A medical researcher focuses on the science behind medicine. They study a variety of disciplines related to human health, such as physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, pathology, and public health. Medical researchers offer strong communication and critical thinking skills, along with research skills in study design, data analysis, statistics, and laboratory techniques. Medical science graduates work in diverse health-related fields, where they apply their skills with the overall aim of improving human health, whether through providing a particular service (e.g., as a pathology technician) or carrying out research as a research scientist.
What does a medical researcher do?
Medical scientists can play various roles depending on their background and qualifications:
- Designing and performing research studies to investigate the mechanisms underlying human disease or how to prevent, diagnose, or treat disease
- Preparing and analyzing patient samples to identify disease, pathogens, or toxins
- Helping with medical devices
- Managing clinical trials
- Collating and analyzing clinical trial data
- Teaching at colleges and universities
- Freelance consulting or working for medical consulting firms
Medical scientists will have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree (BSc) in Medical Science or an allied field such as biology or chemistry, although certain roles and responsibilities require in-service training or further post-graduate studies up to Ph.D. level. By education a medical researcher may be a formulation chemist, a food scientist, a genetics consultant, a bioinformatician, or a biotechnologist. They can also specialize in specific therapetic areas and work as cardiologists, urologists, oncologists, and more. Medical scientists work in the pharmaceutical, food & beverage, and biotechnology industries; for national health services and government laboratories; research institutes and private laboratories; universities and colleges; medical consultancies; and publishing companies.
The job titles of health science experts vary according to the nature of their roles and specializations. These include e.g., Medical Science Liaison, Public Health Consultant, Clinical Lab Scientist, Pathologist, Clinical Pharmacist, Physician Associate, and Histology Technician. Some medical scientists specialize as medical science writers and editors for the government, media, business, and academia. Medical transcription is another specialized area that medical science experts can assist with.
How much does it cost to hire a freelance medical researcher?
To hire a freelance medical science consultant or freelance medical writer, the fee generally ranges from 40−180 USD per hour depending on the skills required and the level of experience needed. For example, medical content writing for a website would typically cost less than consulting regarding product R&D.
The hourly fee can be negotiated upfront based on the estimated number of project hours, or a flat fee (for projects of a defined scope) can be discussed. In this way, Kolabtree provides a cost-effective way to access and collaborate with freelance medical researchers.
Tips on writing a job post for a medical science consultant?
To attract top Kolabtree freelancers, ensure that your project description is informative and the scope is well defined. You will need to provide information on the following:
- Skills required (e.g., pathology expertise)
- What the project area is (e.g., development of a new method to stain for a specific pathogen)
- What the project entails (e.g., consulting on comparisons to the current gold standard)
- What the deliverables are (be specific about what you need the outputs to be)
- Duration of the project (provide an estimate of how many hours work you will need per week/by when you need the project to be completed)
- By when you need to hire (having more leeway on this will give you more time to choose the best expert for your needs)
- Your budget (per hour or fixed fee)
Some of the medical science specialists available on Kolabtree include:
Medtech consultants
Clinical research consultants
Health data analysts
Healthcare consultants
Pharma consultants
Medical content writers
Medical copywriters
Medical writers
Medical device consultants
Cancer research specialists
That’s it, you’re good to go! Ready to hire? Post a project on Kolabtree and get quotes from medical researchers worldwide.