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Assessment #1

ISM Assessment: Career/Industry Research Forecast

Name:​​ Tanveer, Hebah

Date:​​ 10 September 2018

Subject:​​ Independent Study and Mentorship

MLA Citation:

“What Is a Molecular Biologist?” ​EnvironmentalScience.org​,

www.environmentalscience.org/career/molecular-biologist​.

1. I want to learn about community outreach opportunities in the field of molecular biology.

Molecular Biologist are in charge of designing experiments on cells to examine their

daily activities and interactions. In turn, these interactions can be utilized or mimicked to create

biological solutions. The job demand for molecular biologists is expected to increase by 19% in

the next 10 years. I am interested in pursuing community outreach opportunities in health

education, and hope to incorporate my biotechnological research in my speeches.

2. I want to learn about the breadth of topics that the field of molecular biology encompasses,

so that I can see what specifically interests me.

On a daily basis, molecular biologists can be seen working in a laboratory or in an office

setting. They work on cloning techniques, DNA sequence analysis, molecular modeling, culture

media, and more. However, before signing on to a job, molecular Biologists need to have a Ph.D.

in a related field to work in research and development. (biochemistry, biology, physics).


Additionally, research in a professional lab and post-doctoral activities is an essential aspect of

the molecular biology field and should not be taken lightly.

3. I want to learn about what job offers are available right out of college and what the

molecular biologist “ladder” looks like; how does one get to the top?

The average salary nationwide of a molecular biologist is $81,480, and in Texas, the

median salary of a molecular biologist is $68,820. Obviously, the salary amount increases as job

title increases in rank. Nationally, the highest 10% earn about $147,350 a year.

4. I want to learn more about current issues and solutions in the field of molecular biology.

The American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is a nationwide

organization that hosts meetings annually (general meetings and meetings about specific

biological issues). The National Center for Biotechnology Information is another organization

that specializes in biotechnological solutions. This organization’s website is a gold mine for

information of ALL biotechnologies of ALL different subjects.

5. I want to learn about the clear distinction between the fields of biomedical engineering and

molecular biology so I know which one (if any) I am interested in.

Originally, I had selected biomedical engineering as my ISM topic of interest. The fields

of biomedical engineering and molecular biology are very similar, but molecular biology covers

a larger area under its umbrella and offers an alternative to medicine (to reach a broader

audience).

6. I want to learn more about how these three objects of molecular biology work.

Specifically within the field of molecular biology, I am interested in studying tissue

synthesis, biological systems modeling, and organ regeneration. Today, there are not many
viable solutions for burn patients, systemic and long term disorders, and organ donations. These

are the reasons that I want to study the aforementioned sections of molecular biology.

7. I want to learn more about biotechnology for the cardiovascular system.

I used to want to be a cardiologist when I got older, because I am very passionate about

the cardiovascular system. I believe that many disorders of the circulatory system are lifestyle

induced and can easily be avoided. However, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be difficult and

costly to some people, and so I am interested in developing biological solutions to the

increasingly common issues of heart disease, coronary artery disease, and other cardiovascular

disorders. In my first ISM blog, I cited an article about a CRISPR/Cas9 repressor system that

was tested to lower cholesterol levels. This use of biotechnology to enhance or repair a natural

biological system (specifically the circulatory system) is what I am interested in most. I hope that

I can find a mentor as passionate about the heart and blood vessels as I am, because this is what I

want to learn more about in the field of molecular biology. 

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