Best engineering major for medical research (other than BME)?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>I was recently pre-med, but after</p>

<p>-much research on the non-existant life of residents and attendings
-considering the length of time I’d have to spend in training to become a physician before I even start my career
-realizing that i’d be in horrible debt until I’m at least 45 ($300,000 or more in the hole)</p>

<p>I decided to pursue another career. I’m a soon-to-be mom, a single one at that. I want a career that will give me time to spend with my child, and help me to earn a good living sooner rather than later. I also want a career that can travel easily to Europe (I want to gain dual citizenship someday) and that will enable me to pursue my own goals within the realm of medical research.</p>

<p>I’ve thought about pursuing Chemical Engineering, Physics, or Pharmacy, but so many people seem to be saying ChemE is a bad idea because of the decreasing job outlook, and I really don’t want to earn a PhD in Physics and do several postdocs before I find out I can’t find a good job…which seems to be the case with a lot of grads. Pharmacy has a terrible job outlook for the next decade because of the increasing number of schools and steady/decreasing number of job openings available. I was discouraged by many Pharmacists to not pursue a degree in Pharmacy.</p>

<p>So basically I’m looking for an engineering discipline that will:</p>

<p>-Allow me to spend time with my child and my mom (occasional overtime is OK though)
-Allow me to make a salary of at least $80,000 within 5 years of graduation
-Allow me to be a part of medical research
-Allow me to travel
-Allow me to have some personal time to pursue my other endeavors (which I would have NEVER been able to do being a physician)</p>

<p>Any ideas?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

2

<p>Go to nursing school. There are traveling nurses and research nurses that get paid very well. And you’ll be fulfilling your medical vocation. It’s also a great career for a mom. You can work on the weekend only in CCU and earn a very good salary. You can do short stints in hospitals in need of nurses if you’re able to travel with your child. You can do research at a medical school in the clinical setting. As a med school nurse, you’ll have great benefits, sometimes including tuition reimbursement for your child. Or you can even work as a nurse at a state hospital or the university hospital and get tuition reimbursement and benefits. </p>

<p>Nursing is a wonderful field, very lucrative, and one that will always be in demand.</p>

3

<p>I actually have really explored nursing…I have a few friends pursuing the career and adults (family and family friends) that have done it…the field doesn’t really appeal to me. I need something more…science-y, abstract yet meaningful, you know?</p>

<p>Majors like Physics, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Philosophy turn me on…Nursing, Physical Therapy, etc not so much…</p>

<p>I need something I can do some serious, original research in. Or to be part of a large team doing research that is closer to the basic side than the clinical side of things.</p>

<p>And also I don’t think nursing makes $80,000 a year within 5 years of graduating…unless you have a lot of experience past the BSN right?</p>

4

<p>Your information is incorrect on Chemical Engineering. It is still one of the best paying fields in engineering.</p>

<p>However, most ChemE schools have moved quite a bit into medical area in ChemE research.</p>

5

<p>Well I never said Chemical Engineering wasn’t one of the best paying fields in engineering, just that the job outlook seems to be declining–at least, according to some of the research I’ve done on the internet & talking to friends that have graduated with the degree.</p>

<p>I’m just so afraid to put all of my energy into getting a degree and then not be able to get a job within 6 months of graduating…because by then, I’ll have a child to support and an aging mother to help…</p>

<p>I just want to make sure the field I choose is stable, that there are good job prospects, and make sure I can still realize my own goals within the field as well.</p>

6

<p>Dietsgirl, I agree with you, nursing/working with people wasn’t for me, which my mom always reminds me of when I fuss at her for not encouraging me for nursing.</p>

<p>I have a friend who, right out of nursing school, went up to NIH and did research. Nurses do get paid fairly well, too, especially if you are willing to work graveyard and weekend shifts, and travel.</p>

<p>As for Chem Eng, a lot of premeds choose this field, thinking they’ll have a career if they decide not to go to med school. You have to be really careful about the curriculum. Make sure it really is engineering, with engineering physics, calculus, statics, dynamics, and not just glorified premed, where you wouldn’t be trained for a real engineering job. A lot of BME programs are like this. Really premed, but not too much hard core engineering.</p>

<p>Have you thought about computers? That is a very lucrative field, and since you are female, the management jobs are wide open for you. You can earn at least 80K right out of college in computers right now.</p>

<p>As for research, there is a field called biostatistics that might interest you. I don’t know too much about it, but I’ve seen it offered as a major in a lot of schools.</p>

<p>Another field that wouldn’t put you in direct contact with patients, but may get you some research jobs is medical technologist. Medical schools with research projects are often looking for someone with beyond a biology degree. One doing clinical research is looking for RNs and Med Techs. Certified medical technologists take coursework beyond the bio major, and are also required to do an internship, like nurses do their clinicals.</p>

<p>I think for the chem eng field, you might want to explore a school that works with polymers or plastics. I’ve seen internships looking for people with experience in those fields.</p>

<p>Good luck to you, and especially good luck with handling mom and kid. Been there, doing that. As a female in the STEM field, there are a lot of scholarships available, so hopefully, you can find financial and emotional support to take you on your journey.</p>

7

<p>BME is the closest among emgineering majors where one gets to be involved in medical research. Sure there are a few ME, EE and CSEs who get to do research in medicine, but not as many as do BMEs.
However, understandably, if you want to have a career in healthcare that does not involve taking on too much debt, and still have a life/work balance, you may want to explore Physician Assistant programs. The guaranteed 5 year BS/PA programs, if available in your state, would be one of your better options. Please note entry into these PA programs is very competitive.
[Physician</a> Assistants : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics](<a href=“http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm]Physician”>http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm)</p>

8

<p>Consider also Computer Science/Bioinformatics, or a related discipline. One added perk is that you may be able to get a telecommuting job - very helpful for a parent.</p>

9

<p>^^^Yes, my sister had twins late in life and she was able to do most of her work from home. She has a masters in computer engineering. Gets paid six figures. She does have to do some travel and work on projects, but for the most part, she goes to Starbucks and works while the kids are in daycare. Nice life, huh?</p>

<p>Bioinformatics is an up and coming field, as is cyber security. You’ll satisfy your techie craving and be able to command a high salary right out of college. Again, LOTS of opportunities for females. If you’re a minority, even better. Join the military, and you’re gold.</p>

<p>Have you thought about joining the service and having them cover your schooling? You’ll have to do some time after school, but if you’re in a demand technical field, you may do your service time not in combat.</p>