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Job outlook for senior medical laboratory scientists in the United States
Are senior medical laboratory scientist jobs in demand?
Senior medical laboratory scientist job and salary trends over time
Senior medical laboratory scientist jobs over time
Senior medical laboratory scientist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 13 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 13 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 12 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 11 | 0.00% |
Average senior medical laboratory scientist salary over time
Senior medical laboratory scientist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $70,833 | $34.05 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $68,727 | $33.04 | +4.7% |
| 2023 | $65,647 | $31.56 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | $63,541 | $30.55 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $62,334 | $29.97 | --2.1% |
Senior medical laboratory scientist jobs by state
Most common states for senior medical laboratory scientists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 265 | 38% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,117 | 31% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 293 | 30% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,622 | 29% |
| 5 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 523 | 25% |
| 6 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,001 | 24% |
| 7 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 2,902 | 23% |
| 8 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,393 | 23% |
| 9 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 396 | 23% |
| 10 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,303 | 22% |
| 11 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 292 | 22% |
| 12 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 182 | 21% |
| 13 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 2,040 | 20% |
| 14 | Vermont | 623,657 | 127 | 20% |
| 15 | California | 39,536,653 | 7,681 | 19% |
| 16 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 341 | 19% |
| 17 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 145 | 19% |
| 18 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,657 | 18% |
| 19 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 508 | 17% |
| 20 | Alaska | 739,795 | 126 | 17% |
Most common cities for senior medical laboratory scientists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Bloomfield | 4 | 6% | $70,612 |
| 2 | Troy | 4 | 5% | $70,685 |
| 3 | Galveston | 2 | 4% | $54,564 |
| 4 | Novi | 2 | 3% | $70,586 |
| 5 | Dearborn | 2 | 2% | $70,688 |
| 6 | League City | 1 | 1% | $54,694 |
| 7 | Detroit | 2 | 0% | $70,718 |
| 8 | Anchorage | 1 | 0% | $68,369 |
| 9 | Durham | 1 | 0% | $69,259 |
Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of senior medical laboratory scientist experts
University of South Florida
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
Western Washington University
Quinnipiac University
Coastal Carolina University
Georgetown University Medical Center
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Weber State University
Saint Cloud State University
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
Arizona State University
California State University San Marcos
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
University of California - Davis
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Weber State University
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Colby-Sawyer College
What general advice would you give to a Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist?
Katherine Nelson MBA, MLS (ASCP): Skills that I foresee as becoming important in the 3-5 years include the ability to work with a variety of technology, strong communication skills between other laboratory and healthcare professionals and the ability adapt to change quickly.
What Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Katherine Nelson MBA, MLS (ASCP): The best way to maximize your salary potential within the MLS field is to gain experience. Take every opportunity to learn something and grow your skills within the field. Development of leadership and management skills will also be helpful to move up in the laboratory.
What will help Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists increase their earning potential?
Katherine Nelson MBA, MLS (ASCP): My advice to a graduate beginning their career in the Medical Laboratory Science field, would be to take every opportunity to learn something new. Say yes to as much as possible and use every opportunity to amass a variety of different laboratory skills and experiences.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist?
Dr. Kendall Morris Ph.D.: If you succeed, it is more wonderful than you could imagine. You get to find out things that no one else knows! You get to work with the best, smartest and usually nicest people in the world from all over the world. It’s likely that you will be required to travel, expenses paid, to amazing places with even more amazing people, some of whom will become not only colleagues but life-long friends or more like family. The pay becomes much better, though never what would be likely in other businesses. However, the pressure to acquire funding is ever-present.
What Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Kendall Morris Ph.D.: It is a great profession to enter now see 4 below, but ONLY if you think that doing anything else would be a waste of your life. The education is too long, the work is too hard and time consuming for too little pay for much too long. As many have found, if you are a resident of one of the many less affluent countries, wish to come to the U.S., AND have the drive and a love for research, you are likely to be welcomed here. For the time being, anyway. Few young people in the U.S. are willing to go into research. When I entered grad school 1988, all of the professors in my department were U.S. born. Today, about two thirds are immigrants.
