Have you watched The Last of Us on Netflix and thought, “Wow, if only there were professionals who could prevent such a propagation from occurring?” Well, look no further than a career in virology. Whether it be that the COVID-19 pandemic spread sparked curiosity or you’re simply fascinated by the potency of viral diseases, expanding on this interest further is certainly possible and there are numerous pathways and possibilities that could arise.
Traditional Microbiology Route:
For one, if you found yourself immersed in your microbiology courses you can take this knowledge and apply it and be at the forefront of public health policies there at the national, state, or local levels. This can take numerous forms, such as a virologist statistician which specifically uses higher level statistical methodologies in conducting virologist experiments. Using core statistical concepts such as significance level (P-values) or measures of the central data (mean and median values) is crucial in developing hypotheses and conclusions on viral infection or vaccine studies which greatly benefit virological studies contributions. If math simply is not your strongest suit, but you want to get more hands-on experience, becoming a microbiologist is more for you. Start by connecting with microbiology professionals such as professors or researchers and take relevant coursework in order to receive your bachelor’s and get a sense before pursuing a master’s degree with certification provided by Registered Microbiologist credential through the National Registry of Certified Microbiologists (NRCM). It is optional but with more credentials, it will make attaining work experience either in research laboratories or other internships be a more seamless process. Doctorate and doctorate certification are options when pursuing independent research in a university of which would be most appealing to students who enjoy being at the forefront of their own inquiries and pursuits in the field.
The Interdisciplinary Nature of the Field:
However virology can take numerous forms with interdisciplinary approaches such as business. For example, be hired by biotechnology companies and use your virological perspective in conjunction with business administration and contribute to initiatives within the field. One can also explore virology with public health fields such as infectious control and prevention specialists or if interested in education can take the long professor tenure track. If more interested in finding a specific job the American Society for Virology helps researchers in virology in their search and see more on their job search site. Whatever path it is you decide to ultimately take, the categories are endless and if you are interested in other fields you can definitely interconnect and find the appropriate job for you. Hopefully, you can become infectiously in love with your future career in virology!
Works Cited:
How to Become a Microbiologist | Indeed.com. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-become-a-microbiologist.
“Jobs in Virology by ASV - The American Society for Virology.” Virology Jobs by the American Association for Virology, https://jobs.asv.org/.
Richardson, Barbra A., and Julie Overbaugh. “Basic Statistical Considerations in Virological Experiments.” Journal of Virology, vol. 79, no. 2, 2005, pp. 669–676., https://doi.org/10.1128/jvi.79.2.669-676.2005.
“Top Virology Companies.” VentureRadar, https://www.ventureradar.com/keyword/Virology.
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