Where can pharmacology take me?

Academic Researcher

As an academic researcher, you will seek to answer scientific questions through exploratory research and can generally take your research in any direction you choose. Academic researchers often collaborate with other scientists from across the world. There are plenty of opportunities to attend conferences, seminars and meetings about subjects you are interested in. You can continue to work in an area you enjoy or start to explore other avenues that interest you. 

Many biomedical research laboratories are based either at universities, hospitals or both. This means that you can combine research with other activities such as teaching or working alongside clinicians and patients. ​

Post-doctorate

After a PhD, you are most likely to join an established academic laboratory. You can apply for a Post-Doctoral Fellowship, which usually provides funding for your research for three years. Or you may decide to take a permanent role within the lab such as a Senior Technician, or a Staff Scientist. Which route is best for you will depend on your career aspirations, the reasons why you enjoy research, and how much job security is important to you. ​

Post-doctoral fellows will need to keep applying for research funding every 3-5 years through a competitive process. There are many sources of Fellowship funding available for everyone - from newly qualified PhDs to more senior postdoctoral fellows who may wish to establish their own independent lab. ​You can find out more about this in our finding funding pages.

As part of an academic career, you can also get involved in lecturing and training the next generation of pharmacologists.

Clinical medicine

Most clinical pharmacologists undertake clinical commitments throughout their careers. Many work in general medicine, supervising acute admissions and running outpatient clinics. Others work as consultants in their sub-specialty interest such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory medicine or oncology.

Toxicology

Poisoning is one of the most common causes of admission to hospital. Clinical pharmacologists, with specialty training in toxicology, oversee acute admissions and provide advice on acute poisoning cases via the National Poisons Information Service. They are also responsible for managing Toxbase®, an evidence-based toxicology database, and lead research and development in this field.​

Clinical academic pharmacology

Clinical pharmacologists often work at universities as researchers and lecturers. The specialty curriculum enables them to undertake a range of clinical research and some trainees opt to undertake higher degrees such as PhD, MD or MSc.​

Many academic clinical pharmacologists are heavily involved in teaching the next generation of doctors, such as helping to prepare medical students for the Prescribing Skills Assessment.​

Medicines policy and regulation

Clinical pharmacologists play crucial roles in local formularies and regional drug and therapeutics committees. At a national level, Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics consultants frequently occupy senior positions within bodies involved in drug regulation, including the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and pharmacovigilance schemes (for example Yellow Card Centres).​

Pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry

As a researcher working in industry you can play a key role in the discovery and delivery of new drugs. For example, Professor Sir James Black was a Nobel Prize-winning pharmacologist whose studies on adrenaline led him to develop the first beta-blocker drug for cardiovascular disease while he was working at ICI Pharmaceuticals. ​

There are many different types of roles that you could consider in industry. As an industry pharmacologist your role is likely to involve the characterisation of potential new drugs in different tissues and animal models. Your work will help to determine whether a potential treatment should be taken forward for development. It will also ensure that drug developers fully understand all effects of a drug before it is given to the first patient in a clinical trial.​

With experience, you may progress on to other types of roles in industry. These might include managing large programmes or departments, or working as an expert across multiple drug discovery projects. ​

Academic and Clinical Pharmacologists may also act in consultant roles for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Many are involved in translating fundamental research into new treatments and, as a result, help to found and/or run small-to-medium enterprises or biotechnology spin-out companies based on novel research. ​

Research in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry is a rewarding career, where you have a genuine opportunity to ensure that future generations no longer fear many of the debilitating diseases we face today. ​

If you are interested in developing your skills in clinical research and clinical trials, the Clinical Pharmacology Scientist apprenticeship might be for you.

Physicians associates​

Physician Associates work alongside doctors, with patients, offering support for medical research involving people. This requires a Postgraduate Diploma or Masters degree in Physician Associate studies. It usually takes about two years to obtain a PgDip, if studying full-time.​

If you are interested in roles like this, you can find opportunities in these areas on our Jobs and Opportunities page. ​

We have a selection of clinical pharmacology career examples tagged with Faces of Clinical Pharmacology on our case studies page.

Clinical pharmacology case studies

Many banks run graduate training schemes and want applicants with the transferable skills that you will develop during your training or work as a pharmacologist, like problem solving, innovative thinking and working independently and as part of a team. ​

Different schemes offer different roles depending on the size and business focus of the organisation, so take a look at each graduate scheme to see which you think you would be most interested in.

To help you in a research funding career you can:​

• Chat to research funding managers at scientific conferences​
• Complete a research funding internship​

To work as a grant officer, you will need a minimum of a BSc in a scientific discipline and for grant managers/research funding managers, a PhD is usually required.

Organisations that offer roles in research funding management can include:

• Biomedical research charities
• National funding agencies
• Health funding bodies

To work in pharmacovigilance you will need to have at least a BSc. Further qualifications in relevant areas can help your progression.

To help you in a pharmacovigilance career you can:​

• Take part in clinical placements  during your degree​
• Engage with pharmacovigilance departments​
• Develop knowledge on drug regulations and regulatory bodies

Organisations offering pharmacovigilance roles include:​

•  Hospitals ​
•  Pharmaceutical companies​
•  Specialist pharmacovigilance contractors​
• Government regulatory agencies​

To work in patent law you will need to have at least a BSc degree. Postgraduate training in a STEM subject is desirable in this competitive field. Patent law uses many of the analytical skills you will have developed in your pharmacology or biosciences degree. Once employed, you will study patent law alongside your work towards professional accreditation.​

To help you in a patent law career you can consider taking a placement in a law firm, specialising in intellectual property rights.

