What is a biomedical scientist?

Biomedical scientists conduct laboratory and scientific tests to support the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

If you work as a biomedical scientist, you'll be based in a laboratory. You’ll investigate a wide range of clinical conditions, from blood disorders and cancer, to hepatitis and meningitis, providing results critical to patient care. Confidence with technology is important, as you’ll work with computers, automated equipment, microscopes, and other laboratory instruments.

You’ll have the opportunity to specialise in one of three areas, which can include molecular pathology and genomic testing:

  • infection sciences
  • blood sciences
  • cellular sciences


Biomedical scientist smiling

Iva, Trainee Biomedical Scientist


Iva said: "After arriving in the UK in 2012 from Canada, I completed an MSc in Molecular Medical Microbiology, and worked for a few years as a quality microbiologist in Boots laboratories.

I really wanted to work in an NHS clinical laboratory setting, so I was fortunate to join the Microbiology team at the Derby site of Derbyshire Pathology in 2017. I have been with the NHS for almost six years now, I really enjoy my job, and I appreciate the impact the team's work has on patient care and treatment. I am currently working on my Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) portfolio".


What types of roles are available?

  • Medical lab assistant
  • Associate practitioner
  • Biomedical scientist
  • Specialist biomedical scientist
  • Senior biomedical scientist
  • Service manager


There are many opportunities for a career in biomedical science in the NHS, there are currently more than 40,000 posts in England alone. As this is also a growing area in the NHS, there are likely to be many opportunities in the future. You find out more about the job roles available in biomedical science, including entry requirements >, by visiting the NHS careers website.