Careers in Science, Research & Development

Begin exploring career paths, potential jobs, and how to start building skills for the industry.

• All About Careers: Research & Development Scientists
• Occupational Outlook Handbook: Engineering
• Occupational Outlook Handbook: Computer and Information Technology
• Occupational Outlook Handbook: Chemists and Material Scientists
• Occupational Outlook Handbook: Life, Physical, & Social Science
• ONET Online: STEM Careers Cluster
• ORISE: What STEM Careers are in High Demand?
• Science, Research and Development Jobs

Learn how to get involved in student organizations at UT where you can learn more about the industry, grow your professional network, and build transferable skills.

• UTK Engineering and Technology Student Orgs
• Tickle College of Engineering Student Orgs
• UTK Research Student Orgs
• Tech CarniVOL
• Pipeline: Vols for Women in STEM
• Out in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (oSTEM)
• Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS)
• Physics Journal Club
• Health Physics Society at University of Tennessee
• Women in Physics
• Society of Physics Students
• Math Club at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville
• VolHacks

Get involved outside of UT! Professional organizations can help you explore sub-industries within the field, find job opportunities, and connect you with professionals in the industry. These organizations often include job search boards and ways to sign up for job alerts. Find these opportunities on What Can I Do With This Major. Check out a few examples of some professional organizations below:

• American Association for the Advancement of Science
• American Institute of Biological Sciences
• American Institute of Chemical Engineers
• American Physics Society
• Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence
• Association for Computing Machinery
• Association of Consulting Chemists and Chemical Engineers
• Association of Energy Engineers
• Association of Research Libraries
• Association for Information Science and Technology
• Biotechnology Innovation Organization
• Biotechnology Institute
• Computing Research Association
• Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society
• Institute of Biological Engineering
• Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS)
• National Organization of Research Development Professionals
• National Society of Professional Engineers
• Research and Development Society
• Search and Research Development Society
• Society of the Advancement of Material and Process
• Society for Biological Engineering
• Society for Advanced Academic Research and Development
• Society for Research Development

Don’t know where to get started in your job or internship search? Check out these sites in addition to our Handshake feed below.

• Biospace.com
• Dice.com
• EduMed’s Undergraduate Guide to Summer Research and Internship Opportunities
• Engineering.com
• EngineerJobs.com
• jobrxiv.org
• National Organization of Research Development Professionals
• Researchinsociety.org
• ScienceCareers.com
• Sciencejobs.org
• USAJobs.com (Government Employers)

Graduate School Application Resources

Many graduate school resources can be found on our Prepare for Graduate School website, including:

• Deciding on graduate school
• Resumes
• Letters of recommendation
• Admissions essays/personal statements

When applying to a graduate program within Science, Research and Development it’s important to:

• Give yourself roughly 6-9 months of preparation for Graduate School Applications.
• Explore each school and program’s process for obtaining a faculty mentor. You will likely need to research faculty associated with the program of interest and contact them to inquire about research opportunities and faculty mentorship.

Below are some links you may find helpful:

• University of Tennessee College of Arts and Sciences Graduate Programs
• University of Tennessee Tickle College of Engineering Degrees Offered

Current Graduate Student Resources

As a graduate student at the University of Tennessee you have access to all of the resources offered by the Center for Career Development & Academic Exploration. See the Meet with your career coach section above to explore all your professional development options.

If you are considering a Masters or Ph.D., gaining research experience is very important (possibly even critical) for graduate school admissions. Explore the following resources for ideas on how and where to get started.

• UT’s Office of Undergraduate Research

For specific research opportunities, reach out to faculty directly by browsing the department websites to learn about research areas and sending a direct email to the faculty member. Make sure their email is professional and consider attaching a resume.