What will help Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Kendall Morris Ph.D.: Same as above, but under mentor supervision.
Ethan Kentzel MS, MLS ASCPcm
Program Director, Medical Laboratory Science and Phlebotomy ProgramsBloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
Biology
What general advice would you give to a Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist?
Ethan Kentzel MS, MLS ASCPcm: You completed an MLS program and you have learned a ton of information in a short span of time. However, there is still so much to learn for Medical Laboratory Science! We recommend that you do your best to grow into the role, practice with a questioning attitude, participate and advocate for the field, consider joining our advocacy group - the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS). If you have not taken your ASCP MLS BOC exam, we highly recommend that you do as a way to validate your learning experiences and to optimize your long term career growth.
What Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ethan Kentzel MS, MLS ASCPcm: Obtaining your ASCP MLS certification is one way that you can increase your earning potential, as some hospitals pay more to people that have the certificate or license. Working in urban areas tend to pay more money, but may have higher costs of living. Some states require MLS to be licensed, and licensure states tend to pay more than certificate level states in the US. Students that work second or third shifts tend to have an increased likelihood of sign-on bonuses and shift differentials. If you communicate well, set clear expectations, and work well with your lab management team, you can always ask for additional tasks and responsibilities that would help you grow in your career. These extra responsibilities may help set you apart from your peers/colleagues when it comes time for promotions and raises.
What Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Josh Kaplan Ph.D.: Demonstrating a skill set that is unique, such as experience with a rare technical research approach, or demonstrating that you can save your employer money by utilizing free resources, can be used to negotiate a higher salary.
What will help Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists increase their earning potential?
Josh Kaplan Ph.D.: Be reliable, consistent, and focus on the details. Your neuroscience training required you to develop an attention to detail that permeated many aspects of your work. Further, you had to apply that detailed approach in a consistent manner across a potentially long experimental duration. Your future coworkers and employers will appreciate knowing that you'll be able to apply the instructions for a novel scenario reliably and consistently.
Lisa Cuchara Ph.D.
Professor of Biomedical SciencesQuinnipiac University
Microbiological Sciences And Immunology
What Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Lisa Cuchara Ph.D.: The first and foremost would be Critical Thinking. We live in a world where facts can be easily acquired, sometimes even by asking Siri/Alexa/ChatGPT/Google/etc. But critical thinking is timeless and priceless. I can ask anyone on the street what xyz is and they can look it up, but can they provide advice or interpret.
Also being a good steward towards science and being willing and able to communicate not just with peers as we are trained, but also with the public, the politicians, the board members. John Holdren*, stated that Scientists should be tithing at least 10 percent of their time to public service ... including activism. In the ever growing science denialism that is happening in our country being able to communicate science with the public is important. As Peter Hotaz states, "Anti-science propaganda is "killing Americans in unprecedented numbers,""
*Holdren is an American scientist who served as the senior advisor to President Barack Obama on science and technology issues through his roles as assistant to the president for science and technology, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and co-chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and a Research Professor in Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government
Shelby McCarty MSNPA
Public Relations CoordinatorWhat general advice would you give to a Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist?
