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Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists

SOC 19-1042.00Job Zone 5 · Extensive Preparation

Conduct research dealing with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health. Engage in clinical investigation, research and development, or other related activities.

Context coveredWet-lab research, translational and clinical studies, IND/IRB workflows, grant-funded laboratories, biotech and academic medical centers.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Standard bench techniques (PCR, Western blot, ELISA) — perform under a senior scientist's mentorship in a research lab.
  2. Lab notebooks (paper or electronic) — maintain to FDA-readiness standards during early-stage projects.
  3. Biosafety and chemical hygiene — apply consistently at BSL-2 in a translational research setting.
  4. Reagents and assay kits — prepare and validate against manufacturer protocols on routine experiments.
  5. Cell culture (aseptic technique, passaging) — maintain standard lines under a postdoc's review.
  6. Standard imaging (light, fluorescence) — acquire and annotate per a defined SOP.
  7. Animal-handling certifications and IACUC protocols — follow on assigned rodent studies.
  8. Routine statistical comparisons (t-tests, ANOVA) — produce in a standard pipeline for review.
  9. Lab-meeting presentations — deliver clearly on assigned topics with a PI's coaching.
  10. Manuscript and reference managers — maintain bibliographies for an active project.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Multi-step assays and protocol optimization — design and execute independently in an active research group.
  2. Flow cytometry, qPCR, and proteomics workflows — run end-to-end on translational study samples.
  3. Animal models and dosing studies — lead under an approved IACUC protocol with veterinary partners.
  4. Statistical analyses with R or Python — produce reproducible notebooks for project data.
  5. Quality control and reproducibility checks — institute across the group's recurring assays.
  6. Authorship of peer-reviewed papers — contribute first- or middle-author sections for high-impact journals.
  7. Junior staff and rotation students — train on core methods in a wet-lab setting.
  8. Project management across parallel experiments — sequence and prioritize on a 6–12-month horizon.
  9. Grant aim development and pilot results — contribute substantively to an R-series application.
  10. Conference posters and short talks — prepare and defend at national meetings.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Independent research programs — design, run, and publish across a 3–5-year arc at an academic or industry site.
  2. Translational studies from bench to first-in-human — design and shepherd through IND-enabling work.
  3. Biostatistical strategy and sample-size planning — author for trials and grant proposals.
  4. Manuscripts in top-tier journals — lead through revision cycles, including responses to reviewers.
  5. External collaborations with clinical partners and biotech — structure with MTAs and data-sharing terms.
  6. R01-class grants and contract proposals — lead through award and renewal.
  7. Postdoctoral fellows and senior staff scientists — mentor on independent project ownership.
  8. Regulatory dossiers (pre-IND, IND amendments) — contribute scientific narrative and supporting data.
  9. Lab-wide SOPs and QA culture — set and audit across a multi-room facility.
  10. Scientific advisory boards and editorial duties — contribute as a recognized subject expert.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Research direction for an institute or company portfolio — set scientific strategy across multiple groups.
  2. Translational platforms (e.g., gene therapy, immuno-oncology) — build from concept to clinical readiness.
  3. Major program grants and center awards — architect and lead as PI across consortia.
  4. External partnerships with industry, foundations, and government — negotiate at the institutional level.
  5. Scientific talent pipeline — recruit, retain, and develop independent investigators.
  6. Disciplinary norms and reform priorities — advance through major society roles and policy work.
  7. Translational pipelines and IND/BLA progression — govern in close partnership with regulatory teams.
  8. Public-health and biomedical workforce strategy — advise legislators, agencies, and trustees.
  9. Crisis-response programs (e.g., pandemic preparedness) — stand up rapidly across academia–industry lines.
  10. Legacy mentorship and field-shaping standards — institutionalize through training programs and journals.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

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  1. Emerging
  2. Developing
  3. Proficient
  4. Advanced
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Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework

Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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Show O*NET source anchors58 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com

O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Anatomist · Cancer Researcher · Chemotherapist · Clinical Analyst · Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Clinical Lab Scientist) · Clinical Pharmacologist · Clinical Research Analyst · Clinical Research Scientist · Clinical Research Specialist · Clinical Researcher · Clinical Scientist · Cytologist
RAPIDS apprenticeships
—
O*NET skills
WritingScienceActive LearningSpeakingCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningJudgment and Decision MakingComplex Problem SolvingSystems AnalysisMonitoringMathematicsLearning StrategiesSystems EvaluationInstructingService OrientationTime ManagementSocial PerceptivenessCoordination
Knowledge domains
BiologyEnglish LanguageMedicine and DentistryChemistryMathematics
Abilities
Inductive ReasoningWritten ExpressionOral ExpressionSpeech ClarityCategory FlexibilityInformation OrderingDeductive ReasoningWritten ComprehensionOral ComprehensionProblem Sensitivity
Work styles
Intellectual CuriosityAttention to DetailDependabilityCautiousnessInnovationIntegrity
Technology
Graphics or photo imaging softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareData base user interface and query softwareGeographic information systemElectronic mail softwareDevelopment environment softwareInformation retrieval or search softwareOperating system softwareEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareSpreadsheet software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Follow strict safety procedures when handling toxic materials to avoid contamination.
  2. Evaluate effects of drugs, gases, pesticides, parasites, and microorganisms at various levels.
  3. Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease.
  4. Prepare and analyze organ, tissue, and cell samples to identify toxicity, bacteria, or microorganisms or to study cell structure.
  5. Conduct research to develop methodologies, instrumentation, and procedures for medical application, analyzing data and presenting findings to the scientific audience and general public.
  6. Teach principles of medicine and medical and laboratory procedures to physicians, residents, students, and technicians.
  7. Write and publish articles in scientific journals.
  8. Write applications for research grants.
CIP education codes
26.010226.020226.020326.020426.020526.040126.040326.040426.040626.040726.050326.050426.050526.050726.050826.050926.080626.090126.090226.090326.090426.090526.090726.090826.090926.091026.091126.091226.091326.099926.100126.100226.100326.100426.100526.100626.100726.109926.110226.130926.140126.150226.150326.150426.159930.100130.110142.270945.020551.140151.140251.140551.149951.200351.200451.200551.201051.220261.010161.010261.010361.010461.010561.010661.010761.010861.010961.011061.011161.011261.011361.011461.011561.011661.011761.011861.011961.012061.012161.012261.012361.012461.012561.019961.020261.020361.020561.020661.020861.020961.021061.021261.021361.021461.021561.021661.021761.021861.029961.030161.039961.049961.050261.050361.059961.060261.060361.069961.079961.080461.080561.080661.080761.080861.080961.081061.081161.081261.081361.081461.081661.081861.089961.090161.090261.090361.090461.099961.109961.110361.110461.110561.110661.110761.119961.129961.130261.130361.130461.139961.149961.150261.150361.150461.150561.159961.169961.170261.170361.179961.180461.180561.180661.180761.180861.180961.181061.181161.181261.181361.181461.181561.189961.190261.190361.190461.190561.190661.190761.190861.190961.191061.191161.191261.191361.191461.191561.191761.199961.200261.200361.209961.210361.219961.229961.239961.240261.240361.240461.240561.240661.249961.259961.260361.260661.260761.260861.260961.261261.269961.270361.270461.270561.270661.270761.270861.279961.280261.289961.9999

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.