Future careers and pathways
Today’s society faces increasingly complex problems that can have profound impact on how we live our lives. These range from antimicrobial resistance threatening the advances of modern medicine to climate change and its impact on our ecosystems.
A UTS degree in Life Sciences not only provides you with discipline-specific skills and knowledge but with critical ‘STEM skills’, such as problem solving, analysis, and innovation. These transferable skills ensure your employability within and across multiple industry sectors to ensure that you are ready to apply your discipline-specific skills and knowledge to solve complex problems and transform technology supporting society.
See where a UTS Science degree can take you
(gentle music) - As a data analyst, I solve real life problems every day, whether it be reviewing IT or overall controls or building fundamental restructures.
- I work with amazing people every day. I work with phenomenal minds. I'm working in a really interesting field that's just progressing constantly.
- It's important to me to take an active role in helping the environment. - Working in the environmental industry is really interesting because I get exposure to a lot of different people and help them to work in a way that is more sustainable or that helps reduce their impact on the environment. - For as long as I can remember, I've always had a passion for the ocean. Ever since I was a kid, I remember taking my snorkels, my fins, and just being one with the waves. Ever since then, I've wanted to incorporate my inquisitive nature with my passion, and marine biology has essentially been able to do that for me.
- I've always had an inquisitive way of looking at the world. I've loved how things function on the molecular level, and to me nanotechnology is the bringing together of physics and chemistry, and as an emerging field, it really appealed to me. -
Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology
A degree in Biomedical Sciences or Biotechnology allows you to work in a wide range of industries, including pharmaceutical or agricultural companies, pathology and clinical laboratories, hospitals, food science technology companies or medical research institutes.
Some of the jobs in these fields include:
- Clinical or hospital scientist
- Drug regulation officer
- Food scientist
- Laboratory technical officer
- Medical technician
- Pharmaceutical sales representative
- Research project officer
- Research assistant
- Pathology lab technician
- Science teacher
- Science writer or science communicator
- Waste water scientist
Hear from Clare Bodimeade, a Biomedical Science graduate and Territory Manager Arthroplasty for Stryker:
[Uplifting music playing]
[Shot of Clare in laboratory]
I work with amazing people everyday
[Sequence of shots, Clare walking, scientists working with models of bones and artificial joints]
I work with phenomenal minds. I’m working in a really interesting field that’s just progressing constantly. The technology’s changing, the clinical outcomes are improving. Every day you see something new and different- that’s what inspires me.
[Shot of Clare talking to camera with banner- Clare Bodimeade, Territory Manager Arthroplasty, Stryker]
My name is Clare Bodimeade, I work for Stryker a medical devices company. I take care of arthroplasty for large joints so hip and knee replacements
[Sequence of shots- joint replacements, Clare discussing work
We’re part of an aging population, everyone knows someone that’s had either a hip or knee replacement. These surgeries are becoming more and more common place, and being part of the team to improve patient outcomes and to make healthcare better is really rewarding.
[Clare with surgical light, demonstrating with models of bones, talking to people]
The biggest proportion of my time is spent in hospitals within the theatre setting. Another aspect of my role is education. Education around helping the nursing staff learn the new instruments and the procedure, it can also be helping to teach junior orthopaedic registrars and coordinating training for orthopods too.
[Clare talking to camera}
At UTS I learned to analyse things, think critically and question the information before me. It was because of the teachers that I had that I was able to explore all of these things, and it’s something that I’m able to use in my current role and enhances my experience every day.
Meet Emma Dawson, one of our Biotechnology graduates:
Emma Davis Biotechnology
[upbeat music, shot of laboratory corridor pans to Emma Dawson in lab coat speaking]
Oh hey, you’re here come on in, my name’s Emma.
[Camera shot fast-forwarded follows Emma into lab]
Text: The Graduate Tour Biotechnology
[Interviewer] Okay so biotechnology- what is that?
[Shot of Emma working in lab]
So biotechnology is the application of biology to a number of different processes that are both industrial and medicinal.
[Interviewer] So if I became a biotechnologist, what exactly would that mean I do?
[Emma speaking while working in lab]
You can do a number of different things; you can work for something like Sydney Water doing waste water management, you could even work for a cheese factory or a brewery, you could even work for a company developing new drugs. Come with me into my lab!
[Camera follows Emma walking through laboratory]
[Interviewer] When you finish studying what do you think you’ll do?
