Careers and Recruitment

Staff shortages in the US fossil-fuel industry are good news for geologists, chemists and physicists. The boom is likely to continue despite the economic downturn and the rise of renewable energy, says Emma Marris.

Industry's urge to build on breakthroughs in neurotechnology could be a boon for business-minded scientists, says Virginia Gewin.

Scientists who enter the world of political advocacy stand to gain perspective but could face a culture shock. Gene Russo reports.

Just a decade has changed cancer research beyond recognition, but adaptable skills and teamwork lead to exciting possibilities. Ricki Lewis looks at the new face of cancer genetics.

Rumours of the demise of chemistry are misplaced — the 'science of everything' prevails, if sometimes under new guises. Ricki Lewis reports.

It's a tough brief to fill, but geneticists with mathematical and computing skills find jobs easy to get. Virginia Gewin reports.

Research into angiogenesis has survived the 1990s hype about an imminent cure for cancer, and shows promising results in many areas — but don't tell the newspapers, says Ricki Lewis.

New tools and technologies are allowing cell biologists to take a more holistic view. To make the most of this, they are teaming up with scientists from other fields. Corie Lok reports.

Fearing that it will be the target of future bioterrorist attacks, the United States has been ploughing huge amounts of money into biodefence. The result is a reinvigorated market for microbiologists. Corie Lok reports.

Whatever title is afforded today's practitioners of molecular genetics, one thing is certain — success hinges on having a wide set of skills. Ricki Lewis reports.

Scientists willing to tackle membrane proteins should find opportunities unfolding, says Hannah Hoag.

Recruitment of chemists in traditional bulk commodities and manufacturing may be slumping, but fresh opportunities are opening up for those whose skill sets are amenable to biotechnology applications, say Claudia Caruana and Paul Smaglik.

Reduced side effects and more effective therapies are some of the benefits promised by pharmacogenomics. But to reach these goals industry will have to marshall a broad range of skills, as Ricki Lewis explains.

Scientists seeking immunology posts are looking beyond the United States and scattering all over the globe. They are re-evaluating both the focus of their work and where they choose to pursue it, says Myrna Watanabe.

Once hyped, gene therapy still holds promise as an effective method for treating a variety of diseases. On the road to fulfilling that expectation, opportunities exist for young scientists who are excited by a still-emerging field, says Hannah Hoag.

As supplies of fossil fuels dwindle, the world is searching for alternative energy supplies. Materials scientists are in demand, says Virgina Gewin, but there are jobs in many areas.

The addition of molecular biology to the existing range of imaging technologies is creating opportunities for scientists of many disciplines. Paul Smaglik lines up the pieces.

What's a company to do when it needs faster, cheaper new drugs and chemists are hard to find? Look for a source of bright graduates with low living costs, where legal changes have pushed firms to seek work, and you're there, says Emma Marris.

The marriage of engineering, medicine and biology is offering people from a wide range of disciplines the chance to accelerate their careers. Myrna Watanabe investigates a growth industry.