Organisations offering patent law roles:​

• Large industrial companies ​

• Private partnerships, many of which specialise in patenting products in a particular sector​

• Government bodies​

Many academic institutions now have Technology Transfer functions and require highly skilled scientists to help support the management and commercialisation of university intellectual property.​

Teaching

Science, technology and maths teachers are in high demand and you can enjoy a rewarding career knowing that you are educating children and young adults to be an essential part of the research task force of the future. ​

To become a teacher you will need to have at least a BSc. You will also need a postgraduate qualification such as a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).​

To help you in a teaching career you can:​

• Work with children or teenagers ​
• Take part in public engagement activities​
•  Privately tutor in your subject area​

​Find out more about training to become a teacher on the UCAS website. ​

Higher education 

Teaching Pharmacology at Higher Education level is a career that offers lots of excitement and variety and gives you the opportunity to inspire future generations of scientists. You will engage and support students through their degree courses, preparing them with the technical and vocational skills they will need to pursue their chosen careers.

No two days are the same working in this field, and you will typically be responsible for a range of activities such as developing teaching materials, delivering lectures, seminars and practicals, assessing students’ work and progress and supervising student research.

To become a pharmacology lecturer, you will need:

• a 2.1 or above in a relevant bachelor’s degree subject
• to have completed or be working towards a postgraduate master's or PhD
• to complete a teaching qualification, typically offered by your university and completed while working

This career path can lead to roles such as principal lecturer, reader, or professor within the higher education setting, as well as external career opportunities. 

Find out more about this career path on the National Careers service site.

There are many different types of roles that you could consider in industry. As an industry pharmacologist your role is likely to involve the characterisation of potential new drugs in different tissues and animal models. Your work will help to determine whether a potential treatment should be taken forward for development. It will also ensure that drug developers fully understand all effects of a drug before it is given to the first patient in a clinical trial.​

With experience, you may progress on to other types of roles in industry. These might include managing large programmes or departments, or working as an expert across multiple drug discovery projects. ​

Academic and Clinical Pharmacologists may also act in consultant roles for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Many are involved in translating fundamental research into new treatments and, as a result, help to found and/or run small-to-medium enterprises or biotechnology spin-out companies based on novel research. ​

Research in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry is a rewarding career, where you have a genuine opportunity to ensure that future generations no longer fear many of the debilitating diseases we face today. ​

If you are interested in developing your skills in clinical research and clinical trials, the Clinical Pharmacology Scientist apprenticeship might be for you.

To help you in a regulatory affairs career you can:​

• Shadow someone in this role or volunteer in a regulatory affairs role ​
• Develop an understanding of the landscape by taking part in lab work​

Organisations offering roles in regulatory affairs include:​

• Higher education institutions ​
• Biotechnology companies​
• Pharmaceutical companies​
• Cosmetics companies​
• Agricultural chemicals companies​
• Oil companies​
• Clinical laboratories​
• Regulatory bodies

These roles involve scientific procurement, finance and project management and could also extend to managing Human Resources; all the processes required to manage the people, procedures and equipment that underpin the smooth running of a research lab. University-based Research Operations officers will also offer expert guidance in securing and administering research funding and managing active grants. ​

With the move towards large collaborative research initiatives, there is an increasing need for people with research experience to take on operational roles, ensuring that complex research endeavours can progress smoothly and efficiently.​

Medical communications​

You could work in the pharmaceutical industry as a medical writer, preparing dossiers of clinical evidence to support drug development.​

Science communications and engagement​

You could help people understand the importance and impact of biomedical research by translating complex scientific concepts into plain language for patients and the general public, to inspire, engage and involve them with research.​

Scientific publishing​

There are many roles in publishing for graduates with BSc and higher degrees, from assistant editors who help to finesse scientific articles, to more senior roles using your scientific expertise to make independent editorial decisions. ​

Science journalism​

Science journalists communicate complex scientific subjects to a broad audience to improve public understanding of science and research.​

​To work in any of these fields, you are likely to require a BSc in a scientific discipline. You will also need excellent communication skills.​

To help you pursue a career in a science communication or medical writing you can:​

•  Study for a Masters in Science Communications ​
• Write a science-based blog ​
• Contribute to science magazines​
• Contribute to local or national press​
• Enter scientific writing competitions such as the Max Perutz prize​

It is a good idea to create a portfolio of your publications to showcase your work to potential employers.​

Organisations that offer roles in science and medical writing include:​

• Learned societies ​
• Biomedical research charities​
• Scientific magazines and journals​
• Local or national newspaper or media groups​
• Pharmaceutical companies​
• Medical communication agencies​

If you are interested in pursuing a career in science communications and public engagement, why not start gaining experience now by writing for our magazine, Pharmacology Matters, or our blog?

In a policy role you could expect to collect information, evidence and opinions that can influence the government on matters related to health, science and research. ​

To work in science policy, you will typically need to have an undergraduate degree. Whilst not necessarily essential, an MSc in science policy or communication is desirable.​

To help you move towards a science policy career you can:​

• Take part in activities to promote public engagement with science​
• Complete a science policy internship​

Organisations offering roles in science policy:​

• Learned societies (for example, the Royal Society or the Academy of Medical Sciences) ​
• Scientific publishers​
• Biomedical research charities​
• Local government​
• International governing bodies ​

You can take a look at some of the recent work from the Society's policy team here. They frequently respond to requests for evidence and information from government, academic and charitable organisations to champion pharmacology and other topics relevant to our members.

Veterinary pharmacologists specialise in drug therapy for animals and have knowledge of how different drugs impact bodily processes. Understanding the way in which drug actions vary between species is very important so that vets can use drugs safely in all the species they work with. In this profession, you might treat animals at veterinary hospitals, calculate how long it takes drugs to leave the systems of animals used for food, or conduct research at pharmaceutical firms or universities.​

More resources about veterinary careers can be found at:​

• Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons​
• My Vet Future​