Shelby McCarty MSNPA: Maximizing salary potential as a medical laboratory scientist requires a combination of skill development, pursual of advanced education, and proactive career management. As a graduate prepares to enter the job market, it is important to research salary trends in various locations and understand that salary can vary depending on geographic location. Multiple factors play a role in influencing salary: experience, education level, cost-of-living, shift work, among others. MLS graduates should use that first job to gain experience, building a strong foundation of practical skills. They may search for positions in high-demand areas, such as molecular diagnostics, where they can acquire specialized skills. On the other hand, gaining experience in all departments of the laboratory, can make a MLS more well-rounded, which is desirable for many MLS positions. The experience gained in a variety of departments provides a MLS the opportunity to take on a travel position, which has a higher earning potential. A MLS may consider pursuing an advanced degree or certification relevant to medical laboratory science, such as a graduate degree or specialty certifications like molecular biology, hematology, or blood banking. It is also important to look for opportunities to advance your career with the profession, such as management positions, supervisor roles, or opportunities in Laboratory Informatics. Advancing to higher-level positions often comes with increased salary potential. Lastly, build professional relationships with others in the medical laboratory profession by joining professional organizations or attending industry events. This allows you to stay connected with potential job opportunities and gain insights regarding career advancement.
What Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Shelby McCarty MSNPA: Medical Laboratory Science is a rewarding career that is both exciting, yet challenging. As a graduate begins their career in the medical laboratory profession, we should be prepared to collaborate with colleagues in the laboratory and with other healthcare providers. Effective communication skills are crucial. We should be respectful of others' expertise and conversely share our own knowledge to foster a positive working environment. As a Medical Laboratory Scientist, we develop an acute eye for detail because precision and accuracy are vital in laboratory work. We must ensure that we are providing physicians reliable results. Furthermore, we should always adhere to the highest ethical standards, respecting patients' confidentiality and following established protocols and regulations. MLS graduates need to have excellent time management skills, as the laboratory profession often involves handling multiple tasks simultaneously. Lastly, graduates should continue to seek opportunities for professional growth and strive for excellence. Many hospital laboratories provide professional development or allow their employees to attend professional meetings.
What will help Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists increase their earning potential?
Shelby McCarty MSNPA: The medical laboratory science profession will remain a prevalent part of patient care. The advancement of interprofessional collaboration in universities helps emphasize multidisciplinary teamwork to provide comprehensive patient care. We are in a field that continues to evolve with new technologies and methodologies frequently emerging. It is important to remain proficient in the variety of high-complexity skills necessary for a medical laboratory scientist. Given the rapid pace of technological advancement and scientific discovery, lifelong learning and adaptability is essential.
Dr. Paul Richardson
Chair of Chemistry Professor of BiochemistryCoastal Carolina University
Chemistry
What general advice would you give to a Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist?
Dr. Paul Richardson: Get your hands dirty and be involved with whatever task you are assigned. Employers are looking for people that get things done and been a valuable asset for their company. I know it takes time to get experience, trust in yourself and you will get to the level you need to be at to see the reward for your hard work.
What will help Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Paul Richardson: Get your hands dirty and be involved with whatever task you are assigned. Employers are looking for people that get things done and been a valuable asset for their company. I know it takes time to get experience, trust in yourself and you will get to the level you need to be at to see the reward for your hard work.
Ivica Labuda
Professor and DirectorGeorgetown University Medical Center
Department of Biochemistry Molecular and Cell Biology
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist job market given the pandemic?
Ivica Labuda: The biggest trends are undoubtedly public health, medicine, virology, and biotechnology. Recent graduates of our Georgetown Biotechnology program all landed a job, with some of them working closely on Covid-19 vaccine or test developments.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist?
Ivica Labuda: You can find what is "you" in any profession. Love what you do and always learn new skills. Look for an opportunity where your personality and talents intersect.
What Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ivica Labuda: A gap year is an excellent opportunity to try out a job you dream about. It is good to test the unknown territories which look fascinating and can either confirm or challenge your ideas about that field. It is always good to talk to as many people as possible about new opportunities available to you.
Lindsey Clark
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Department of Laboratory Sciences
What skills stand out on Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist resumes?
Lindsey Clark: Employers are looking for laboratory professionals who are knowledgeable, dependable, and motivated. Laboratory professionals should consider listing instruments or analyzers they have worked with or any special skills they have acquired, such as performing molecular diagnostic or special immunology testing. Employers may also be looking for a certain set of skills, so it is important to include one's primary role in the lab and any other departments in which they have experience, such as hematology, microbiology, blood bank, etc.
