Download Pharmaceutical Science - University of South Australia

a guide to careers in
Pharmaceutical
Science
There has never been a greater range of career
opportunities open to pharmaceutical science
graduates. A growing population, increased life
expectancy and diagnosis of health disorders has
led to a greater need for drug therapy as a means to
address illnesses.
the future of pharmaceutical SCIENCE
The modern world requires new medicines to treat diseases and
conditions effectively, with minimal side effects, at an affordable
cost. This has led to a demand for scientists with specialist
knowledge in chemistry, pharmacology and drug product
manufacturing.
There is a need for pharmaceutical scientists in industry and the
clinical environment to develop and produce medicines of the
future. With technological advances making it easier to create
and test new medications, pharmaceutical science graduates
will face more career opportunities than ever before.
Pharmaceutical science professionals are responsible
for ensuring that new drugs meet industry, national and
international standards, and are produced in an efficient and
environmentally-friendly manner.
Pharmaceutical science is one of the few fields where
professionals are trained in the areas of research, development,
manufacturing and quality control, clinical trials, and marketing
of medicines.
STUDY AUSTRALIA’S
ONLY DOUBLE DEGREE
IN PHARMACEUTICAL
SCIENCE AND PHARMACY
GAIN EXPERIENCE ACROSS
SOUTH AUSTRALIA’S
PHARMACY SETTINGS
OF PHARMACEUTICAL
SCIENCE EDUCATION
RELEVANT INDUSTRIAL,
RESEARCH & HOSPITAL
ONLY PROVIDER
The role of a pharmaceutical
scientist
drug product development
Pharmaceutical companies employ scientists with backgrounds
in chemistry, pharmacology and related disciplines. Working in
teams, they synthesise drug molecules, test their properties as
well as their effects on patients. Once a new medicine has passed
the testing stage, it must go through the development phase to
enable large-scale manufacturing and marketing. An integral part
of the approval process includes gathering extensive technical
information and submitting this to regulatory agencies.
quality control and quality assurance
Pharmaceutical scientists work ‘at the bench’ in laboratory
environments and in senior management roles to test products
during and at the completion of manufacture. Documentation and
document retrieval are integral to these processes.
research and clinical studies
Pharmaceutical scientists are employed by large and small
pharmaceutical companies as part of teams to design, monitor
and assess medicines for clinical effectiveness. Pharmaceutical
scientists can also be involved in clinical trial units to recruit
patient volunteers, measure vital signs, collate results and prepare
reports.
Discovering double
the possibilities
Rebecca Tattingham
Intern Pharmacist, Royal Adelaide Hospital
Following her childhood dream to become
a pharmacist, graduate Rebecca Tattingham
doubled her opportunities by pairing studies in
pharmaceutical science with pharmacy.
Relocating from Darwin to pursue the double
degree program, unique in Australia, Rebecca
quickly realised the benefits an added year of study
would offer. ‘The double degree provides a
broader range of knowledge about medications;
from their discovery and development through
to what information patients need to know prior
to taking medications. This allowed me to better
understand medications as a whole and make me
more aware of the vast array of career options I
could pursue,’ she says.
Awarded the SA/NT 2014 Pharmacy Student of the
Year by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia,
Rebecca has just begun working as an Intern
Pharmacist at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. ‘This
will involve me working with a number of different
hospital pharmacists in areas such as dispensary,
manufacturing and clinical.’
Career opportunities
Pharmaceutical scientists are the drug experts within the
commercial, research and drug regulatory environments. They
need to be able to communicate within a small scientific or
marketing team, or in a senior management group, within a
pharmaceutical company. Types of roles include:
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microbiologist
drug safety associate
medical publisher
clinical trial project manager
research assistant
strategic alliance manager
marketing researcher.
With an additional two years of study and one year of onsite
training, a pharmaceutical scientist has the opportunity to become
a registered pharmacist.
Program information
Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science
Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science,
Bachelor of Pharmacy (Double degree)
Master of Clinical Pharmacy
Duration: 3 years
Location: City East campus
Duration: 5 years
Location: City East campus
Duration: 1.5 years
Location: City East campus
unisa.edu.au/study/pharmaceutical-science
Information correct at time of printing (August 2015). CRICOS provider number 00121B