Special Report in 2006

Five scientists nominated by their peers have created nurturing research environments and fostered fields and careers far beyond their labs. Carina Dennis and Janet Wright give credit where it's long overdue.

Nanobiotechnology is a growing field, but will it emulate the biotech boom? Virginia Gewin investigates.

Sales and marketing jobs at pharmaceutical companies offer the opportunity to combine science with social skills and creative flair. Hannah Hoag investigates the pitch.

Is interest in biofuels in the United States a just fad or a growing trend that will yield numerous jobs and research opportunities? Gene Russo separates the wheat from the chaff.

The recent flood of genome sequences has given evolutionary genetics a boost. Ricki Lewis takes a sharp look at a varied field.

Europeans have traditionally expected their governments to fund research. But foundations are hoping to play a major new role, says Gene Russo.

Manufacturing jobs may be shifting from the large drug companies to contract organizations as firms re-evaluate their strengths. But scientists with analytical skills and an eye for efficiency can find a job transforming materials into medicines, says Hannah Hoag.

Patent law offers opportunities for those who wish to leave the lab but not science, says Monya Baker.

The drug industry may be going through lean times, as new candidates have to clear ever-higher safety hurdles. But this gives scientists who can steer a drug through clinical trials a head start in the job market, says Hannah Hoag.

The opening of the Large Hadron Collider in Europe will offer high-powered opportunities for particle physicists to decode the mysteries of the Universe. Virginia Gewin finds out more.

Regulatory affairs is a young profession that's already making its mark in the world of drug development, where one false move can bring years of research to an unwelcome end. If your skills include communication and leadership, it may be for you, says Hannah Hoag.

After years of quasi-colonial treatment from their European partners, local astronomers in Chile and South Africa are coming into their own. Dirk Steuerwald tracks the changing climate for the star-gazers of the south.

Use of animals for testing early in the drug-development process aims to provide vital information to make new drugs safe and effective — and the process is being constantly refined. Hannah Hoag finds out what is involved.

They arrive from other disciplines; they spread into distant fields. Toxicology is a voyage of discovery for scientists with diverse skills, including those of communication. Ricki Lewis gets them to open up about it.

Forget what your mother told you. Scientists looking for jobs in the business world need to learn to talk to strangers, says Monya Baker.

Creating a new drug is a long and painstaking process, involving the skills and talents of numerous types of scientist, says Hannah Hoag. Each is vital to different stages of producing a drug that's both safe and effective. Drug development draws on various kinds of scientist.

Industry's need to reduce waste and deal with the environmental concerns of consumers is creating demand for cleaner catalysis, says Virginia Gewin.

PhD students, postdocs and even senior scientists are taking continuing-education courses to improve their scientific 'hard skills' or branch out beyond the lab. Robert Rentzsch had a look around to see what's on offer.

In the first of a series of articles on the drug pipeline, Hannah Hoag looks at the opportunities in selecting leads.

Energy and competitiveness are the buzzwords in George W. Bush's proposal for spending in the next fiscal year. But will the president's push really benefit researchers?