In this COVID-19 Era, with the increase in our health consciousness, & the need for the concern for our environment, a wide and variety of career opportunities exist in toxicology with huge career scope in future.
Basic Roles & Responsibilities of Toxicologist Are To:
- develop novel ways for determination of the potential harmful effects of chemical & physical agents and dosage that will cause these effects.
- understand about basic molecular, biochemical & cellular processes responsible for diseases caused by exposure to chemical or physical agents.
- design and carry out carefully controlled studies of specific chemicals of social and economic importance to determine the conditions under which they can be used safely
- assess the probability, that particular chemicals, processes or situations pose a significant risk to human health and/or the environment, and assist in the formulation of suitable rules & regulations to protect and preserve human health & environment.
Various Job Opportunities For Toxicologists exists in a vast array of fields namely,
- Academic – universities or research centres
- Analytical & Clinical Organizations – like large district hospitals and specialist regional toxicology units of the Govt
- Environmental hazard assessment government agencies, & Private industry
- Forensic Departments – private forensic laboratories, forensic departments of hospitals or within government departments
- Industrial and pharmaceutical Organizations – including chemical, biotechnology or food tech.
Common Posts Toxicologits are often hired for are:
- Scientist – in Government or private Research Institute
- Lecturer/Professor- in University or academic institution
- Lab in-charge – in testing laboratories
- Scientific Officer – in scientific governmental & private organizations or NGOs
- Scientific Journalist/Editor
- Analyst – in testing laboratories Privatre or Govt. institutions / organizations
- JRF/SRF/RA/SRA – in various prestigious institutions like IITs, IISc, TIFER, etc
- Technical Officer in bioscience organizations.
- Environmentalist – in private companies, Govt organizations & NGO’s
- Drug Inspector
- Pharma Manager
- Product Safety Evaluation
- Regulatory Affairs & Many other posts
Once you’ve gained experience as a toxicologist, it’s very much possible to move into a senior toxicologist position or into a managerial role at a lab or company. As your career progresses, and you gain experience you’re likely to spend less time on practical and laboratory-based scientific work and more time on office-based and supervisory work, but ofcourse it depneds on your background expertience & work interest too.
There is scope to specialise within toxicology or to move into related scientific fields. Opportunities depend on your background and experience, but specialist areas include:
- immunotoxicology
- neurotoxicology
- safety pharmacology
- toxicology of biotechnology products.
Remuneration Aspect
One can start his or her career in the field of Toxicology easily & get an initial pay ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 pm. Over a period with relevant experience of upto 2-3 years approx & Knowledge / higher degree gained one can earn upto Rs 80,000/- pm on an average. It varies with Govt & Private Organizations Pay Scale Offered.
To Conclude ,Toxicology is one of the fast growing research disciplines and has a plethora of job opportunities for enthusiastic researchers. After the completion of your degree pursing career in Toxicology, can be a very good choice keeping in mind the current scenario. Post COVID-19 phase, demand of Toxicologists is predicted to escalate at a very high rate. Thus now is the perfect time to jump into this evergreen field.
In the next module you can checkout various Toxicology courses available in India & colleges that offer these courses.