worst jobs in science

We've been highlighting the down and dirty worst jobs in science for several years now, but 2010's selections, presented here, are especially grody (dung curator? oceanic snot diver?). It's lucky, then, that while reporting on the hardest, grossest and most dangerous, we also uncovered what might possibly be the best job in science.

Think your job’s bad? Try dragging a bedspread around tick-ridden thickets, pausing regularly in the 100-degree heat not to squeegee the sweat from your brow but to tweeze dozens of the tiny pests into a collection jar. Reconsidering your career choice? Imagine training for years as a veterinarian, only to find yourself engaged in labwork designed to make the tail-wagging puppies in your charge sick, knowing all the while that when the study is over, the pooches will be euthanized. Having a bad day?

It might seem sad, after years of study, to wind up gathering sewer rats or burning great, stinking heaps of urine samples and bloody gauze. But that’s the path some professionals choose—and you’re lucky they did.

It might seem sad, after years of study, to wind up gathering sewer rats or burning great, stinking heaps of urine samples and bloody gauze. But that’s the path some professionals choose—and you’re lucky they did.

PopSci's annual "Worst Jobs in Science" issue hits stands this week, and let us tell you, it's a lulu (whale-feces collector, anyone?). But a new study reveals two guys who just might have the best job in science: Northeastern University computer science professor Gene Coopman and grad student Dan Kunkleput put grant money to good use during a study published last week that proves any Rubiks cube configuration can be solved in 26 moves, beating the previously held record of 27 moves set in 1997.

Know of a really gross science job? Email us and tell us about it and we'll consider it for future coverage in Popular Science ! Please include "Worst Jobs in Science" as your subject line.

Think your job´s bad? Try dragging a bedspread around tick-ridden thickets, pausing regularly in the 100-degree heat not to squeegee the sweat from your brow but to tweeze dozens of the tiny pests into a collection jar.

Thank you for your submission!




Click here to return to The Worst Jobs in Science.



Click here to go to the PopSci.com home page.

Ah, science!