Healthcare sciences

Source: https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/options/sectors/healthcare-sciences/ Parent: https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/options/career-ideas/podcast/

If you have a degree in a science subject you could have a rewarding career as a scientist in a health-related role.

The NHS employs over 50,000 healthcare scientists, but there are also roles for health scientists in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, and in research roles in universities and research institutes.

There are many types of roles for you to consider, including life sciences (blood sciences, genomics, biomedical science), physical sciences (medical physics and clinical engineering), clinical bioinformatics and physiological sciences (audiology, respiratory physiology).

Find out about healthcare sciences

Start your research into healthcare science by looking at:

• Overview of careers in healthcare science from NHS Health Careers
• Overview of the NHS Scientist Training Programme (the main route into health sciences in the NHS for graduates)
• Careers in biomedical science from the Institute of Biomedical Sciences
• Careers in physics and engineering in medicine from the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine
• Careers in the pharmaceutical sector from the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI)
• Listen to our podcast: What Do You Actually Do? with\ Stefan Sipika, Laboratory Process and Production Manager
• National clinical research careers pathway (clinical academia)

Research the sector and keep up with current issues by reading:

• Laboratory News and health news from news sources like the BBC
• New Scientist

Use of AI in healthcare science

The use of AI is not new in healthcare science and is growing rapidly, particularly in areas like diagnostics and drug development, and in supporting more personalised healthcare. Healthcare scientists will increasingly need to work with AI tools, and will need skills such as data literacy, critical thinking and an understanding of AI methodologies.

• BMA report: Principles for AI and its application in healthcare Oct 2024
• Health AI: Global Agency for Responsible AI in Health
• AI in healthcare: navigating the noise Sept 2024 (definitions and examples of use)

What skills do I need?

As well as a degree in a sciences subject related to your chosen specialism, you’ll need to demonstrate:

• research planning
• problem-solving
• oral and written communication
• attention to detail
• teamwork
• good IT skills
• leadership
• laboratory skills for lab-based roles
• If you're going to work in the NHS, you'll need to understand and demonstrate the 6 core NHS values.

For more information about professional skills and how to develop them, see the York Strengths Professional Skills page.

Work experience

Entry onto the Scientist Training Programme is particularly competitive, so work experience is essential to demonstrate your interest in the work.

• Arrange a visit or job shadowing opportunity with a laboratory/department in your area of interest, to supplement your lab experience from your studies.
• If you’re interested in the STP, check on the STP website or the IPEM website to see whether there is an open day for your specialism
• Take on a volunteering opportunity to develop your transferable skills.
• Consider a summer internship or a placement year - you will find opportunities in a range of STEM roles on Gradcracker.
• Look into part-time work in a role such as a laboratory assistant.

Find jobs

The STP usually opens for applications in January each year; 2024 applications are open 14-29 January, see key dates.

Other jobs are advertised on:

• job websites like HealthJobsUK, New Scientist, NHS Jobs and PharmiWeb
• company websites - Life Sciences UK lists organisations in different regions of the UK
• Jobs.ac.uk for roles in universities

Some science organisations prefer to use recruitment agencies, such as:

• SRG
• CK Science
• Network Scientific
• Vector Recruitment

Recruitment process

• The STP is very competitive, and has a multi-stage recruitment process including an online application, aptitude tests and interviews - find out more in the 2024 webinar for potential applicants

Recruitment in other roles will vary. You may be required to do any of the following:

• Complete an online application
• Send a CV and covering letter
• Assessment centre
• Competency tests
• Technical tests
• Interview

For help with these, see our pages on applying for jobs.

What can I do at York?

• Volunteer through Careers and Placements, York SU or your college to develop the skills you’ll need to demonstrate in an interview.
• Attend Careers and Placements talks and events and make use of online courses to develop your skills, such as project management.
• Use York for Life and LinkedIn to connect with York graduates who have gone into your chosen career.
• Practise psychometric and aptitude tests to prepare for the STP application process.
• Apply for internships through York Internships.
• Look out for research internships offered by some science departments, usually to 2nd year students. See the Science experience page for suggestions.
• Book a careers advice appointment to discuss your options.

More resources: people to follow, podcasts, blogs

Join York for Life to connect with our global network of alumni. Start building your own network - find people from your course, look at different careers, ask questions and request a mentor.

Use LinkedIn to make connections, follow organisations of interest, and find out what York graduates are doing. Find out more about using LinkedIn and networking.

Listen to these podcast episodes

• Stefan Sipika, Laboratory Process and Production Manager
• John Filby, Clinical Scientist in the NHS specialising in genomics