Also called: Microphysiological Systems Scientist, Tissue Chip Engineer
Builds clear plastic chips the size of a USB stick lined with living human cells that act like a mini lung, liver or gut for drug testing.
Seeds human lung cells into tiny channels on a chip, then pumps air and fluid through so the cells stretch like they are breathing. You test how a new drug affects them, measure results under a microscope, and redesign the chip mold when cells don't grow right.
Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 9 years after high school. Usually a PhD in bioengineering or cell biology; some engineers enter with a master's.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: Over $150k.
Majors to look at: Biomedical Engineering, Bioengineering, Cell Biology.
Growing faster than average. The FDA now accepts more non-animal testing methods.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI helps analyze images, but designing chips and keeping living cells healthy stays hands-on.
Classes: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering or CAD.
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.