Also called: Drug Metabolism & Pharmacokinetics Scientist, ADME Scientist
Studies how the body absorbs, breaks down, and gets rid of a new drug.
Measures how fast a drug candidate disappears from blood samples, figures out which liver enzymes break it down, and tells chemists how to tweak the molecule.
Estimate; industry pays more than universities.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 10 years after high school. PhD in biology or a related field, often plus a postdoc.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Pharmacology, Chemistry, Biochemistry.
Growing faster than average. Tracks BLS life scientists (medical scientists and biochemists grow faster than average).
Medium risk for 10 years. AI ADME models replace some early screening tests; designing studies, interpreting odd results and advising chemists stay human.
Classes: AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Calculus.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-1042.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.