http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/biological-technicians.htm#tab-1
I plan on Majoring in Chemistry because I want to be a Chemist but I thought it would be pretty cool to do work as a Bio Technician every once in a while.
If I Major in Chemistry and Minor in Biology do you think I would be qualified?
A technician washes petri dishes.
Yes you would be qualified but you’d also be qualified without the minor.
A technician doesn’t wash petri dishes! I should know, I was a technician for 3 years. Technicians are a valuable member of the lab staff and conduct meaningful research which lead to publications.
And yes, you are qualified.
Are you sure about that? Because Chemistry doesn’t really hit subject such as Anatomy & Pathology…
@gizmojc
Doesn’t matter. The vast, vast majority of (biological) technician jobs don’t require any knowledge of biology or chemistry whatsoever. You’ll likely be performing the same procedures over and over, procedures that you could train someone without a high school diploma to do. Yes, techs are a necessary part of the team, and sure, maybe there are a handful of tech positions in which you might get the chance to make some meaningful contribution. But the vast, vast majority of tech positions are low-paying, mind-numbing drudgery, not “cool”.
It’s like anything else at any other office. Technicians are usually allowed to do as much as they show a willingness and aptitude for. They can always apply to jobs “higher” on the scale or go back to school if they want a job that absolutely requires another degree.
The notion that it isn’t “cool” just shows your own level of insecurity.
@JustOneDad
Was the “cool” comment directed toward me? If so, I was referring to gizmojc’s own use of the word earlier and the notion that it would be “cool” to work as a biological lab tech.
In my experience, biological lab technicians don’t get to do as much as they show a willingness or aptitude for. They get to do the one or few specific things they were hired to do–not more and not less. They cannot apply to jobs higher on the scale because, with these positions, there generally is no “higher”. With most lab tech jobs, there is no vertical latitude.
We allow them to do anything they have aptitude and willingness for. It would be odd not to.
“Experience” is the main difference between a wide range of laboratory jobs. Once they have the experience, they can move up the list if the slots are available.