Interested in the human body but don’t want to be a “regular” doc? Here are five examples of emerging STEM fields you can consider instead
1. 3D-printed implants
Implants of the 3D kind have become game changers for the human bod. And they need scientists to design ’em! A 3D-printed sternum and rib implant developed in a collab between CSIRO and Anatomics (an Australian medical device manufacturer), and inserted by docs in Spain, helped save a cancer patient’s life. Literally.
2. Precision nutrition
Combining machine learning with the study of genetics and biochemistry, researchers identify diet and lifestyle interventions that aim to help treat disease, promote health, and enhance performance in elite athletes. It’s predicted that by 2027, personalised nutrition could be worth more than US$15 billion! Which is excellent news on the career front!
3. Gut microbiome
This ‘organ’ consists of more than 1000 species of bacteria and other microbes, which is a whole lotta research in your belly. The study around the health of the gut microbiome in conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and depression is really taking off, so employment in understanding how the gut affects overall health is high.
4. Climate-sensitive health
In November 2021, a Canadian woman became the first person to receive an official diagnosis as suffering from ‘climate change’, demonstrating how humans are vulnerable to the impacts of extreme events, including air quality, changes in the spread of infectious diseases, threats to food and water quality and quantity, and effects on our mental health. So get on board to help find solutions!
5. Theranostics Theranostics
Theranostics Theranostics is – you guessed it – medicine that’s both a treatment (therapeutics) and diagnostic. This emerging field in nuclear medicine highlights radioactive particles that are used to both view and treat cancer cells. (Turn over the page for more nuclear medicine career inspo!) – Louise Denver
This article originally appears in Careers with STEM: Science 2022.
Want more inspo? Dr Alison Todd has built a distinguished STEM career and global health science biz based on passion and curiosity.
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