Longwood University’s unique Neuroscience Studies minor exists to help students learn the basic concepts in neuroscience and apply them to their major fields of interest. Who are you? What do you want to be? Longwood’s Campus Career Center can help push you in the right direction (and the Writing Center can help you draft a resume!)
Not sure what you want to be? Check out some of these careers with a foundation in neuroscience! Each job title links to current information from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics which will give you an idea of potential earnings, training, and number of jobs available.
Trending Careers in Neuroscience-Related Areas:
· Artificial intelligence specialist – Make quality-of-life improvements for those around you with a career in artificial intelligence. There’s long been a question in neuroscientific circles as to whether machines can be taught to think. Maybe you’ll help provide the answer!
· Food scientist – Many believe you are what you eat. A food scientist is responsible for improvements to safety and design in agricultural settings. Design ways to grow and produce food more efficiently, help impoverished communities gain access to foods with more nutritional value; the possibilities are endless!
· Forensic science technician – While true crime television rarely paints an accurate picture of capturing a criminal, you can still achieve job satisfaction and explore a wealth of new ideas with a career as a forensic science technician! Put your laboratory skills to use collecting and analyzing evidence – maybe you’ll catch a bad guy!
· Genetic counselor – Modern technology has made huge improvements to what we know about ourselves. As a genetic counselor, you’d help new families determine their risk of having a child with a genetic abnormality or help individuals understand the likelihood of developing health problems or disorders.
· Laboratory/Medical technician – If you love the lab, this might be the career for you! Collect samples and perform tests to analyze various biological elements.
· Lawyer – Law may not seem like a career that relies too heavily on neuroscience, but the two are interconnected. Many legal disputes have a human element. By having a better understanding of the human condition and how others think and interact, you will be a great benefit to your potential clients.
· Optometrist – As human beings, many of us rely on visual aids to conduct our daily interactions and take actions. Have you ever noticed that it’s easier to misinterpret someone’s intent over text versus in person? As an optometrist, you will diagnose and treat vision problems, disorders, injuries, and diseases.
· Technical writers – When you think of a “how-to” guide, you probably think of that booklet in eleven languages that you threw away when you purchased your last television – less than important, right? Wrong! Google, Yahoo, and many FAQ pages are also how-to guides, and most of us use them every day! As a technical writer, you might author one of these important guides to help the every-day individual learn to use something. You might also do something more complex, like create supporting documents for organizations’ inter-department use or even use your expertise in Neuroscience Studies to pen journal articles for a scientific periodical. The opportunities are almost endless, and as an added bonus, you don’t need a graduate degree to get started!
· Physician’s assistant – Medical school is a large commitment for many people, in both time and a monetary aspect. If you’re interested in a medical career but not ready to pursue higher education just yet, consider becoming a physician’s assistant. PAs examine, treat, and diagnose patients with a physician team, giving you valuable experience for when you eventually pursue medical school.
· Public policy specialist – Public Policy research is often conducted by political scientists. These individuals study political systems and ideas to determine the best course of action necessary for a system to progress. If you’re interested in the neural workings of our country, check it out! Maybe it’s the career for you.
· Speech-language pathologist – Also called speech therapists, these individuals are responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of communication and swallowing disorders in people of all ages. These issues can be as a result of birth defects, injury, stroke, developmental delays, hearing loss, or other things. If you have a passion for communication, you could use your background in Neuroscience to pursue a career as a speech therapist. The world will thank you (verbally) for it!
Want to discuss other career prospects? Contact Dr. Franssen for an appointment: franssencl@longwood.edu