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This question is about research scientist jobs, researcher jobs, and research scientist.
What degree do you need to become a researcher?
The degree you need to become a researcher is a doctorate in the field you'd like to research. In some cases, a researcher can have just a master's degree and several years of work experience, depending on the industry.
The first step in becoming a researcher is to obtain a bachelor's degree. If you are unsure, a general degree in clinical research can be a good option. If you want to research medicine, chemistry, or biology, a degree in biochemistry, biology, pharmacology, or pre-med can work well. If you are interested in being a computer and information research scientist, then a degree in information technology is appropriate.
After that, you'll want to apply to either a Master's or Doctorate graduate program. To get into graduate school, you'll want to have a high GPA and good GRE scores. Ph.D. programs are typically harder to get into, but doctorate programs, unlike master's, usually provide students with a stipend that covers some of the cost of tuition.
In total, it will take about ten years to become a researcher. This amount of time includes a four-year bachelor's degree, three to five years in graduate school, and several years of research experience. Researchers can gain research experience by working in research labs within your university or through internships.
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