How to Become a Researcher
One of the most exciting aspects of becoming a researcher is the opportunity to apply your education, skills, and talents to the field of your choosing. Without exception, every arena of expertise has been built on a solid foundation of research results.
Assess Your Skills & Education
One of the most important facets of becoming a researcher is being proficient in mathematics. Research is quantified through data gathering and analysis. In order to effectively function as a researcher, therefore, make sure you are honing your mathematical talents and experience. If you do not have a strong background in mathematics, you will need to enroll in a reputable institution from which you can learn the fundamentals of mathematics and statistics. If you already have your bachelor’s degree, there are numerous master’s degree programs available both in an online or on-campus format. Full-time students can complete a Master’s Degree in Research Methodology in as little as three semesters of study. If you have not earned your bachelor’s degree yet, you will want to begin the process as soon as possible. Choose a college which offers the best background for a future researcher. Study each college carefully, always making sure that they are an accredited institution of higher learning. If you are unable to start a bachelor’s program right away, begin to get the general education requirements out of the way at a junior or community college. As long as the credits are transferrable to a major university or 4-year college, you will be following a cost-effective route to the completion of your bachelor’s. Find out in advance, however, if the units you will be taking will be credited by the bachelor’s degree granting institution to which you aspire.
Decide the Field in Which You Want to be a Researcher & Network
As mentioned in the introduction, the fields within which to do research are as plentiful as professions. It is advisable to pick an area in which you have exceptional interest. When you are working with topics and concepts which attract your attention, you will feel the excitement of having a fulfilling career, not just a job.
Once you have landed on the area in which you want to conduct research, begin to network with other students, academic instructors, and accomplished professionals. Networking will keep you abreast of developments in your field, help you with support both academic and emotional, assist in securing internships, provide opportunities to obtain a mentor, and ultimately find the job of your dreams. Professional organizations exist in each discipline or field, and becoming a member is important to becoming a researcher. By way of example, the largest and most prominent of networking organizations is multidisciplinary, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) https://www.aaas.org/.
In their own words, “The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world’s largest multidisciplinary scientific society and a leading publisher of cutting-edge research. Through its Science family of journals, AAAS has individual members in more than 91 countries around the globe. Membership is open to anyone who shares our goals and belief that science, technology, engineering, and mathematics can help solve many of the challenges the world faces today.” Their main areas of focus include Science Education; Science Diplomacy, Shaping Science Policy, Advocacy for Evidence (the intersection of legal and scientific concerns); STEM Careers; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Federal Science Budget Analysis; Human Rights, Law and Ethics; and Public Engagement. Within each of these categories are academic opportunities, grants, scholarships, fellowships, dialogues, workshops, ambassador programs, festivals, conventions, access to journals and publications, mentoring opportunities, commercially sponsored competitions and prizes, classes, seminars, and career or job offerings.
A sampling of other research-based networking organizations includes the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR), the American Educational Research Association (AERA), the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI), the Association for Information Systems (AIS), the American Economic Association (AEA), the American Institute of Physics (AIP), the International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS), and the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), just to name a few.
Becoming a researcher means becoming a part of a community. Begin today to find your niche and network with other of like mind, while taking advantage of the many facets of membership in a professional organization or association.
Job Outlook for Researchers
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (https://www.bls.gov/), Researchers have favorable opportunities in store for the time period spanning 2022-2032. The field is growing by 13% per year, more than double the average rate of 6%. Government experts predict that each year over 94,600 new jobs will become available (between 2022-2032), and by 202 there will have been over 116,600 new researchers employed. In 2022 there were 868,600 jobs, and the median pay per year was $68,230, while the median hourly wage was $32.80. (As a reminder, the “median” amount is not an average, it is the middle value of a dataset. For the U.S. BLS definition go to: https://www.bls.gov/cps/definitions.htm#medianearnings ).
By pursuing your educational goals, independent study, networking and an internship, you will be on your way to a satisfying and rewarding career as a researcher.
