Careers in Behavioural Neuroscience

BBNS graduates are well prepared for productive careers in areas related to neuroscience, psychology or the biomedical sciences.

These career opportunities can be pursued through further study in research-based or professionally oriented degrees. In most cases, graduates will need to undertake further accredited professional qualifications or a higher degree before they are suitably trained for careers in these areas.

Potential career directions for BBNS graduates with a three-year APS-accredited major in Psychology and higher degree qualifications

• Child psychologist – diagnoses and treats childhood disorders.
• Clinical psychologist – prevents, diagnoses and treats mental illness.
• Counselling psychologist – helps people to overcome social and emotional problems.
• Drug rehabilitation counsellor – helps people to overcome a drug addiction.
• Educational psychologist – evaluates school teaching, assessment and class problems, and assists children who need educational guidance.
• Forensic psychologist – assesses and treats offenders and victims of crime, implements prevention programs.
• Genetic counsellor – counsels people with genetic disorders and helps to develop coping strategies.
• Geriatric psychologist – assesses and evaluates psychological disorders in the elderly.
• Neuropsychologist – assesses and treats people with neurological disorders, such as head injury, stroke and dementia.
• Organisational psychologist – implements strategies to improve the physical and emotional well being of individuals, groups and organizations.
• Sports psychologist – deals with factors that influence sporting performance, team functioning, and group leadership.

Potential career directions for BBNS graduates with a three-year major in a biomedical discipline and higher degree qualifications

• Behavioural neuroscientist – examines how biological factors influence the way we think and behave.
• Behavioural geneticist – investigates how the genome influences behaviour and behavioural disorders.
• Neuroanatomist – involved in the study of how the structure of the brain (and brain abnormalities) affect its function.
• Neurochemist – investigates how neurochemical agents impact on brain function.
• Neuroimmunologist – examines how infections and inflammation can influence brain function.
• Neuropharmacologist – investigates and develops drugs that can affect brain function and behaviour.
• Neurophysiologist – examines interactions between the brain and the body, particularly the control of movement and sensation.

Potential career directions for BBNS graduates who do not proceed to higher degree studies

• Biomedical science journalist – reports biomedical research in scientific journals, newspapers or television.
• Government adviser – assists government bodies to evaluate and formulate policy on biomedically related areas (e.g., drug addiction, psychiatric care).
• Laboratory manager – manages a research laboratory in a university or biomedical company.
• Biomedical company representative – involved in the sales and promotion of pharmaceutical agents, biomedical products or scientific equipment.
• Research administrator – responsible for coordinating research administrative matters in a university, government department or biomedical company.