Physiologist Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a physiologist. Feel free to use our physiologist job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a physiologist.
Who is a Physiologist?
Physiologists’ responsibilities vary depending on their specialty and education level. Physiologists all investigate how the body works, but the species they examine and the work they conduct differ depending on their position. Physiologists, on the other hand, all want to make a difference in their profession, whether it’s through research, clinical practice, or teaching students about physiology.
Physiologists are medical scientists who have earned a master’s or doctoral degree. This field is expanding as the demand for scientific knowledge grows, thanks to its zeal and competence in investigating how humans, plants, animals, and cells function. This field will continue to expand as the demand to better understand how living things function and improve human health and well-being grows.
Types of Physiologists
- Exercise physiologist
An exercise physiologist develops physical fitness regimens for rehabilitation for those who are sick or injured. These medical specialists assess patients’ fitness and stress levels, review their medical histories, and speak with them about their needs and goals to create tailored regimens. Exercise physiologists also keep track of their patients’ development and adjust their fitness routines as needed to assist them to improve or maintain their health.
- Plant physiologist
A plant physiologist is a scientist who investigates plants’ chemical and biological processes. Plants are studied at a microscopic level, with cells and chemicals examined to see how they interact with each other and the environment. Plant physiologists frequently use their findings to aid the agriculture business in pest management and food production.
- Clinical Physiologist
A clinical physiologist, often known as a medical physiologist, studies the processes of the human body in normal and abnormal situations to see how various variables affect health. Some physiologists collaborate with doctors to diagnose and treat patients, while others research diseases and create novel remedies in laboratories. Clinical psychologists can specialize in a variety of medical fields, which includes:
- Gastroenterology
- Respiratory medicine
- Audiology
- Neurology
- Cardiology
- Sleep medicine
- Cell physiologist
A cell physiologist is a scientist who investigates human biology at the cellular level, including cell connections and how they affect human health, behavior, and disease. They study abnormal cells, such as cancer and sickle cells, to learn more about how they form. Cell physiologists aim to find innovative treatments for various disorders as well as educate healthcare professionals on current trends and technologies.
- Animal physiologists
Animal physiologists research how animals behave and function in captivity and in the wild. They may specialize in biochemistry, zoology, or biophysics. Animal physiologists might serve as researchers in zoos or laboratories, as instructors in educational institutions, or as consultants for pharmaceutical businesses.
Physiologist Job Description
Below are the physiologist job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a physiologist job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
- Observing and tracking the activities of specific bodily systems in various surroundings while the human body is in motion.
- Detailing carefully and monitoring patients during exercise or cardiopulmonary diagnostic testing.
- Researching plants, animals, and human cellular structures and organ system functioning.
- Experimenting to see what impact internal and external environmental elements have.
- Studying the glands in the body and how they are connected to physiological functioning.
- Keeping medical instruments and devices in good working order.
- Researching and treating animal bites, plant venom, and poisons which are only a few examples of dangerous natural processes that should be researched.
- Ensuring treatment of those who have been injured at nuclear catastrophe sites and decontamination zones.
- Identifying instruments and the transmission of symptoms is necessary When an agent demands their identification.
Qualifications
- A doctorate in physiology or a related subject is required.
- Work experience as a Physiologist is required.
- Problem-solving, analytical, and critical-thinking abilities.
- Computer literacy, as well as mathematical and technical aptitude.
- Communication and teamwork abilities are important.
Essential Skills
- Collaboration and teamwork are essential for success.
To provide superior findings, collaborative abilities are required to work closely and successfully with fellow physiologists, other medical specialists, and research assistants. Do this:
- Demonstrate how to do something to others.
- Look for methods to assist others.
- Be conscious of how people react and what might be causing it.
- To learn or teach anything new, use a variety of ways.
- Change your behavior in response to the behaviors of others.
- Bring people together to talk about their differences in order to solve difficulties.
- Persuade others to take an alternative strategy.
- technical skillset
To ensure optimal performance, you must be able to use laboratory equipment.
- Ability to communicate
To ensure successful and professional communication with patients and other stakeholders on scientific topics, you must have both verbal and nonverbal communication skills. It’s critical to be able to express complicated ideas in simple terms while speaking with the general audience. Do this:
- Speak in a clear manner so that your audience can comprehend you.
- Work-related documents should be read and understood.
- Read and comprehend written material.
- Be open to questions and listen carefully to what others are saying.
- Understand what is being said.
- Write in a precise and clear manner so that others can understand you.
- Ability to solve problems
You can hone your problem-solving skills to come up with creative solutions to workplace problems, especially when assessing patient health issues and determining the best treatment alternatives.
- Ability to think critically
To appreciate the intricate inner dynamics of living things, you must be able to think critically.
- Orientation in detail
When researching, updating medical records, and creating reports, pay special attention to detail to verify that information is correct.
- Compassion
It’s critical to be compassionate and empathize with patients, as well as having a good bedside demeanor. Emotional intelligence is critical when making a diagnosis and when patients are in pain or suffering.
- Patience
Patience may be used by physiologists to conduct extensive research and find answers for patients.
- Literacy on the computer
It is necessary to be able to utilize a computer and a number of software programs. Imaging and modeling, for example, requires the use of a computer and other specialized equipment.
