Following yesterday’s news the Irish Government and industry are to invest €245m in five new Science Foundation Ireland research centres, this week’s career memes check up on the role of scientists.
There are all kinds of scientists: research scientists, physical scientists, medical scientists, and computer scientists, for example, and they will usually have a master’s degree or PhD in their area of specialty.
What the roles share is common is the fact they involve research and the collection, analysis and interpretation of data to not only increase the body of scientific knowledge, but also arrive at solutions, such as a new vaccine.
Scientists’ work can also involve drawing up new proposals and applying for research grants, and writing and publishing papers on their studies, as well as staying abreast of developments in their field, via reading journals and attending conferences.
In Ireland, a research scientist can expect to earn an average annual salary of €39,879, according to PayScale.com.
