Navy Officer Subspecialty · Medical

SCIENTIST Healthcare Scientist

An officer subspecialty earned alongside a primary designator, marking advanced education or experience in this field.

Overview

Healthcare scientists apply biological, laboratory, and analytical science to medical research, diagnosis, and patient care. They may work in clinical laboratories, research programs, public health, or healthcare quality operations.

Core Skills

  • clinical research methods
  • laboratory testing
  • biomedical data analysis
  • experimental design
  • quality control procedures
  • scientific literature review
  • statistical interpretation
  • technical report writing
  • healthcare team communication

Civilian Software & Tools

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • R
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • ESRI ArcGIS software
  • IBM SPSS Statistics
  • Linux
  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Civilian Career Paths

  • Medical Laboratory
  • Public Health
  • Clinical Technician

Training & Development

Getting Started

  • ASCP Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS)
  • Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP)
  • Certified in Public Health (CPH)

Career Growth

  • ASCP Specialist in Molecular Biology (SMB)
  • Certified Clinical Research Associate (CCRA)
  • American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics Certification
  • Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ)

What the Work Involves

  • Follow strict safety procedures when handling toxic materials to avoid contamination.
  • Evaluate effects of drugs, gases, pesticides, parasites, and microorganisms at various levels.
  • Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease.
  • Prepare and analyze organ, tissue, and cell samples to identify toxicity, bacteria, or microorganisms or to study cell structure.
  • Conduct research to develop methodologies, instrumentation, and procedures for medical application, analyzing data and presenting findings to the scientific audience and general public.

Related Occupations

  • Geneticists
  • Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians
  • Biochemists and Biophysicists
  • Physicians, Pathologists

Typical preparation for these civilian roles: graduate-level education or extensive experience.

Defense contractor jobs for SCIENTIST

Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.

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