What soft skills should all Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists possess?
Lindsey Clark: Laboratory scientists are like medical detectives-looking for clues that lead to diagnoses, which requires attention to detail, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. These are some of the most important soft skills for laboratory scientists, time management, adaptability, and communication skills.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists?
Lindsey Clark: Nearly all clinical laboratory scientists will need to know how to use a microscope properly, operate various lab instruments or analyzers, and perform complex laboratory testing according to standard operating procedures. They may also be required to collect, process, or analyze specimens, maintain quality control records, prepare chemical reagents, investigate atypical or discrepant test results, determine causation, or communicate with other healthcare professionals.
What skills will help Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists earn the most?
Lindsey Clark: Specializing in one or two lab areas can help professionals move into roles such as a lead scientist or department supervisor. However, obtaining a bachelor's degree and honing lab skills will open up the most opportunities for advancement in the clinical laboratory. Those with a bachelor's degree can serve as general supervisors, technical supervisors, technical consultants, or even laboratory directors in some labs.
Dr. Janice Thomas
Professor and Program DirectorWeber State University
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences
What skills stand out on Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist resumes?
Dr. Janice Thomas: National ASCP Certification, adaptability, ability to work independently.
What soft skills should all Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists possess?
Dr. Janice Thomas: Problem-solving, critical thinking, work ethic, communication (verbal, telephone), teamwork, time management, organizational skills. Ability to perform in stressful situations.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists?
Dr. Janice Thomas: Microscopy skills, ability to troubleshoot analyzers, general lab experience, and discipline-specific lab experience. Ability to perform high complexity testing in Microbiology and Blood banking.
What skills will help Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists earn the most?
Dr. Janice Thomas: Ability to work independently, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. Students that are detail-oriented and consistently create solutions to problems will likely be promoted to team leaders, technical supervisors, and laboratory managers and earn higher wages.
Patricia Ellinger
Medical Laboratory Science FacultySaint Cloud State University
Medical Laboratory Science
What skills stand out on Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist resumes?
Patricia Ellinger: Note, we offer a four-year degree, so these individuals are Medical Laboratory Scientists (MLS). The Technician is the 2-year level.
-Oral and written communication with others in the lab, lab profession (doctors)
-Ability to work alone or in a group (teamwork)
-Ability to follow directions
-Problem solving
-Careful work: Precision, accuracy, reproducibility
-Ask questions when need help: Know when to ask for help, the data matters, ask to confirm a test result if in question, before sending out
-Ethical
-Time management
-Self-awareness of strengths and weaknesses
-Confidence without arrogance
-Leadership
What soft skills should all Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists possess?
Patricia Ellinger: Understanding that a patient's sample is from a loved one. Results matter. They need to be perfect
What hard/technical skills are most important for Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists?
Patricia Ellinger: -Careful work: Precision, accuracy, reproducibility
-Knowledge of quality control, ability to recognize when a test result looks wrong and what to do about it
What skills will help Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists earn the most?
Patricia Ellinger: -Problem solving gives you the ability to see opportunities, to take on additional tasks or projects
-Careful work: Precision, accuracy, reproducibility
-Ability to work with others
-Work experience with the above and also furthering your education
-Work experience which enhance base knowledge and technical skills
-Educational
-MBA for some positions (depends on the size of the hospital), management
-MS/Ph.D. for some positions
-Depends on the size of the hospital
-Also, needed for an academic position, MS for some, others require PhD
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists?
Ruth Ann Murphy Ph.D.: Nothing negative in Chemistry as far as employability! The pandemic may have created actually more interest in science careers among our students as they think how they could help with developing new vaccines, predicting outbreaks, etc.
What's a good job out of college for Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists?