[Emma works in lab, injecting fluid into a vial while responding to question]
So I want to be an independent scientist studying bacteria and all the things that they can do, but my lifelong dream really has always been to open my own science café where I can serve homemade beer and homemade cheese.
[Interviewer] Talking about bacteria, what is something that I probably wouldn’t know?
Actually, something really cool about bacteria is that they can change their shape; do you want to come see?
[Interviewer] Yeah absolutely.
Follow me!
[Camera follows Emma walking through corridors to microscopy room]
Come on in and take a look
[Interviewer] What just stand here?
Yep just look down the microscope
[shot of bacteria]
[Interviewer] So what exactly am I looking at here?
So you’re looking at bacteria changing their shape from something really small, to something that looks like spaghetti
[Interviewer] So why are they changing shape?
So they’re changing their shape so that they can hide from the immune system. It makes you more sick, and makes you sick for longer. Come with me.
[Zoom out from microscope, camera follows Emma to different room in lab]
[Interviewer] Right, so what exactly did you study?
So I studied chemistry in my HSC, but my love for biology didn’t come til I was in my Bachelor of Biotechnology here at UTS
[Interviewer] And what is probably the biggest misconception you think there is about science?
So a big misconception about science is that it is dominated by males. There are plenty of females that succeed and do really well in science, so as long as you’re passionate and determined you can definitely do science.
[Interviewer] All this chatter about bacteria has got me feeling like I want to wash my hands, so I’m going to show myself out.
Definitely, thank you so much.
[camera fast-forwards exiting lab]
Medical Science
A degree in Medical Sciences can take you anywhere from work as a pathologist in a hospital to being a health educator in schools across Australia, or work as an epidemiologist for a public health organisation.
Some of the jobs in this field include:
- Clinical or hospital scientist
- Clinical pathologist
- Epidemiologist
- Health educator
- Health physics surveyor
- Insurance claim assessor
- Nuclear medical technologist
- Radiographer
- Research assistant
- Radiation therapist
- Surgical manufacturing specialist
Read about one of our recent Medical Science graduates:
Alistair Shaw
International Liaison Officer
Australian Department of Health
Environmental and Marine Biology
Whether you are passionate about wildlife conservation, the impact of urban planning on your local bushland, or are interested in shaping future environmental policies, a degree in Environmental Biology or Marine Biology will open up many possibilities.
Some of the jobs in these fields include:
- Bushland management officer
- Conservation consultant
- Environmental policy advisor
- Field trip assistant
- Fisheries technician
- Land economist
- National park or wildlife ranger
- Oceanographer
- Plant ecologist
- Recycling consultant
Meet Justin Tierney, Fisheries Technician at the Port Stephens Fisheries Institute:
Text: Where Are Our UTS Science Graduates Now?
(Aerial shot panning into beach, shot of person’s legs as they walk on sand, sequence of shots of Justin walking on beach in scuba suit with flippers and snorkel
For as long as I can remember I’ve always had a passion for the ocean. Ever since I was a kid I can remember taking my snorkels, my fins and just being one with the waves. I was going for a dive and being at peace with the sea.
(Justin diving and swimming in ocean)
Ever since then I’ve wanted to incorporate my inquisitive nature with my passion and marine biology has essentially been able to do that for me.
(Shot of Justin talking to camera, walking through facility)
My name’s Justin Tierney, I studied a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology at UTS, I currently work here as a fisheries technician with Port Stephens Fisheries Institute. Studying at UTS science was fantastic. It gave me the opportunity to be able to move my theoretical knowledge, learnt in class, into the field.
(Close-up of fish being processed, measured, weighed and Justin consulting with other workers)
As part of the curriculum we’re able to stretch our theoretical knowledge on many field trips including Heron Island and Stroud. UTS Science also gave me the opportunity to be able to study abroad in Peru for our sub-biodiversity for a month.
(Shot of Justin feeding fish, walking through facility)
Part of my daily routine here at Port Stephens Institute is general fish husbandry and maintenance. This might include feeding and cleaning. I also take a lot of data samples and look after the research trials as they are carried out. We provide the science to be able to better strategise fish-growth efficiency and we then use that data in conjunction with aquaculture companies.
(Shot of Justin speaking to camera)
My goal for the future is to be a part of a 100% sustainable fishery. To be able to sustain such a large population there needs to be a shift towards aquaculture.
Text: UTS Science Future Innovators