A parasitologist is a medical specialist whose primary focus is parasites , from protists and insects to bacteria and viruses .
In this page, explore the step on how to become a parasitologist, available tracks within parasitology, educational qualifications and the average salary in the United States.
A parasitologist can either study and analyze their lifecycles or develop a treatment for patients that suffer from parasitic diseases.
Sometimes, a parasitologist is involved only in research and/or treatment of diseases caused solely by eukaryotic parasites – protists, worms, and insects.
Protozoans are multi-cellular organisms and have membrane-bound organelles that work independently from the whole cell. Most of the time, protozoans are microscopic. Due to their size, they are parasitic organisms for humans (ranges from benign or severe). Explore top 12 diseases caused by protozoa here.
Here are the world’s top 14 most infectious and deadliest bacterial diseases/infections that even some of the strongest present-day antibiotics can’t kill.
How To Become A Parasitologist? There are two tracks for becoming a parasitologist:
Research track:
Complete high school with a high GPA ; Join a school with a major in parasitology ; Get a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology or related sciences (4 years ); Get a Masters in Biology/Parasitology (2 years ); Get a Ph.D. in parasitology (at least 3 years ); Work as a research fellow in a parasitology lab or a similar research facility; Medical parasitologist degree track:
Complete high school with a high GPA ; Complete the 4 years Bachelor degree in Life Sciences or a related major; Pass the Medical School Admission Test (MCAT ); Complete the 4-year training for a medical degree (M.D.); Pass the three parts of the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE ); Join an internal medicine residency for 3 years ; Join an infectious diseases fellowship (3 years ); Complete an additional year for training in parasitology;
Average Salary for Parasitologists An average salary for a parasitologist in the USA ranges between $75,299 and $133,440 depending on the type of work they are doing and the overall experience.
Cite This Page Key References “How to Become a Parasitologist” . Accessed December 11, 2019. Link .“Parasitologist Salary” – Salary Expert. Accessed December 11, 2019. Link .