Clinical research

A B.Sc degree is a must to enter this field. Ideally the industry is looking for science graduates from pharmacy, medicine, life Science and bioscience. Within bioscience too there are various other fields such as botany, zoology, biochemistry and genetics. Anybody who fulfills these criteria can join the industry.
Individuals with prior work experience of 2-3 years are preferred, but like the BPO industry, there is a dearth of trained professionals here too. Thus, with the right qualifications finding a job in clinical research should not be a problem.
Job Profile:
Clinical Research branches off into various categories at the entry level.
The most common entry-level position is that of a Clinical Research Associate (CRA). The role of a CRA is varied,
They are key participants in the design, implementation and monitoring of clinical trials
They shoulder the responsibility of planning and implementing all activities required to conduct and monitor complex clinical trials and ensure that Good Clinical Practices are followed.
They assist in preparation of presentations and manuscripts of scientific meetings and technical journals and attend scientific/professional meetings and training courses as appropriate
Remuneration:
There is high demand for trained professionals in this field; the pay package is impressive at the entry level.
Freshers can expect a pay packet of around three lakhs or more per annum.
If you have a master's degree backing your qualifications, then the amount is almost doubles.
Clinical research is an industry where experience counts, thus the longer you are in this field; higher the salary you can expect.
Growth Prospects:
There are various growth opportunities along the way for those willing to learn. For those interested in serious research work, a PhD is the ideal solution. There are post graduate degrees and diploma's offered by various colleges which come in handy to enhance one's career prospects. Specialization in branches of pharmacy, life sciences, biochemistry will be useful.
Studying further will also help one in bettering their current job profile. For instance doing a Masters will enhance the job prospects of a CRA to become a Project Manager. Similarly a PhD in a related discipline is needed to become a Medical Director .According to industry reports, India is the second largest pharmaceutical market in Asia growing by more than nine per cent annually. According to a report, there are more than 50,000 jobs in clinical.