If there was a profession that stood out during the pandemic years, it was undoubtedly that of virologist. The opinion of a professional in the field of viruses, It generated a lot of tranquility in a large part of the population. Being a great connoisseur of everything related to viruses gave him a certain power and status to establish a series of guidelines that society had to comply with and face the aforementioned pandemic.
In the following article we will tell you what a virologist does and what you need to study to work in this field.
What is virology?
It is a discipline that is in charge of studying viral infections in order to be able to develop various methods, with which to combat them as would be the case with vaccines. It should be noted that virology is not the same as epidemiology, since the latter is in charge of investigating and studying all the causes of diseases, including viruses. Therefore, the radius of action of an epidemiologist is much broader than that of a virologist.
The figure of the virologist
The virologist is the person in charge of studying these viral infections. Regarding the functions, the following must be indicated:
- Analyze in order to study thoroughly characteristics of different viruses.
- Keep track of various viral diseases, with the aim of recognizing the clinical pictures of the virus itself.
- Develop analytical methodologies in order to make a good diagnosis of viral infections.
- Work collectively with other physicians and thus find the best possible solutions to situations such as the pandemic.
- train continuously and attend conferences to stay up to date when it comes to viruses and viral-type diseases.
What do you have to study to become a virologist?
If you are interested in virology, the first thing you should do is enroll in a degree in medicine or biology. This degree has a duration of 6 years of study. From here, you must specialize either through a master's degree or a postgraduate degree and thus obtain the title of virologist. Before you can specialize, you must pass the annual MIR exam. As you can see, the path to be able to practice as a virologist is not easy or simple and requires great perseverance to be able to pass the different exams.
What would be the ideal profile of a virologist?
There are a number of skills and abilities that would be ideal in the figure of a good virologist:
- Vocation for everything related to biological research.
- certain skill when solving various problemss, arguing the possible solutions.
- Analytical capacity in relation to the data that will be handled.
- Know how to manage time and have a certain temperance before the different investigations.
- show some taste for everything related to innovation.
- Have the necessary knowledge to be able to act appropriately regarding your work.
- I like to learn in a constant way and thus form in an optimal and adequate way.
Job opportunities for a virologist
The work of the virologist is carried out in a Center for Disease Control and Prevention. It is a profession with great demand, so the job is guaranteed for the person who manages to complete the degree in question. Apart from this, the virologist can also carry out his work in other places such as laboratories, hospitals or health institutions.
Suffice it to say that since the arrival of the pandemic, the profession has gained in importance and there are many research centers throughout the Spanish territory that demand virologists in their facilities. Regarding the salary of a virologist, it must be said that it will vary depending on the sector in which he carries out his work. In any case, the average floor of this professional is around 55.000 euros net per year. As you can see, it is a job that is quite well paid, so it is a great option for those students who show a preference for this discipline.
In short, if you like everything related to research and viruses Do not hesitate to study this degree of the scientific branch. Apart from the vocational nature, it is important that you are interested in both science and technology. The work of the virologist is much more important than what people may think at first, since your knowledge and training are key to saving the lives of many people. A good professional in this discipline must be understanding while showing a respectful attitude towards their patients in order for them to feel safe.