Immunologist

An Immunologist is a medical scientist or physician who specializes in the study of the immune system, including its function, disorders, and response to pathogens like bacteria, viruses, and other harmful invaders. Immunologists play a critical role in diagnosing and treating immune system disorders such as allergies, autoimmune diseases, and immunodeficiencies. Their work can involve both clinical practice, treating patients with immune-related conditions, and research, focusing on understanding immune responses and developing new vaccines or therapies.

Immunologists typically perform the following tasks:

• Diagnose and treat immune system disorders, including allergies, autoimmune diseases, and immunodeficiencies.
• Conduct research on the immune system to better understand its functioning and develop new treatments or vaccines.
• Collaborate with other healthcare professionals to develop comprehensive treatment plans for patients with immune disorders.
• Perform laboratory tests to assess immune function and detect abnormalities.
• Provide guidance on immunization schedules and treatments for patients with weakened immune systems.
• Stay updated on the latest developments in immunology, including new therapies and research findings.
• Educate patients and healthcare staff on immune system health and the prevention of immune-related diseases.
• Publish research findings in scientific journals and present them at conferences.
• Advocate for public health measures related to immunizations and disease prevention.

The following job titles also refer to immunologist:

immunology research analyst
immunology studies analyst
immunology studies research scientist
immunology studies scientist
immunology scientist
immunology researcher
immunology studies scholar
immunologists
immunology analyst
immunology research scientist
immunology studies researcher
immunology studies research analyst
immunology scholar
immunology science researcher

Immunologists work in various settings, including hospitals, research labs, and universities. Clinical immunologists spend much of their time in healthcare facilities, diagnosing and treating patients, while research immunologists typically work in laboratories conducting experiments and analyzing data. The work environment can vary between standard office hours and extended periods in the lab, depending on whether the focus is research or patient care. In both cases, attention to detail and adherence to strict safety and ethical guidelines are essential.

Immunologists typically hold a medical degree (MD) or a PhD in immunology or a related field such as microbiology or biochemistry. Clinical immunologists must complete medical school, followed by residency and specialized training in immunology. Research immunologists usually pursue a PhD and postdoctoral research experience. Certification and licensure, where applicable, are required to practice in clinical settings. Strong analytical skills, laboratory experience, and in-depth knowledge of the immune system are critical. For those in research, publishing scientific findings and staying at the forefront of new developments in immunology are essential parts of the job.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Immunologist is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to immunologist.

pharmacologist
biochemist
physiologist
microbiologist
toxicologist

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of immunologist.

• Molecular and cellular immunology: The interactions at molecular level that trigger a response from the immune system.
• Clinical immunology: The pathology of a disease in relation to its immune response and immune system.
• Diagnostic immunology techniques: The techniques used in diagnosing immunology diseases such as immunofluorescence, fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), radioimmunoassay (RIA) and analysis of plasma proteins.
• Laboratory techniques: Techniques applied in the different fields of natural science in order to obtain experimental data such as gravimetric analysis, gas chromatography, electronic or thermic methods.
• Immunology: Immunology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
• Biology: Tissues, cells, and functions of plant and animal organisms and their interdependencies and interactions with each other and the environment.
• Scientific research methodology: The theoretical methodology used in scientific research involving doing background research, constructing a hypothesis, testing it, analysing data and concluding the results.

These skills are necessary for the role of immunologist.

• Perform laboratory tests: Carry out tests in a laboratory to produce reliable and precise data to support scientific research and product testing.
• Research immune system malfunctions: Examine why the immune system fails and what causes disease.
• Maintain laboratory equipment: Clean laboratory glassware and other equipment after use and inspect it for damage or corrosion in order to ensure its proper functioning.
• Perform scientific research: Gain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.
• Apply safety procedures in laboratory: Make sure that laboratory equipment is used in a safe manner and the handling of samples and specimens is correct. Work to ensure the validity of results obtained in research.
• Apply scientific methods: Apply scientific methods and techniques to investigate phenomena, by acquiring new knowledge or correcting and integrating previous knowledge.
• Calibrate laboratory equipment: Calibrate laboratory equipment by comparing between measurements: one of known magnitude or correctness, made with a trusted device and a second measurement from another piece of laboratory equipment. Make the measurements in as similar a way as possible.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of immunologist. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Microbiology-bacteriology: Microbiology-Bacteriology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
• General medicine: General medicine is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
• Virology: The structure, characteristics, evolution and interactions of viruses and the diseases they cause.
• Communicable diseases: Communicable diseases is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
• Pharmaceutical industry: The main stakeholders, companies and procedures in the pharmaceutical industry and the laws and regulations that govern the patenting, testing, safety and marketing of drugs.
• Pharmaceutical chemistry: The chemical aspects of identification and synthetic alteration of chemical entities as they relate to therapeutic use. The way various chemicals affect biological systems and how they can be integrated in drug development.
• Allergies: Changes in an organism’s response to a pathogen when that organism has been previously affected by the same pathogen.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of immunologist. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Write research proposals: Synthetise and write proposals aiming to solve research problems. Draft the proposal baseline and objectives, the estimated budget, risks and impact. Document the advances and new developments on the relevant subject and field of study.
• Assist in clinical trials: Work with fellow scientists on clinical trials in order to improve medical methods for preventing, detecting, diagnosing, or treating diseases.
• Perform lectures: Present lectures to various groups.
• Record test data: Record data which has been identified specifically during preceding tests in order to verify that outputs of the test produce specific results or to review the reaction of the subject under exceptional or unusual input.
• Analyse cell cultures: Analyse cell cultures grown from tissue samples, performing also screening of the cervical smear to detect fertility issues.
• Analyse blood samples: Analyse blood samples using computer-aided and manual techniques, looking for white or red blood cell abnormalities and other risk factors.
• Develop scientific theories: Formulate scientific theories based on empirical observations, gathered data and theories of other scientists.
• Develop scientific research protocols: Develop and record the procedural method used for a specific scientific experiment in order to enable its replication.
• Develop vaccines: Create drugs that provide immunity against particular diseases by doing research and laboratory testing.
• Diagnose patients with immunodeficiencies: Examine and diagnose diseases such as antibody deficiency, combined T- and B-cell deficiency, complement deficiency and phagocytic defects.
• Archive scientific documentation: Store documents such as protocols, analysis results and scientific data using archiving systems to enable scientists and engineers to take methods and results from previous studies into account for their research.
• Recommend product improvements: Recommend product modifications and process improvements.
• Write scientific papers: Present the hypothesis, findings, and conclusions of your scientific research in your field of expertise in a professional publication.
• Develop pharmaceutical drugs: Develop new therapeutic products according to the potential formulas, studies and indications recorded during the research process which also involved collaboration with physicians, biochemists and pharmacologists.
• Assess environmental impact: Monitor environmental impacts and carry out assessments in order to identify and to reduce the organisation’s environmental risks while taking costs into account.
• Contribute to registration of pharmaceutical products: Participate in the registration process that allows the sale and distribution of substances that treat or prevent human and animal diseases or enable medical diagnosis.
• Develop patient treatment strategies: Consult with fellow doctors and scientists in order to find the appropriate and most effective treatment for each individual patient.
• Control production: Plan, coordinate, and direct all production activities to insure the goods are made on time, in correct order, of adequate quality and composition, starting from intake goods up to shipping.

2131 – Biologists, botanists, zoologists and related professionals

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References

1. Immunologist – ESCO
2. Immunology | Health Careers – NHS
3. What Is an Immunologist? – WebMD
4. What is an immunologist? – MedicalNewsToday
5. Featured image: Photo by: Kaboompics.com