A degree in neuroscience can make sense if you have an interest in brain biology. If getting a decent salary is important to you, it’s also a sensible decision. But there’s more to working in this fascinating industry than just making money.
According to the Pan American Health Organization, neurological illnesses cause 47.4 deaths per 100,000 people in the United States, which is the highest rate of any nation in the world. Neurological illnesses, which include crippling conditions like Parkinson’s disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer’s, impact both the brain and the nervous system.
In other words, choosing one of the various occupations available in neuroscience gives you the ability to not only support yourself financially but also to aid in the fight against some of the most terrible diseases. But which professions will pay you the most?
What is Neuroscience?
The study of the nervous system, which includes the brain, is known as neuroscience. Working closely with other disciplines like psychology, linguistics, engineering, computers, mathematics, and medicine, neuroscience is an interdisciplinary professional path.
But treating brain problems is only one aspect of neuroscience. Multiple layers of the nervous system are studied by neuroscientists, including:
- Cellular
- Functional
- Behavioural
- Computational
- Molecular
- Evolutionary
- Medical
Because of this, there are numerous job options in this area.
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Neuroscience subfields
The nervous system is incredibly intricate. There are numerous branches of neuroscience to examine it as a result. Each concentrates on a different aspect of the neurological system. Several typical branches include:
Developmental:
Developmental neuroscience is concerned with how the brain develops and evolves through time.
Cognitive:
Cognitive neuroscience is concerned with how the brain works. How do people reason, communicate, and resolve issues?
Molecular:
Molecular neuroscience is the study of the nervous system using ideas from molecular biology. It can be a research project on molecular neuroanatomy or neuroplasticity. Neural signalling and other systemic molecular activities would also be a focus of this area.
Cellular:
The study of the nervous system at the cellular level is known as cellular neuroscience.
Neurogenetics is the application of genetic principles to the study of neuroscience. What neuronal inherited traits exist? Additionally, inherited neurological conditions like Huntington’s disease would be covered.
Behavioural:
Behavioural neuroscience studies the functions of the many parts of the brain.
Clinical neuroscience:
Clinical neuroscience deals with the study and care of neurological disorders, particularly the management and avoidance of diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Neurophysiology:
The study of the nervous system’s physiology is known as neurophysiology. What are the many parts, and how does each one function?
Neuroscience of the senses:
Neuroscience of the senses is the study of how the neurological system interacts with the senses.
One or more job choices that enable you to earn a high wage are available in each of these branches.
Careers in neuroscience
Check out ten of the most profitable career paths in neuroscience. Most will require an advanced degree in the field.
Researcher:
A neuroscientist who conducts studies to test hypotheses about the nervous system and illnesses that impact it may work in academia or the public sector. Researchers conduct studies in a variety of areas, from the molecular to the cognitive to the genetic. They might also create and evaluate medications for biopharma.
Neurologist:
A medical professional with a focus on disorders of the nervous system and the brain is a neurologist. After earning their undergraduate degree, they would enrol in medical school. They go on to specialize in the area of neuroscience from there. This doctor uses medicine, not surgery, to treat neurological conditions. They primarily concentrate on degenerative illnesses rather than trauma. They would recommend a neurosurgeon to the patient for any surgical operations.
Neurosurgeon
Surgery on the brain and spinal cord is a speciality of neurosurgeons. They attend medical school, just like neurologists, but their area of focus is surgery rather than clinical care. If you experience brain or nervous system damage or acquire a degenerative illness of the spine, you should consult a neurosurgeon.
Psychiatrist
An expert in studying, diagnosing, and treating mental illness is a psychiatrist. Along with the physical and biological components of mental disease, they also address the behavioural aspects of it. As a possible course of treatment for their disease, they can suggest to patients a mix of medication and talk therapy.
Clinical Neuroscientist:
Clinical neuroscientists undertake research with the ultimate purpose of doing medical or scientific studies on how the brain functions. To learn more about how the brain functions and how diseases affect it, researchers frequently conduct studies on either humans or animals.
Biostatistician:
A biostatistician uses math and statistics to analyze data and find answers to medical or public health-related concerns. This is not a clinical function; it is data-driven. They might, however, be employed by a research team undertaking clinical investigations. The data would be gathered, examined, and then interpreted to conclude the study.
Pharmaceutical Sales:
Working at the biopharma industry’s cutting edge means selling pharmaceuticals. They collaborate with a pharmaceutical business to inform and acquaint professionals with novel treatments. Pharmaceutical salespeople frequently hold advanced degrees and may even be licensed physicians.
Speech Pathologist:
Patients with communication problems receive assistance from speech therapists. They could be cognitive issues like aphasia or physical conditions like hearing loss. To work in this sector, you would require a doctorate in speech-language pathology.
Professor:
Neuroscience is taught by professors at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Other professions in the sector, such as neurobiology or surgery, may also be involved in this position.
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Job Outlook and Demand in Neuroscience
The need for experts in neurology will increase as the population continues to age. This is due to the age-related nature of many diseases including Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia that damage the brain and neurological system. According to Alzheimer’s Disease International, there will be twice as many dementia sufferers in the next 20 years. It will have 139 million users worldwide by 2050.
One of the many disorders that those involved in neuroscience study is Alzheimer’s. Numerous neurological conditions that are not age-related benefit from the expertise of specialists, including:
- Epilepsy and seizure disorders
- Meningitis
- Muscular dystrophy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Bell’s Palsy
- Brain Tumors
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome
- Chronic migraine headaches
This subject needs qualified specialists when the rising number of persons of all ages who are experiencing strokes, concussion problems, and acute injuries are added to the list. Because neuroscience is so specialized, any career route will be both cognitively and financially fulfilling.
You can expand your options by pursuing a profession in neuroscience. After earning your undergraduate degree, you might work as a researcher before going back to school to earn your master’s or PhD. You will probably earn more money if you have more neuroscience knowledge.
Finding a school with the best program is essential for the majority of people thinking about their career prospects. For the actual world, Central Michigan University provides a realistic experience. Depending on the program, classes can be taken online or on campus for a variety of degree levels.
The neuroscience programs offered at CMU include a PhD in neurology, a Master of Science in neuroscience, and a Bachelor of Science in neuroscience, all of which will give you access to all of your career opportunities in this area. Gaining practical experience in research and examining the origins of illnesses like Huntington’s, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s can be beneficial. You might work in laboratory administration, medical science, or clinical research after earning an advanced degree from Central Michigan University’s neuroscience department.
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