9 High Paying Career Options for Science Students

See that smartphone in your hand? Can you imagine a life without it?

Without that little device – imagine yourself going out for a meeting and having to call an Ola/Uber cab?

And, the best part – How do you order food when you have butterflies in your stomach and the tinda in your lunchbox makes you puke?

Technology is transforming our lives at such a rapid pace that that within a period of 4-5 years you cannot do without things which didn’t even exist 5 years back. Advancements in Science and Technology have made our lives so much simpler, safer and faster. The BIG question is – Do You Sit by the Sidelines and watch the Transformation taking place all around you OR Be the Change?

When you think about science careers the first words that come to mind are Engineering, Medicine Architecture, and so on. Yet with cutting-edge advancements taking place in the world of science and technology, it is only natural that the careers in this domain keep evolving too.

So, why not stay updated with the career trends? Let’s look at 9 emerging career options in sciences that are highly promising in this modern age.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

In the computer-run world of today, you are bound to have heard the two buzzwords, ‘Artificial Intelligence’ and ‘Machine Learning’ flying around. But what are they exactly? Artificial Intelligence is a field of computer science that deals with the creation of smart machines and systems that have the ability to think and process information life humans do.

For example, voice recognition systems like Siri and Alexa use the power of machine learning to understand human language an d respond to it intelligently. Or consider Facebook, it recognizes familiar faces from your contact list using its algorithms and automatically makes accurate suggestions for tagging your friends.

From Google Search to Netflix to Uber, each of the applications you encounter daily utilize artificial intelligence and machine learning to make faster, effective and more personal technologies. In a Gartner report, artificial intelligence (AI) was predicted to create over 2.3 million job opportunities by 2020. Thus, this field is one of the fastest emerging in the domain of science and technology.

Course of Study: A B.Tech degree in computer science, followed by a Master of Science in Machine Learning/ Computer Science/ Mathematics is required.

Big Data, Data Analytics and Data Science

“Data is growing faster than ever before and by the year 2020, about 1.7 megabytes of new information will be created every second for every human being on the planet.” (Source: Forbes).

Data exists in every form, the purchases you make at an online store, the type of accounts you follow on Instagram, and the words you search on Google are all data. Organizations value this data because it helps them understand patterns and trends and make business decisions according to the inferences drawn from the data. For example, online shopping stores process data from thousands of customers to make better product recommendations.

Data Scientists, Big Data Engineers, Data Analysts, Data Managers are required to make sense of this data and find patterns in it to enable decision-making. In a 2017 report, LinkedIn ranked Data Scientists and Big Data Engineers among the top emerging jobs.

Course of Study: A degree in computer science (B.Tech/B.Sc/BCA) will allow you to develop skills in programming languages such as Python, Java, Perl, etc. Along with that, you can take up certifications in Business Analytics and Intelligence, Data Analytics and Data Science.

Ethical Hacking and Cyber Security

In 2017, the food and restaurants app Zomato faced a major hacking attack where the data of 17 million users was stolen. In 2016, the password and personal data of close to 68 million Dropbox users were found to be circulating on the Internet.

With businesses going digital, they are more vulnerable than ever before to cybersecurity threats. Hence, Ethical Hacking, no doubt, is one of the most demanding professions of today’s world. An Ethical Hacker is a computer and network expert who attempts to penetrate a company’s security system to identify weaknesses in it. They are crucial in helping companies improve their Internet security.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the US, the cybersecurity sector is likely to grow by 28% by 2026. In India too, organizations both big and small are under the threat of cyber attacks and thus employ ethical hackers to safeguard their information.

Course of Study: A background in computers is recommended. After that, you can take up certification courses in Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator and Certified Security Analyst.

Robotics

When we imagine the distant future, say 10, 20, or even 50 years from now, what is something that almost always comes to mind? Even if you have never seen a single sci-fi movie in your life, you are still likely to answer ‘Robots’. Yet robots don’t exist in the far-off future anymore, and are very much a part of our present world. Robots are already being used to perform surgeries, automate industrial tasks, explore space, defuse bombs, and perform tasks that are too dangerous for humans.

Not just this, advancements have rendered us with humanoid robots that can walk, talk, and express emotions like us (the latest example being the humanoid, Sophia). In 2013, Google (Alphabet Inc.) acquired 8 American and Japanese robotics companies in a single year, and thus it is safe to say that the future of technology lies in this domain.

With the field of Robotics moving with such great force, there is a requirement of engineers to build and program them. Robotics engineers need the knowledge of mechanical engineering, electronics engineering, computer programming, artificial intelligence, machine learning, neural networks, and related areas.

Course of Study: Someone who is interested in this field can take up B.Tech in Mechanical/Electronics/Robotics Engineering, followed by a Master’s and/or an M.Tech Program in Robotics.

