Tell me about it
Pharmacologists study how drugs affect the body.Their work can lead to the discovery of many different drugs used to treat disease and relieve human and animal suffering.

Working as a pharmacologist could involve developing biological tests in cellular or tissue systems, or in whole animals, to identify new medicines, working on clinical trials, developing tests that can be carried out safely on human volunteers to establish that a new compound is safe and effective, or designing tests to establish whether a new compound could produce side-effects.

Entry level
To work as a pharmacologist, you must normally have a first degree in pharmacology or in a related subject such as biochemistry, physiology, biology or pharmacy. Single and joint honours degrees incorporating pharmacology are offered at universities all over the UK, and the minimum entry requirements are normally three A levels/three or four H grades and three GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3) in other subjects, including English and maths. Most universities ask for A level/H grade chemistry and at least one other science.

The degree course develops an understanding of how medicines affect the body, how the body handles medicines and how new medicines are developed. Subjects studied include how the body works, how diseases occur, the actions of medicines in computer simulations, in cells and tissues from animals, possibly in whole animals, and in student volunteers, and how the whole body reacts to medicines from the point of view of effectiveness and safety.

Many people enter the profession with a postgraduate qualification, such as an MSc or PhD.

Making the grade
Some pharmacology degrees offer a one-year placement in industry as part of the course. This gives you the opportunity to develop your practical skills and is generally welcomed by employers.

You will find that many employers offer comprehensive graduate development programmes, giving you an introduction to different aspects of the work and an excellent platform for future career progression. It may also be possible to study part time for a postgraduate qualification.

It is vital that you keep up to date with developments in the industry by attending conferences and short courses, and by reading scientific papers.

Personal qualities
As a pharmacologist, you should have a strong scientific background with a particular interest in medical research and developments in healthcare. You would need to be organised and methodical when collecting and analysing data, and to be able to work accurately and pay great attention to detail.

You would have to combine practical laboratory skills with an enquiring mind and a creative and innovative approach to your work

Looking ahead
Given the constant search for treatments and cures for diseases such as AIDS, cancer and malaria, pharmacologists are inevitably going to be in demand for some time to come. You might be employed in the pharmaceutical industry, in a university or in a research centre. There are also employment opportunities in hospitals, mainly to work on clinical trials, and in the Public Health Laboratory Service, detecting and measuring the effects of drugs and poisons.

You could move into medical sales, medical writing or specialist recruitment for the pharmaceuticals industry, and you would also be eligible to apply for a shortened medical degree course to train as a doctor. Many pharmaceutical companies are multinational, so there may be opportunities to work overseas.

Alternative suggestions
Other possibilities might include training as a biochemist, biomedical scientist, doctor, food scientist, forensic scientist, microbiologist, pharmacist or research biologist/chemist.

Take-home pay
Starting salaries for graduates are around £18,000 to £24,000 a year, and can be up to 25 per cent more than this if you have a PhD. Pharmacologists in senior positions may earn £30,000 to £75,000 a year.

Effects
Pharmacologists normally work a 37-hour week, Monday to Friday, although you may find that additional hours are required at times, especially when working on experiments or clinical trials.

You would usually work in a laboratory, sometimes under sterile conditions. Some projects involve working with hazardous substances, emissions and radiation. Animals are used in some experiments.

Sources of information
Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry: www.abpi-careers.org.uk
British Pharmacological Society: www.bps.ac.uk
Medical Research Council: www.mrc.ac.uk

CRCI: JK