The pharmaceutical sciences combine a broad range of scientific disciplines that are critical to the discovery and development of new drugs and therapies, and translating scientific discoveries from bench to bedside.
Pharmaceutical scientists are typically involved in the development of new drugs: discovery, drug delivery systems, drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination characteristics. They spend most of their time doing research in a laboratory or office setting. Clinical/translational scientists solve challenges faced by clinicians in the care of patients through molecular investigations at the bench while others help to move scientific discoveries from the bench to improving the care of patients.
Career Opportunities in the Pharmaceutical and Translational Sciences
Over the years, pharmaceutical and translational scientists have been instrumental in discovering and developing innovative drugs that save thousands of lives and improve countless others. Pharmaceutical and translational scientists can pursue a variety of career opportunities/jobs. They are employed by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, they work as researchers, scientists and professors at universities, for agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), and at national laboratories such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Career Network: The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) also has an online Career Network to help members with their career needs.
Online Student Center: The AAPS Student Center provides a wealth of information and resources specifically targeted to students and post-docs.
Career Network and Professional Development: The AAPS Career Network provides members with career and networking opportunities, and resources for professional development both online and onsite at AAPS meetings and expositions.
Pharmaceutical Science Primers: These primers provide a glimpse into the daily activities of pharmaceutical scientists working in industry, academia and government and showcase the newest trends in the field.
- What Is Drug Development?, presented by Robert Bell, Ph.D.
- What Is Molecular Drug Targets, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, and Drug Design?, presented by Ronald R. Bowsher, Ph.D.
- What Are Delivery Systems and Formulation Design?, presented by Diane Burgess, Ph.D.
- What Is Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Clinical Evaluation?, presented by Lane J. Brunner, Ph.D.
- What Is Pharmacogenetics, Pharmacogenomics, and Clinical Evaluation?, presented by Wolfgang Sade, Ph.D.
- What Is the Role of the FDA/USP in Pharmaceutical Sciences?, presented by Jerome Skelly, Ph.D.