Aerospace

Ever felt a rush in the head seeing a plane fly by or a watching a satellite/rocket launch on TV? Ever since seeing planes, rockets and satellites in your childhood, you may have dreamed of creating a career in this domain. What if I tell you it’s not far from reality? Aerospace is a broad branch of technology that is concerned with the design, manufacture and operations of aerospace vehicles, aircraft, missiles and space satellites.

Ranging from Aeronautics (dealing with aeroplanes) to Astronautics (dealing with space vehicles), as a professional in this field, you’ll be responsible for different aspects such as the design, technical, electrical and software aspects for building missiles, aircraft, space shuttles, rockets and other aerospace machines.

The Indian aerospace industry is now one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Recent developments by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and other private companies are promising a prosperous future of Aerospace.

Course of Study: A B.Tech/B.E. degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical or Aerospace Engineering is mandatory to get into this field.

Food and Agriculture Science

Food is one of the most essential elements for life on Earth, and especially so for a primarily agriculture-based economy like India. Indian agriculture still accounts for about 18% of the national GDP and plays a vital role in internal and external trade. Thus, it is fair to say that the domain of agriculture holds an immense number of opportunities for anyone willing to build a career in it.

Contrary to popular notions, the field of food and agriculture is not about ploughing fields or farming but is a technologically advanced field with cutting-edge research and constant innovations. Agricultural Biotechnology, Horticulture, Dairy Technology, Agronomy, Food Technology, Pisciculture are a few of the avenues you can look towards to build your career in this fast-growing domain.

The goal of food and agricultural scientists is to improve both the quality and quantity of crops, dairy products, agricultural products and food patterns. As such, it involves a strong dedication to experimenting and surveying food production, preservation techniques and the study of soils and crops.

Course of Study: To build a career in this field, a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Agronomy or any of the sub-fields of agriculture is required. You can also consider a B.Tech and M.Tech in Agricultural Engineering.

Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Anyone living in metropolitan cities or following the news would have heard of the recent smog cover in Delhi that resulted in the declaration of a “public health emergency.” WHO claimed in 2015 that over 2.5 millions Indians die of pollution every year. With such alarming news of environmental issues, global warming and depleting natural resources making the headlines every day, it is not a stretch to claim that if proper actions are not taken to save the environment, we could be facing serious threats in the near future.

Environmental Sustainability Science is a branch of science that provides an integrated and quantitative approach to the study of environmental systems. Experts in this field study environmental issues to find ways of preventing damage to the environment. It also includes managing development in a way that doesn’t compromise the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Professionals who can devise strategies to protect natural resources and the environment are the need of the hour.

Course of Study: A Bachelor of Environmental Management/Science or a B.Tech in Environmental Engineering. It can be followed by a master’s in the field – which is often required.

Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering

There was a time when losing one’s legs to an accident or illness meant a life bound to wheelchairs. Not in the world of today. Thanks to constant innovations in prosthetics engineering, walking, running, or even climbing a mountain is a possible reality for amputees. And this is just one of the applications of Bioengineering.

Bioengineering, one of the youngest engineering disciplines, employs the principles and tools of engineering to solve problems in biology, medicine, healthcare and related fields. Artificial organs, computer simulation for surgery, tissue engineering, medical imaging (such as MRI and CAT scan), engineered microorganisms, biomaterials and even wearable technology (such as fitness tracking bands) are all examples of Bioengineering in the real world.

The industry is brimming with opportunities and innovation, and allows professionals to experiment and develop cutting-edge medical solutions.

Course of Study: A B.Tech and M.Tech degree in Biomedical Engineering is required to get into this field. Please note that a PCMB combination of subjects is required in 10+2 to be eligible.

Sports Medicine

In India, Sports has always been like a religion, with people forgetting to eat, drink or sleep when lost in the world of their favourite sport. And now it is being seriously considered as a viable career option too.

Playing games is not the only way to enter the world of sports, and one field that is emerging in popularity for science students is Sports Medicine. Professionals in this field are trained to help athletes improve their sports performance, prevent injuries while playing and manage their training and nutrition. If you specialize in Sports Medicine you not only work with athletes but also with adults and teens who exercise and are active in other ways.

Sports Medicine professionals include not just doctors but also Sports Psychologists, Sports Nutritionists, Physical Therapists, Exercise Physiologists and Athletic Trainers. The scope of Sports Medicine is huge and it is only going to increase in the future with the rise of the sports culture in India.

Course of Study: To become a doctor specializing in Sports Medicine, you’ll have to pursue an MBBS followed by an M.D in Sports Medicine. For other professions, you can look at an M.Sc in Sports Medicine or M.A in Sports Psychology.

The modern world is the world of disruption. With each passing year, month or even day, we witness groundbreaking advancements and transformations. The most exciting aspect of this transformation of careers is that it is paving the way for alternate career paths, many of which didn’t even exist a few years back.

So take advantage of the changing trends and build your career in any of these emerging fields!

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