Ruth Ann Murphy Ph.D.: -Graduate School in Chemistry! There is a shortage of graduate students in Chemistry so this is a great time to go. Chemistry is one of the few fields where they pay you to attend Graduate School. You can earn about $30k per year with benefits (!) while improving your employability! With an advanced degree such as a Master's (doable in as little as one year), one can then teach in colleges and universities. In Chemistry, you can go directly to a PhD program, bypassing the Master's degree. Those holding post-baccalaureate degrees earn on average more than those with a bachelor's degree.
-Environmental! Climate change is here and there is a need for scientists to deal with it as well as to keep the non-science sector of the public informed. You can work for an environmental company as some of our graduates do, or for an agency such as the EPA, or TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality). I know a PhD Organic Chemist who headed the Austin, TX Air Quality program.
-Teaching Chemistry - High School, Middle School, etc. This can be done without any education courses, via Alternative Certification. The need for Chemistry teachers in Texas is critical! Students can get their student loans forgiven if they commit to teaching Chemistry in high school for a set period of time.
-Health professions. Health care careers are "recession-proof." The need for competent health care continues. With its critical thinking emphasis, a Chemistry major is great training for future physicians, dentists, pharmacists, physician assistants, and more.
-Pharmaceutical Research. Develop new and better medications!
-Forensic Science. There are great jobs for chemists with the Texas Department of Public Safety and other such agencies. I know some of these and the head of the Albuquerque, NM Crime Lab was at one time a PhD Chemist I know.
What will help Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists increase their earning potential?
Ruth Ann Murphy Ph.D.: Graduate degrees, postdoctoral work, experience, internships while in college, continuing education, attendance at short courses such as those offered by the American Chemical Society, a strong work ethic, a good personality.
How have salaries changed over time for Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists?
Patricia Rankin: Salaries have been trending up - but there is a wide range and it depends on the level you look at e.g Bachelor's degrees or PhD's . If you have a PhD you earn more on average but the range is also larger (the AIP has some good statistics here e.g. https://www.aip.org/taxonomy/term/152 ). Physicists are generally at the higher end of pay scales and competitive with most engineering fields (not computer science). Physics graduates are problem solvers with excellent quantitative skills that puts them in high demand which helps protect salaries.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists?
Jacqueline Trischman Ph.D.: The most important attribute companies are looking for in our graduates this year is adaptability. Students who have been successful in the classroom and lab AND in the Zoom environment are highly sought after in our local industries. In fact, our local life science economy is booming as we have test kits, antibody treatments, and vaccines all being manufactured in San Diego County. Graduates are expected to transition easily between working in a COVID-safe environment on-site and working productively at a home office. Being open to trying new ways of working, maintaining a positive attitude, and handling adversity well will all rise to more importance in interviews this year.
What experience really stands out on Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist resumes?
Ronald Gilman: It is always good to consider your audience. For us, a Fields Medal or Nobel Prize tends to be a plus.
How do you envision technology impacting Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists in the next 5 years?
Ronald Gilman: There will be more technology, but most detailed predictions will be wrong. It is always a little hard to know which recent developments are enduring advances and which are hype or fad or will get supplanted by something else soon.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists?
Ronald Gilman: Probably. People who graduate during recessions tend to do less well financially.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists?
Tonya Kuhl: There will be an impact on graduates in that finding their first career position will likely require more effort and may take longer. It is harder for small companies to onboard and train new employees because they may lack the infrastructure to do this remotely. Beyond hiring delays, I would not anticipate an "enduring" impact.
What type of skills will young Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists need?
Tonya Kuhl: The Chemical Engineering major develops technical problem-solving skills, builds foundational knowledge, a culture of life-long learning as well as softer skills including teamwork, time management, oral and written communication. These are essential skills for successfully launching their careers. In the future, increased programming skills, data management, automation, process control, and systems engineering skills are going to be more and more important. A rudimentary understanding of embedded systems and electrical engineering will also be quite helpful. We have been enhancing these "computer" skills in our program more and more.
