Career family
Science & Research
Asking questions about the natural world and testing answers carefully, in labs, the field, universities, industry and government.
- Mainly Investigating & Solving
- Also Organising & Managing Detail
- Also Making & Fixing
What the work involves
A closer look.
Research means designing studies, collecting and analysing data, and writing up what was found, including when results are disappointing. Careers often involve further study and grant or project-based funding.
Typical roles
- Laboratory scientist or technologist
- Research assistant
- Quality control analyst
- Statistician
- Environmental scientist
- University lecturer and researcher
- Science communicator
Entry routes in Nigeria
- Science subjects at SSCE
- A degree in a science discipline, then often a master’s or PhD for research careers
- Laboratory technician routes through polytechnics
- Membership of professional bodies such as the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria, where relevant
Requirements change. Always verify with the official body, JAMB or the institution.
Skills that matter
- Careful observation and record-keeping
- Maths and data analysis
- Patience with repeated experiments
- Scientific writing
- Asking good questions
By life stage
Where you could start.
Secondary school
Often-linked SSCE stream: Science. Check with your school.
Undergraduate
Biochemistry, microbiology, chemistry, physics, geology, statistics, mathematics. Internships: labs, research institutes, quality control in manufacturing.
Fresh graduate
Laboratory analyst, research assistant, quality control officer, data collection officer, graduate assistant.
Young professional
People move in from health, engineering and data roles, often through a master’s degree or a research assistant post.
Vocational routes, entrepreneurship, public service and further study are all valid paths. We don’t show salaries or employment rates without a dated, verified source.
Ask a practitioner
Questions to ask.
Use these in a 15–20 minute conversation with someone who works in this family.
- What does a normal week look like for you?
- What do you enjoy most about the work, and what is hardest?
- How did you get into this field? Were there other routes you could have taken?
- Which subjects, courses or qualifications really matter, and which matter less than people think?
- What skills do you use every day that school didn’t teach you?
- What do people misunderstand about your job?
- If you were starting today, what would you do first?
- Who else should I talk to?
Test it
Ways to check if it suits you
Informational conversation
Talk to one person who does the work, using the questions on this page.
Job description review
Read three real adverts for roles in this family and list the requirements that keep coming up.
Small project
Try a small piece of the work yourself, then reflect on whether you enjoyed it.
Short course
Take a free or low-cost introductory course to test your interest before committing.
Job shadow or workplace visit
Spend a few hours watching the work happen. CPI arranges visits for participants.
Mentor conversation
Discuss what you have found with a mentor or coach.
Official qualification research
Check requirements with the professional body, JAMB, the institution or the employer directly.
Related
You might also explore.
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ExploreBusiness, Finance & Accounting
Keeping organisations’ money, people and operations in order: accounting, banking, finance, HR and management.
ExploreWant to know if this fits you?
Take the self-assessment, then use your roadmap to test this direction.