Geneticists: Career & Application Guide

What do geneticists do?

Research and study the inheritance of traits at the molecular, organism or population level. May evaluate or treat patients with genetic disorders.

This describes a U.S. occupation, not a live vacancy. Individual employers may use different titles and requirements.

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Supervise or direct the work of other geneticists, biologists, technicians, or biometricians working on genetics research projects.
Plan or conduct basic genomic and biological research related to areas such as regulation of gene expression, protein interactions, metabolic networks, and nucleic acid or protein complexes.
Prepare results of experimental findings for presentation at professional conferences or in scientific journals.
Maintain laboratory notebooks that record research methods, procedures, and results.
Write grants and papers or attend fundraising events to seek research funds.
Search scientific literature to select and modify methods and procedures most appropriate for genetic research goals.
Review, approve, or interpret genetic laboratory results.
Attend clinical and research conferences and read scientific literature to keep abreast of technological advances and current genetic research findings.
Evaluate genetic data by performing appropriate mathematical or statistical calculations and analyses.
Analyze determinants responsible for specific inherited traits, and devise methods for altering traits or producing new traits.

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