Cellular Immunologist

The smallest form of life is the cell. In these tiny pockets, energy is generated, waste is removed, and invaders are expelled. Scientists simply love cells, and it’s easy to understand why. Reactions that are common in one cell are likely to be common in other cells as well.

Cellular Immunologists, in particular, have a passion for these small items. They study how these tiny bits respond to infection, illness, and disease. Through their work, Cellular Immunologists hope to find new vaccines, treatments, and therapies that could save millions of lives.

When you’re a Cellular Immunologist, the work you do revolves around the immune system, and all of your research begins with a theory. You might believe that cancer begins with a cold virus, for example, or you might become convinced that coffee beans could be transformed into vaccines that could cure malaria. When your theory is clear in your mind, you determine how to test that idea in the laboratory. Then, you write detailed descriptions of experiments that you’d like to perform to prove your hypotheses.

Some companies will pay for all of your experiments with no questions whatsoever. But, in some cases, you have to apply for grants to raise money for equipment and supplies. These applications can eat up a significant amount of your time.

When funding is secure, you hire Research Assistants and Laboratory Technicians to carry out the experiments you’ve outlined. Each day, you read the results of those experiments. If you hit on a winning theory, you apply for a patent or look for a manufacturing partner. If you don’t, you write a report of what you found, in hopes of inspiring new research.