Scientist (Wetenschapper)
Information on this skill...
A scientist performs professional scientific work as a researcher within a certain field. There are different names in use for scientists, ranging from professor to doctorandus. A scientist is engaged in various activities before, during and after conducting a study. Important activities of the scientist include taking measurements and recording them. The combination of observing and experimenting also fall under the work of a scientist. This also applies to organizing and interpreting data just like compiling distractions and making predictions. Hypothesis formation for a study combines with testing as well as with evaluation and planning. The results of the research are eligible for publication or presentation. This is important, among other things, if a scientist has made a new discovery. Scientists are therefore specifically concerned with putting a problem at the centre. The goal is then to get an answer to the research question or to find a solution. A scientist who conducts scientific research must adhere to certain rules. Incidentally, the profession of scientist can also be broadened to perform tasks that are related to education. A scientist focuses on a specific field of study in scientific teaching activities. There are scientists in biology as well as in chemistry, mathematics and physics. The profession of scientist relates to a specific science, such as in the field of medical sciences. Scientists are very important from a social point of view because scientists contribute in an important way to people's overall science and knowledge.
For the profession of scientist, a distinction can be made between scientific education and scientific research. In scientific education, there is a question of following a study in higher education or at the university. Scientific research involves research that meets the contemporary requirements of the scientific criteria. Controllability takes precedence over correctness. A would-be scientist follows a specific training at the university to work as a scientific researcher in the field. For example, as a physician-microbiologist to conduct research into improving patient care. Or more practically by conducting laboratory research. A physician-microbiologist is a scientist who specializes in viruses, fungi and bacteria, among other things. Often this scientist is a person who discovers that there is an epidemic.
SCIENTIFIC EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
A scientist is either practically at work, such as in the position of a doctor, botanist or biologist or in research science. For example, an educationalist is involved in the field of science in educational science. The goal of this scientist is to focus on the development and support of learning processes. In practice, an educationalist can deal with education policy and develop teaching materials. There are many more functions in which scientists work. For example, as an engineer just like a food technologist or as a pharmacologist. There are therefore all kinds of organizations that have a relationship with science development. This applies, among other things, to academic hospitals and universities, but also to research institutes and government services.
VARIOUS TASKS AS A SCIENTIST:
- Interpreting knowledge;
- Collecting data;
- Structuring information;
- Develop hypotheses;
- Train new researchers;
- Find a solution to a problem;
- Development of techniques and instruments;
- Publish and present research data;
- Apply scientific knowledge for use by humans.
WHAT DOES A SCIENTIST DO:
TRAINING TO BECOME A SCIENTIST
To become a scientist, it is necessary to follow a scientific education. That means following an education at the university. There are all kinds of directions available to choose from, but there is a global division of disciplines. For example, there is science in a general sense, technical sense and medical sense. Furthermore, there is a distinction with regard to pure science and applied science. In pure science, the focus is on gaining new insights and knowledge during the educational process. In applied science, the scientist is mainly focused on problem solutions. There are more than four hundred scientific programmes available in the Netherlands in multiple disciplines. For example, in the field of education and upbringing as well as in the field of technology or language and communication. For example, there are many other disciplines to follow a training as a scientist. Law and governance is an example of this, just like behaviour, society and health or earth and environment just like economy and business. There are fourteen universities in the Netherlands that offer scientific training. To gain access to the university, a prior education is required, such as a VWO diploma or a HBO propaedeutic year. For example, it is possible to transfer from the hbo pedagogy programme to the university pedagogy programme with a propaedeutic year. Or to be trained as a scientist at the university with a propaedeutic year of the hbo degree in tax law and economics.
COMPANIES WHERE A SCIENTIST CAN WORK
A scientist can work in all kinds of companies. A university degree offers access to up to a thousand different professions, ranging from accountant to judge. Or from tax inspector to psychologist. It is possible to work as a scientist at a commercial company, such as in the form of a product manager or as a project manager. Scientists also often work for the government, for example when it comes to the position of policy advisor, such as tax inspectors and educationalists. In addition, there are scientists who do their work at hospitals and educational institutions. A scientist who works as a policy advisor conducts research for policy development. The existing policy is examined and its consequences evaluated in order to develop new policies. A scientist as a policy officer often works together with various parties, such as external organisations.
COMPETENCES SCIENTIST
It is important that a scientist has certain competences to carry out the profession well. There are a number of competencies that are of a general nature and special skills are needed for each specific position. For example, it is important that a scientist has an inquisitive character with a curious attitude. Communication skills are also important, both written and oral. In addition, it is important to have the ability to work independently and together. A critical attitude is also a competence that is important to the scientist. This also applies to a strong analytical ability. As a scientist, it is necessary for certain positions to have specific skills. For example, as a doctor-microbiologist who works in a laboratory. Having a feeling for work in a laboratory is certainly a requirement. The management competencies also come in handy, as does the willingness to work with other disciplines. Generally important words are inspiration, motivation, innovation, planning and organizing.
LABOUR MARKET PERSPECTIVE AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AS A SCIENTIST
A scientific training to become a scientist offers excellent perspectives on the labour market. In addition to the fact that there is an education in a specific field, as a scientist you have a university level of thinking. There are all kinds of positions for which no specific vocational training is required, but a university level of thinking. In practice, this means that the supply of jobs is already much greater than what the scientist has been specifically trained for. Moreover, there are all kinds of different entry-level options for further growth. For example, to make the transition from lecturer to professor or to grow as a scientist to a PhD candidate. As a PhD candidate, you write a dissertation to grow to the academic degree of doctor. A professor is an academic lecturer at the university in the highest rank or at an academy or college. As a scientist, a professor has the responsibility to teach in his own field and also conducts research in his own field. It is therefore beneficial both with the labour market perspective and with the career opportunities of a scientist.
WORKING CONDITIONS AND SALARY SCIENTIST
There is no generally fixed salary for the profession of scientist. That is also not the case when it comes to working conditions. For example, there are different collective agreements for various sectors. For example, there is the collective labour agreement of the Dutch Universities that applies if a scientist works at a research institute of the KNAW. A scientist employed by the central government is covered by the collective labour agreement of the central government. For example, a PhD candidate falls into a salary scale based on the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. Medical specialists are again covered by the Collective Labour Agreement for Hospitals when it comes to employment conditions and salary. The salary and working conditions of the scientist therefore depend on the actual position and the collective labour agreement applied. A scientist starts with a certain salary, but the work experience and performance play a role in this. A scientist with ten years of work experience and scientific research behind the name earns more than a researcher in training.
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