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The life sciences are always asking ‘what’s next?’ It’s an industry defined by constant change, by progression, problem solving, leading-edge tech, and, perhaps most importantly, incredible talent.
Behind every new life-saving drug and medical device, you’ll find a vast number of roles and responsibilities all piloting an extraordinarily complex set of processes.
As technology evolves alongside our collective understanding of science, the promise of brand-new jobs looms over the horizon, but what will these jobs look like? If the life sciences industry wasn’t enticing enough already, here are some of the roles set to gain traction in the near future.
Data Science
The data science platform market is expected to reach a value of $322.9 billion in 2026, a trajectory that will see a compound growth rate of a staggering 27.7%. Data is critical to the way the life sciences operate in today’s world, and if the growth of the market is anything to go by, this won’t be changing anytime soon.
A massive amount of data is produced constantly through clinical trials, disease identification, drug discovery, and countless other areas in the life sciences. This data is incredibly complex, and so is the equipment used to extract and analyse it.
Since rising to prominence in 2018, data science jobs are more in-demand than ever before, as companies everywhere recognise the role as a way to sharpen their competitive advantage.
It’s not just the life sciences that boast some exciting opportunities in data science either – it’s a highly transferable discipline, and you’ll likely find a home as a data science in most modern workplaces.
Pros – A plethora of exciting opportunities in all shapes and sizes, a superb role for the analytically minded, for those wanting security, competitive salaries, and great career mobility.
Potential Challenges – Data science is an incredibly broad term which potentially causes difficulties when narrowing down your job search (BioTalent can help you with this!), and you may be faced with data privacy setbacks; it requires constant professional development, but this is also a pro!
CQV Engineering
CQV engineers are responsible for ensuring the systems, facilities and machines found at every cornerstone of the life sciences. Suffice to say, they play an essential role.
The life sciences are heavily regulated, and for good reason – the future health of humanity depends on it. A major challenge for modern businesses has been navigating these regulations, and in a sector that leads the way in terms of healthtech advancements, it can take a while for the regulations to catch up to reality.
Plus, consistent regulatory change can make progress incredibly slow, that is, without the help of a talented CQV engineer. CQV engineering jobs are in-demand, and as a product-facing role, they often find themselves in the heart of the action.
Pros – There’s an abundance of ground-breaking projects out there, and they’re calling out for CQV talent. It’s a candidate-driven market with highly competitive salaries in this area, and the work is diverse with an astonishing range of projects to devote your skills to. There are many opportunities for career progression and learning, with easy access to countless career paths in the industry.
Potential Challenges – CQV engineering often takes the form of contract work, which may not be right for someone looking for an in-house position (although some internal positions are available). There’s a good chance you’ll have to travel often, making it unviable for some, and projects can differ immensely in scope and form, potentially resulting in irregular work.
Biomedical Engineering
A relatively new field, biomedical engineering looks set to change modern medicine, particularly in an era that’s calling out for evermore innovative methods of delivering healthcare.
The need to fill biomedical engineering jobs is growing quickly, and in the midst of skills gap, talented candidates have a great many options to choose from.
Biomedical engineers have a range of responsibilities that contribute towards building a safer and more comfortable world for all, whether that’s the development of prosthetics and artificial internal organs, or the design of new surgical equipment, there are plenty of opportunities to make a hugely positive impact on the patients’ quality of life.
Pros– You get to work on the leading-edge of scientific discovery and innovation, the salaries are often incredible, the work is versatile and highly impactful, there are many opportunities for career development, and the role offers plenty of mobility.
Cons – The working hours can be extremely long, and you will likely need extensive knowledge of several fields including data entry. Plus, the degree requirements can be a setback for some.
A World of Opportunity
There are opportunities galore in the wonderful world of life sciences, and plenty of roles and responsibilities overlap, allowing for progression through the industry in a host of different ways.
If you’re hoping to take on an exciting new role of your own, reach out to the team at BioTalent today, we always place our candidates in supportive environments that align with their vision and goals for the future, and we do it by placing people first with our diversity-led approach to hiring.