Ten Worst Jobs in Science

The less glamorous side of research, from toxic waste to whale feces
By Sophie Goldstein,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 4, 2007 11:47 AM CDT
Ten Worst Jobs in Science
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  1. Hazmat diver: They swim in sewage, toxic spills and other undesirable liquid environments.
  2. Oceanographer: With the coral reefs dying, pollutants rising, and overfishing it's just one long stream of bad news.
  3. Elephant vasectomist: With a testicle a foot in diameter, it isn't exactly a walk in the wildlife preserve.
  4. Garbologist: These scientists take dumpster diving to a whole new level.
  5. Coursework carcass preparer: Someone has to get those fetal pigs ready for the classroom.

  1. Microsoft security grunt: Fixing all the bugs in Windows is a sisyphean task.
  2. Gravity research subject: Subjects stay in bed for a month to simulate muscle wasting in space.
  3. Olympic drug tester: A lose-lose game. Miss a cheat and the media pounces, catch one and a nation hates you.
  4. Forensic entomologist: These lucky scientists study maggots in corpses to determine the time of death.
  5. Whale-feces researcher: Whale poo is semi-liquid gold for these folk.
(More science stories.)

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