions such as AIDS and cancer.
There are also specialized branches, such as neuropharmacology, that a person could consider when investigating potential pharmacologist jobs. This branch of pharmacology deals with the effects of drugs on the nervous system. A neuropharmacologist could deal with issues such as why taking a specific drug leads to dependence. She may also have the task of determining how medicines can work to impact conditions such as depression or schizophrenia.
Pharmacologist jobs are not just limited to work with medicines. Toxicology is a career option for a person who is interested in the relationship between toxic materials or radiation and the health of humans or animals. A professional who chooses this career path will likely find herself identifying, monitoring, and evaluating the impact of toxic substances. This may involve work with live or dead subjects.