How to Become a Physiologist
- Select a specialization.
Consider what fascinates you about the discipline before you begin the process of becoming a physiologist. Choosing between animal, plant, and human physiology will help you figure out what amount of schooling you’ll need to meet your job objectives. If you want to study human or animal physiology, you can also specialize in a particular area of research or clinical practice.
- Obtain a Bachelor’s degree in physiology or a related field.
Jobs in physiology require at least a bachelor’s degree, regardless of the career route you select. Students can major in physiology at some colleges, but they can also major in biology or chemistry, which are related areas. A degree in kinesiology or nutrition is commonly pursued by people who want to be exercise physiologists.
- Obtain a master’s degree
In addition to a bachelor’s degree, most physiologists pursue a master’s or doctoral degree in their discipline. Although some jobs, such as exercise physiology, may just require a bachelor’s degree, gaining a master’s can help you find a job or advance in your industry. Other sorts of physiologists, such as medical or cellular physiologists, may require a doctorate to work in clinical or research settings.
- Obtain Experience
You can work as an entry-level physiology technician to get experience and enhance your career in the industry. Many of these opportunities are in the form of a part-time research post with a team of experienced physiologists. This can provide you the chance to gain useful job experience and advance your career.
- Find a job in the field.
You can begin your job hunt after you have completed the educational prerequisites for a position in your field of physiology. Looking for entry-level jobs, internships, or temporary research roles allows you to work with specialists in your industry and broaden your expertise. These experiences can help you advance in your career as a physiologist and pursue higher-level roles.
Where to Work
Depending on your study topic and the nature of your career, you can expect to work in a range of environments as a physiologist. Plant and cellular physiology researchers typically work in laboratories or offices. They may also work at universities, conducting research and instructing students in physiology courses.
Exercise and clinical physiologists, on the other hand, frequently work with and treat patients in medical settings such as rehab centers and hospitals. If you choose to work as an animal physiologist, you will likely work in a variety of settings, including wildlife research centers, animal sanctuaries, labs, and educational institutions. You should anticipate working a regular 40-hour workweek as a physiologist, regardless of where you work.
- Schools/colleges
Lectures are given, papers are graded, and students are advised by these physiologists. They work a variety of hours, ranging from a few hours per week to a hefty workload. They may work regular workday hours with additional hours spent creating lesson plans, grading papers, and performing other tasks on the nights and weekends. Some physiologists who work in universities and colleges may only teach classes or may also be involved in research.
- Laboratory
In labs, physiologists spend much of their time performing, documenting, and analyzing research. Working in a laboratory may entail handling potentially harmful organic and inorganic compounds. These physiologists usually operate throughout standard business hours on weekdays.
- Animal Research centers
Animal physiologists research how animals react to both internal and exterior factors in their surroundings. Instructors, scientists, and consultants are all examples of people who operate in this field. A bachelor’s degree is the minimal need for a job in animal physiology, while some roles may require a doctorate degree.
- Hospitals and Healthcare facilities
Clinical physiologists, often known as physiological scientists, operate in hospitals and other healthcare settings. Their job entails assessing and monitoring the human body’s physiological organs in order to identify and cure physiological problems and long-term ailments.
Clinical physiology entails using medical and scientific devices to test, monitor, diagnose, and analyze patients’ physiological symptoms. This would also enable the physiologist to recommend treatment options and pharmacological therapy in specific circumstances. A clinical physiologist’s responsibilities also include monitoring a patient’s improvement and deterioration and, as a result, offering alternative treatment options.
- Sports facilities
Exercise physiologists are known for their roles here. For rehabilitation, they construct physical fitness routines. The primary goal is to treat people with chronic illnesses so that they can regain their health and physical functions while also increasing their quality of life. You can use tools to evaluate patients’ needs and develop programs to assist them to increase their strength, endurance, and flexibility.
Exercise physiologists assess patients’ fitness and stress levels, analyze their medical histories, and converse with them about their goals and needs in order to design individualized plans. As an exercise physiologist, you’ll also keep track of your patient’s progress and make necessary adjustments to their training routines to assist them to improve or maintain their health.
- Plant conservation institutions
Breeding plants, plant physiology, boosting crop yields, agricultural plants, trees, shrubs, and nursery stock are some of the topics that plant physiologists study. These essential scientists also look at soils and try to figure out how to control pests. They look into how soil’s physical, biological, chemical, and mineral composition affects plant growth. A plant physiologist’s work may include investigating alternate soil and crop management strategies.
Plant physiologists can advise farmers on how to best utilize their land as consultants, and they can also provide remedies to growing difficulties and land issues such as erosion. Universities, commercial enterprises, botanical gardens, government agencies, and plant conservation organizations are all common job areas. Some plant physiologists work solely in research and laboratory settings, providing data to help improve plant health.
Physiologist Salary Scale
As of December 27, 2021, the average Exercise Physiologist pay in the United States is $54,688, while the range frequently falls between $48,613 and $62,199. Salary ranges depend on various factors which include schooling, certifications, supplementary talents, and the number of years you’ve worked in your field.
Salary in physiology varies according to where you work, and various individuals receive different compensation packages. Private employees, on average, earn more than government employees, but this is not always the case.
In Nigeria, physiology graduates might earn anywhere from 50,000 to 200,000 naira per month.