Expert: Walter Hintz - 11/24/2007

Question
Dear Mr. Hintz,

       I am a high school student, and I just wanted to ask you a few questions on my future career I have planned for myself. My ambition is to be a Cancer Researcher and for that I've planned to get a BSc in Immunology and a PhD in Cancer, are these the degrees required to become a successful Cancer Researcher? I've also been told that becoming a Cancer Researcher is very hectic and It'll be hard to have time for family, etc. Is this true? I don't have a set mind about pursing Cancer Research as my career, but I am very interested in Biology and Immunology, are there any other careers that I could take up with these two? I am very keen to know the answers to these questions. Please help. Thank you.  

Answer
Hi Mischelle;
There are many areas of medical research that you should look into. There are jobs as technicians who aid in research.  It looks to me like you are more ambitious then working as a technician.  You would probably be more satisfied with advanced degrees.  Many researchers are MDs but PhDs also do research in the medical area. Many of these people have families and a good family life.  With studies in Biology and Immunology you can also find other careers.  Immunology involves microbiology.
As a teacher I usually suggest that young people consider education as a career.  You could teach biology and medicine at the college level as I do.  If there were no teachers there would be no doctors or researchers