How to become a Pharmacologist
Also called: Pharmacology analyst, Pharmacology research analyst, Pharmacology science researcher, Pharmacology studies scientist, Toxicologist, Pharmacology research analyst, Toxicologist
Pharmacologist conducts research into effects of drugs and other substances on humans and animals, and develops new and improved medicinal drugs. He/she performs experiments, tests and analyses to determine effects of drugs and other substances on human tissues, organs, metabolism, cell growth and reproduction, circulation, respiration, digestion and other life processes. He/she may collaborate with medical doctors and pharmacists in the testing of drugs on human beings and standardise drug dosages for treatment of illnesses. He/she may collaborate with industrial pharmacists in development of drugs and standardisation of production methods and drug potency.
Main tasks
- Undertaking research in laboratories and in the field to increase scientific knowledge of living organisms
- Designing and conducting experiments and tests to discover new information to solve problems in areas such as the environment, agriculture and health, and to develop new products, processes and techniques for pharmaceutical, agricultural and environmental use
- Gathering human, animal, insect and plant specimens and data, and studying their origin, development, chemical and physical form, structure, composition, and life and reproductive processes
- Examining living organisms using a variety of specialised equipment, instruments, technologies and techniques such as electron microscopes, telemetry, global positioning systems, biotechnology, satellite imaging, genetic engineering, digital imaging analysis, polymerase chain reaction and computer modelling
- Writing scientific papers and reports detailing research and new findings which are then made available to the scientific community in scientific journals or at conferences for scrutiny and further debate
- Assisting researchers in their conduct and implementation of clinical research projects
Ways in
- University: Pharmacy degrees, Offered by 2 universities in Singapore
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $80,472 a year. The middle half earn $51,756 to $157,416 a year.
- Generative AI could change some tasks in this job, by the ILO's global estimate.
Related jobs
- Medical laboratory scientist
- Biochemist
- Physiologist
- Animal scientist
- Medical scientist
- Clinical research professional
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Pharmacologist?
Ways in include: Pharmacy degrees.
How much does a Pharmacologist earn in Singapore?
Median full-time pay is $80,472 a year (Ministry of Manpower (via data.gov.sg)). The middle half earn $51,756 to $157,416.
Will AI change the work of a Pharmacologist?
Generative AI could change some tasks in this job, by the ILO's global estimate.
Sources
- Ministry of Manpower (via data.gov.sg): Resident Occupational Wages (Occupational Wage Survey) (June 2024 (data.gov.sg update 2026-04-01)), Singapore Open Data Licence v1.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
- International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
Updated 4 October 2026