Career and Education Opportunities for Scientists in Nashua, New Hampshire
Many educational and employment opportunities exist for scientists in the Nashua, New Hampshire area. The national trend for scientists sees this job pool growing by about 37.4% over the next eight years. In general, scientists study the chemical composition and physical principles of living cells and organisms, their electrical and mechanical energy, and related phenomena.
The average wage in the general category of Life Sciences jobs is $30 per hour or $61,586 per year in New Hampshire, and an average of $30 per hour or $62,473 per year nationwide. Jobs in this field include: research scientist, clinical researcher, and biological chemist.
There are four schools within twenty-five miles of Nashua where you can study to be a scientist, among fifty-seven schools of higher education total in the Nashua area. Scientists usually hold a post-Baccalaureate certificate, so it will take a short time to learn to be a scientist if you already have a Bachelor's degree, or little over four years starting with a high school diploma.
CAREER DESCRIPTION: Scientist
In general, scientists study the chemical composition and physical principles of living cells and organisms, their electrical and mechanical energy, and related phenomena. They also may conduct research to further understanding of the complex chemical combinations and reactions involved in metabolism, reproduction, and heredity.
Scientists ready reports and recommendations based upon research outcomes. Finally, scientists share research findings by writing scientific articles and by making presentations at scientific conferences.
Every day, scientists are expected to be able to articulate ideas and problems. They need to listen to and understand others in meetings. It is also important that they write clearly and communicate well.
It is important for scientists to oversee laboratory teams, and monitor the quality of a team's work. They are often called upon to design new methods to study the mechanisms of biological processes. They also design and execute tests to uncover diseases or other abnormalities. They are sometimes expected to research how characteristics of plants and animals are carried through successive generations. Somewhat less frequently, scientists are also expected to share research findings by writing scientific articles and by making presentations at scientific conferences.
Scientists sometimes are asked to layout and build laboratory equipment needed for special research projects. And finally, they sometimes have to research transformations of substances in cells, using atomic isotopes.
Like many other jobs, scientists must be persistant in the face of problems and impediments and believe in innovation and creative thought.
Similar jobs with educational opportunities in Nashua include:
- Biological Sciences Technician. Assist biological and medical scientists in laboratories. Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, monitor experiments, and calculate and record results. May analyze organic substances, such as blood, food, and drugs.
- Biologist. Research or study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, and functions.
- Environmental Health and Safety Specialist. Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or the health of the population. Utilizing knowledge of various scientific disciplines may collect, synthesize, and take action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, and other sources.
- Epidemiologist. Investigate and describe the determinants and distribution of disease, disability, and other health outcomes and develop the means for prevention and control.
- Geological Specialist. Study the composition, structure, and other physical aspects of the earth. May use geological, physics, and mathematics knowledge in exploration for oil, gas, or underground water; or in waste disposal, land reclamation, or other environmental problems. May study the earth's internal composition, atmospheres, and its magnetic, electrical, and gravitational forces. Includes mineralogists, crystallographers, and seismologists.
- Medical Scientist. Conduct research dealing with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health. Engage in clinical investigation or other research, production, or related activities.
- Microbiologist. Investigate the growth, structure, and other characteristics of microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, algae, or fungi. Includes medical microbiologists who study the relationship between organisms and disease or the effects of antibiotics on microorganisms.
- Zoologist. Study the origins, behavior, and life processes of animals and wildlife. May specialize in wildlife research and management, including the collection and analysis of biological data to determine the environmental effects of present and potential use of land and water areas.
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Scientist Training
Merrimack College - North Andover, MA
Merrimack College, 315 Turnpike St, North Andover, MA 01845. Merrimack College is a small college located in North Andover, Massachusetts. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 2,154 students and an admission rate of 79%. Merrimack College has a bachelor's degree program in Biochemistry which graduated three students in 2008.
Atlantic Union College - South Lancaster, MA
Atlantic Union College, 338 Main St, South Lancaster, MA 01561-1000. Atlantic Union College is a small college located in South Lancaster, Massachusetts. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs and has 384 students. Atlantic Union College has a bachelor's degree program in Biochemistry.
Tufts University - Medford, MA
Tufts University, , Medford, MA 02155-5555. Tufts University is a large university located in Medford, Massachusetts. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 9,821 students and an admission rate of 25%. Tufts University has 2 areas of study related to Scientist. They are:
- Biochemistry, doctor's degree which graduated 3 students in 2008.
- Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Other Specialties, doctor's degree which graduated 1 student in 2008.
Saint Anselm College - Manchester, NH
Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester, NH 03102-1310. Saint Anselm College is a small college located in Manchester, New Hampshire. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 1,900 students and an admission rate of 70%. Saint Anselm College has a bachelor's degree program in Biochemistry which graduated two students in 2008.
Registered Environmental Laboratory Technologist: RELT -- Registered Environmental Laboratory Technologist is a special registration/certification for persons engaged in the laboratory management and/or analysis of environmental samples.
For more information, see the National Registry of Environmental Professionals website.
LOCATION INFORMATION: Nashua, New Hampshire
Nashua is situated in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. It has a population of over 86,576. The cost of living index in Nashua, 119, is far greater than the national average. New single-family homes in Nashua are valued at $175,700 on average, which is well below the state average. In 2008, fifty-seven new homes were constructed in Nashua, down from seventy-nine the previous year.
The three big industries for women in Nashua are health care, educational services, and computer and electronic products. For men, it is computer and electronic products, professional, scientific, and technical services, and construction. The average commute to work is about 25 minutes. More than 31.5% of Nashua residents have a bachelor's degree, which is lower than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 11.2%, is lower than the state average.
The unemployment rate in Nashua is 7.5%, which is greater than New Hampshire's average of 6.5%.
The percentage of Nashua residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 58.1%, is more than both the national and state average. Bethel Church, Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashua and Trinity Baptist Church are among the churches located in Nashua. The most common religious groups are the Catholic Church, the United Church of Christ and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
Nashua is home to the Hillsborough County Courthouse and the Goodhue Memorial Library as well as Deschenes Oval and Nashua Manufacturing Company Historic District. Shopping malls in the area include Amherst Street Mall Shopping Center, Royal Ridge Mall Shopping Center and Nashua Mall Shopping Center. Visitors to Nashua can choose from Chalet Susse Motor Lodge, Crowne Plaza Nashua and Speaker's Corner Restaurant for temporary stays in the area.