Immunologist Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of an immunologist. Feel free to use our Immunologist job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as an immunologist.
Who is an Immunologist?
An immunologist treats health problems caused by immune system dysfunction. Immunologists, also known as allergists, are physicians who specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of immune system disorders.
If you suffer from food or seasonal allergies, hay fever, eczema, or an autoimmune disease, you should consult an immunologist. When your immune system is not functioning properly, your body lacks adequate defenses against infection. This can increase your risk of developing cancer or autoimmune diseases, putting your immune system into overdrive.
Allergies occur when your immune system reacts abnormally to an allergen (such as food, dust, or pollen). They can be triggered by inhaling, ingesting, or touching something.
Allergies manifest themselves through coughing, sneezing, an itchy throat, or watery eyes. Severe allergic reactions cause inflammation of the skin, resulting in hives and eczema. They can result in hypotension, asthma attacks, and even death.
Foods such as peanuts and shellfish, pet dander (tiny particles of skin shed by animals), mold spores, and dust mites are all common allergens.
Along with patient care, immunologists conduct research to determine why the immune system does not always function normally. Clinical immunologists conduct examinations and diagnose disorders in children and adults, assisting them in managing and treating them.
An immunologist’s education begins with a four-year bachelor’s degree, typically in pre-medicine, chemistry, biology, or nursing. After completing your undergraduate studies, you enroll in a four-year medical school. Following medical school, you must sit for a certification exam administered by either the American Board of Internal Medicine or the American Board of Pediatrics. Once certified, a year or two of training is required. The final stage of your education requires you to pass a final examination administered by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology (ABAI). Generally, the process requires a minimum of nine years of education.
You select a subspecialty within the field of immunology as part of your education. Internal medicine and pediatrics are two subspecialties. If you wish to pursue a career in academia or as a researcher, you may wish to consider subspecialties such as transplant surgery, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, or oncology.
Immunologist Job Description
Below are the Immunologist job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write an immunologist job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of an immunologist include the following:
- Diagnosing patients with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, allergies, lupus, and others
- Educating patients about their conditions’ causes, symptoms, treatment options, and life expectancy
- Prescribing medications or medical devices to assist patients in living normal, healthy lives
- Demonstrating proper use of inhalers, EpiPens, and other medical devices if patients experience allergic reactions at home
- Obtaining laboratory tests, biopsies, pulmonary tests, and ultrasounds for their patients to confirm a diagnosis based on their symptoms
- Examining their patients’ laboratory results for antibodies to various autoimmune conditions or allergens
- Conducting independent research to advance their knowledge of immune system disorders and their effects on the human body
- Examining a patient’s medical history for prior illnesses or health complaints that may indicate a health problem
- Communicating with patients and their families to reassure them about a diagnosis and to provide additional guidance on how to support a patient’s needs at home
- Seeing a variety of patients throughout the workday to adhere to appointment schedules
- Obtaining a patient’s vital signs by listening to their heart and lungs, checking their blood pressure, measuring their height and weight for medical records, and assisting with diagnoses
- Assisting and collaborating with external entities as immunology experts.
- Participating in and attending project team meetings, as well as coaching research associates.
- Collaborating with team members on experiment design and taking a creative approach to problem-solving.
- Collaborating with pharmaceutical companies to increase the company’s scientific visibility.
- Assembling and maintaining an adequate laboratory purchasing and inventory.
- Generating and testing engineered immune cells in humans and mice.
- Evaluating novel immunotherapy strategies through the design, development, and validation of cell-based assays.
- Developing and executing in vitro studies utilizing primary immune cells to characterize T cell responses.
- Creating and maintaining laboratory reports and records.
- Keeping abreast of new developments in the field of immunology.
- Conducting original medical research, including the design, planning, and execution of controlled experiments and trials
- Generating and validating hypotheses through the use of appropriate analytical techniques
- Analyzing and interpreting data
- Applying for research funding
- Attending international conferences and staying current on current research in the field
- Among the responsibilities associated with patient-facing work are the following:
Additional critical tasks include the following:
- Conduct diagnostic examinations
Immunologists frequently deal with complex health problems involving the immune system. Diagnosing the underlying cause of symptoms is a critical role for an immunologist, as the underlying cause of a patient’s symptoms is not always obvious. For instance, a patient may be experiencing inflammation as a result of an allergy that requires treatment, but determining what in the environment is triggering the allergic reaction can be difficult. Immunologists also work with patients who have more severe autoimmune diseases and perform a variety of tests to rule out alternative diagnoses and determine the cause of their symptoms.
- Construct care plans
An immunologist develops a patient care plan. In some cases, the plan may include prescribing medication to a patient with an allergy. In other instances, the care plan may be more comprehensive. For instance, a patient may suffer from an autoimmune disease, which can result in muscle mass loss. A treatment plan may include physical therapy and steroid treatments to compensate for muscle loss.
- Conduct investigation
Certain immunologists may concentrate on the research side of medicine. You could conduct research into possible treatments for a variety of autoimmune diseases. Immunologists conduct a variety of research projects, including those involving stem cells, bone marrow, and genetic engineering. Immunologists also conduct research into the safe completion of organ transplants without the immune system rejecting or attacking the transplanted organ. Another area of research could be the effect of various diseases, such as cancer, on the immune system.