What experience really stands out on Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist resumes?
Tonya Kuhl: Everyone who graduates has the degree, but it is a graduate's individual experience, their personality, and what they are passionate about that sets them apart. Looking for ways to contribute positively in their work experience from working fast food to internships, extracurricular clubs such as participating in their student chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineering, leadership, and community service. Given the increase in remote collaboration and hands-off operation, automation, process control and systems engineering skills will really standout. A link to a portfolio of their coding projects on GitHub would be a great way to demonstrate their coding skills.
Dr. Justin Smoyer Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Experimental Physics & EngineeringKutztown University of Pennsylvania
Department of Physical Sciences
What type of skills will young Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists need?
Dr. Justin Smoyer Ph.D.: Many of the skills that young graduates need haven't changed since the coronavirus pandemic. Graduates are expected to be proficient in the use of technology whether it be programming/data analysis, communication, etc. Unfortunately, because they have grown up with access to all kinds of technological devices, it is often assumed that students do not need to be taught technical skills. Students that have demonstratable and proven technology skills will have an advantage in future job markets.
What experience really stands out on Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist resumes?
Dr. Justin Smoyer Ph.D.: For physics students having additional skills such as proficiency in programming languages and/or research experience is a great way to stand out among their peers. If an employer is looking to hire someone with a physics degree, every applicant will have a physics degree. Where students can stand out is having additional sets of skills or experiences. Students should consider a question an employer may ask, "You have your physics degree and what?"
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists?
Dr. Justin Smoyer Ph.D.: Yes. Where I think graduates will see a lasting impact of the coronavirus pandemic will be in the expectation of employers. While not all meetings will take place over video after the pandemic, I think you will find that employers will have certain expectations in terms of the flexibility of their employees. Graduates will be expected to have the ability to work in a lab, work from home, work on the road, etc. This means that graduates will have to be versed in technology particularly in terms of communication tools. In general, the professional world will be smaller. Meetings, conferences, workshops, etc., will be able to take place without the need to travel. While this ability to share and gain knowledge without having to travel long distances will be a benefit to graduates, this also means that as employers look for job candidates, they will be able to consider applications from all over the world and the competition for jobs will be fierce.
Matthew Nicholaou
Associate Professor and ChairWeber State University
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences
What type of skills will young Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists need?
Matthew Nicholaou: As our profession continues to modernize we believe the demand for computer and informatics skills will increase. Graduates will be entering a world of big data that touches every level of health care, and the laboratory is primed to be one of the main data hubs of a modern hospital. The laboratories generate the majority of diagnostic data, and as such graduates will be the analysts, communicators, and gatekeepers of the majority of healthcare information in the future.
What experience really stands out on Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist resumes?
Matthew Nicholaou: I think the thing that looks best on a resume of a new professional is experience actually working in the clinical laboratory. The coursework and certification exam can ensure the basic knowledge but that doesn't necessarily make a student a good technologist/scientist. There are numerous physical skills that need to be honed to become an efficient and quality laboratorian. Our program focuses on creating as many simulated clinical environments in our laboratory courses, along with a dedicated clinical simulation course, and real-world clinical rotations. Additionally students need to be problem solvers and critical thinkers; automation does so much in the clinical laboratory but you can never automate a knowledge laboratorian with a critical mind.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists?
Matthew Nicholaou: That is a loaded question and to answer it we really need to be specific about what the "enduring impact" is to the students. Academically, we are not certain how the pandemic will affect their performance. Our program in particular has a lot of experience with remote online learning; we have been using a hybrid model for teaching since the pandemic began and we feel confident that our students are continuing to get a quality education.
