What is a wet lab?
Wet labs (also known as experimental labs) are designed for handling and researching a range of 'wet' materials including:
- liquids
- chemicals
- biological matter
- drugs
- enzymes
A wet lab might look a bit like a typical 'laboratory' that you sat in during your science lessons at school or university. You'll remember seeing Bunsen burners, sinks and a wide range of experimental apparatus and safety features around the room, all of which are there to help you carry out experiments & keep you safe.
In order for scientists to work safely in a wet lab, the workspace needs to be carefully designed to eliminate hazards. When doing 'wet' experiments with hazardous materials, there's a potential risk of chemical spills, fires and even injuries, so wet labs need to be fully equipped for the potential challenges.
Researchers that work in a wet lab need to know and understand laboratory techniques and safety procedures. Most scientists that work in a wet lab will have a degree in their chosen field, and will have gained lots of experience working in wet labs during their studies. Someone with poor scientific or safety knowledge could be a real risk in a wet lab!
Examples of wet lab jobs
If you're interested in working in a wet lab where you'll be handling chemicals, drugs and other physical samples, there are lots of jobs for you to choose from. Here are just a few sectors that could be perfectly suited to you.
- Bioprocessing
- Quality control
- Drug discovery
- Forensics
- Life sciences
- Pharmaceutical
- Clinical research
Use the buttons below to navigate to some of the science roles we currently have on offer in wet lab fields!
Drug Discovery Roles > Life Science Roles > Bioprocessing Roles > Pharmaceutical >