- Educating Patients
Immunologists frequently treat chronic diseases or conditions. An immunologist’s role includes educating patients about a medical condition they may have to manage for the rest of their lives. The immunologist counsels patients on how to manage a chronic illness. This may entail referring patients to appropriate support services, such as counseling or support groups. The immunologist may demonstrate how to use an inhaler or how to recognize a possible allergic reaction, for example.
- Maintaining communication with family members
Frequently, an immunologist works directly with families. The physician may work with children who develop allergies or diseases such as lupus. Frequently, family members provide care and assistance, particularly when children or long-term illnesses are involved. As an immunologist, you develop relationships with family members and educate them about the medical situation, how to assist with treatments, and how to recognize possible relapses or complications.
- Consultations
As a specialist, an immunologist may occasionally consult with other physicians regarding patients. For instance, if a physician has a patient who requires surgery but has a weakened immune system, the physician may consult an immunologist. General practitioners may refer patients to an immunologist if they suspect the patient has an autoimmune disease or is allergic to something.
Qualifications
- Doctoral degree in immunology or a closely related field.
- Experience conducting research for at least two years.
- Competent in primary human cell culture, in vitro assays, and intracellular cytokine staining.
- Technical proficiency with flow cytometry analysis software.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Outstanding interpersonal skills.
- Superior analytical abilities.
Essential Skills
- Time Management
Immunologists use time management techniques to manage their clinical and research responsibilities. They may, for instance, schedule hours at the start of the workday to meet with patients and administer treatment. They may then devote the remainder of their time to monitoring data collection in the laboratory. Immunologists benefit from strong time management skills because they enable them to multitask on multiple patient cases without sacrificing the quality of their work.
- Detail-oriented
Immunologists’ attention to detail is another critical research and clinical skill. When monitoring a patient’s condition, it’s critical to pay attention to the patient’s symptoms and their potential significance. Observing a vital sign can aid in accurate diagnosis, ensuring that the patient receives the appropriate treatment and improves their overall health. Meticulous attention to detail in the laboratory can result in a breakthrough in research. Immunologists can identify trends in data by closely examining each result, and their thorough analysis aids other physicians in making additional discoveries.
- Communication skills
Immunologists with effective communication skills can build trust with their patients and collaborate with other health care professionals. Physicians may employ one of four distinct styles of communication when interacting with others in the hospital or laboratory.
- Adaptability
Because an immunologist’s work environment is constantly changing, adaptability enables them to remain productive when confronted with new circumstances. For instance, if a patient develops a symptom that was missed during the initial screening, the immunologist may adjust the treatment plan accordingly. Another example is a new technology that alters how scientists test samples, necessitating the immunologist to establish a new research process. With adaptability, you can incorporate new knowledge into your daily work habits and thus increase workplace productivity.
- Leadership
A lead immunologist is responsible for leading a team of immunologists, and this position requires strong leadership abilities. Leaders can set an example for others on how to perform their jobs competently, and they frequently make decisions on behalf of the team. For instance, in the laboratory, a lead immunologist may determine the amount of organizational funding available to initiate a new clinical trial or the deadlines for testing and interpreting sample data for specific research projects. If you want to advance your career beyond immunology, consider developing your leadership abilities to motivate your peers and achieve positive outcomes.
How to Become an Immunologist
- Complete a bachelor’s degree
The first step toward becoming an immunologist is to enroll in and complete a four-year bachelor’s degree program in a relevant field. Pre-medicine, biology, public health, nursing, or biochemistry are all degree options that benefit prospective immunologists.
- Enroll in a medical school
During the final two years of a bachelor’s degree program, you can begin applying to medical schools that fit your financial situation and academic interests. To be admitted to medical school, you must take and pass the MCAT exam. After admission to medical school, students typically spend two years in class followed by two years of clinical rotations in a variety of healthcare settings.
- Pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE)
You must take and pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination before graduating from medical school (USMLE). This examination consists of three sections: biology and chemistry, psychology, and critical analysis. Individuals can earn board certification in a single field of medicine by passing this exam. Earning board certification through the American Board of Internal Medicine is an example of this (ABIM). This board certification qualifies future immunologists to enter a residency program in which they will learn how to diagnose and treat internal illnesses or diseases.
- Become a resident of a residency program
A residency program is a three- to four-year clinical experience during which graduates of medical school assist physicians, surgeons, and other senior medical professionals in diagnosing and treating patients. During this time, participants can hone their clinical skills and broaden their knowledge of medicine to aid in their specialty. A residency program enables immunologists to complete clinical training before pursuing an immunology fellowship.
- Complete an immunology fellowship
Fellowships in allergy and immunology typically last around two years. Candidates spend their first year of the fellowship assisting qualified immunologists with patient appointments in a clinical setting. Typically, candidates balance clinical work and research activities during the second year of the fellowship to broaden their knowledge in one or more areas of immunology.
- Become certified to practice by the ABAI.
After completing an immunology fellowship, you are eligible to sit for the American Board of Allergy and Immunology’s board certification examination. To apply for certification, you may be required to submit transcripts from medical school and letters of recommendation from physicians or other qualified medical professionals with whom you worked during your residency and fellowship programs. Additionally, you may need to demonstrate your ABIM or pediatrics board certification to qualify.
Where to Work as an Immunologist
Immunologists work for the National Health Service (NHS), private healthcare organizations, universities, and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
Immunologist Salary Scale
In the United States, the national average salary for an Immunologist is $178,942 per year.