They might not like online learning as much as in-person, it certainly requires more self discipline and motivation, but we haven't really seen it as a barrier to learning per se. More so, it seems the students are suffering, like the rest of us, from living in a global pandemic. Everyone has been stressed, almost constantly, for the past year and this is something humans are just not built to handle. Most of the issues we have seen are not related to the style/delivery of learning but more to overall burnout of the students. I really don't see this pandemic having a lasting impact academically to our graduates, but it certainly is going to leave a mark on all of us just as humans.
Dr. Mark Zappi Ph.D.
Professor of Chemical EngineeringUniversity of Louisiana at Lafayette
Department of Chemical Engineering
What experience really stands out on Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist resumes?
Dr. Mark Zappi Ph.D.: Good grades, research experiences, proven leadership, and industry experiences. Rarely, but great to see, technical publications and presentations - outside of the university - such as technical conferences and printed papers in journals.
What type of skills will young Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists need?
Dr. Mark Zappi Ph.D.: They will need a solid foundation on issues pertaining to sustainability, alternative energy source utilization, workforce inclusion awareness/action, working within a globalized workforce, and very strong technical skills - developed through solid education and work experiences in R&D at their universities and with companies via internships and COOPs. I think graduate degrees could be the difference in today's marketplace.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists?
Dr. Mark Zappi Ph.D.: It is difficult to assess the enduring impacts at this time given that we are still in the middle of the pandemic. I do think that students will remember this event and keep planning and being prepared for the unknown at the forefront of their minds. It is interesting to ask professionals who were working in the late-sixties about the pandemic in 68 and 69 - very few remember the event. Albeit, the 1968/69 event was not as large, it was a serious event. Thus, I expect job opportunities will rebound and students will find employment.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists?
Chery Whipple Ph.D.: The pandemic has severely reduced and limited undergraduate students' ability to complete internships, travel for a semester abroad, and participate in project-based courses (especially those that work with the local community or travel to other parts of the country). It is these experiences that truly resonate with the student and allow them to apply the skills learned in class, make novel connections, network with other institutions, and collaborate directly with others. While much work can be accomplished through online platforms, it cannot completely substititue for the long-term connection achieved from meeting in-person.
The benefits of in-person communication, especially at small colleges, is immeasurable. So much is communicated non-verbally. As a freshman, it is in the first year where students meet and make lasting connections with fellow students and new professors. Over time, a class camaraderie develops, fostering confidence in individual students such that they are comfortable asking questions and contributing to class discussions. Moreover, in science classes, many essential skills are learned by conducting experiments in a laboratory; skills that cannot be achieved remotely. Since the pandemic will likely span at least three semesters, many of our incoming students will need to work diligently over the next two to three years to become competent in the foundational laboratory skills we expect from a student graduating with a B.S. in Biology, Chemistry, or Environmental studies.
Once the country is open, the competition for job openings, study abroad programs, and in-person internships will be fierce. Undergraduates, in particular, will be vying for the enriching leadership and research opportunities that help them determine their career path as well as to set them apart from other fellow applicants who are (or will be) applying to similar jobs and/or graduate school. Ultimately, it will become challenging for recent or soon-to-be graduates to really stand out and thus may increase the length of time it takes to find a job within their field of discipline.
What type of skills will young Senior Medical Laboratory Scientists need?
Chery Whipple Ph.D.: The ability to be flexible and adaptable to new challenges has always been an asset to young graduates, however, in this quickly changing working environment it will be more important than ever. Being able to think critically, integrate information across disciplines, and collaborate with others will be essential skills. I think the pandemic has also shown that being able to rapidly learn and utilize new (and diverse) technology is not only a highly sought after skill, it is required.
What experience really stands out on Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist resumes?
Chery Whipple Ph.D.: I am always looking for experiences that truly demonstrate what is at the student's core. Specifically, who are they as a person. I want to see that not only did they do well in the classroom, but that they are diverse and interested in getting involved in programs, internships, community work outside of the classroom. Unique ways that demonstrate their leadership abilities. Specific items that stand out on a resume include off-campus internships, leadership positions (such as student government), and volunteer work.