Were you a science student in school, and really into biology? And were you interested in medicine, but never wanted to go in for run-of-the-mill specialization? Have you ever sat down and wondered about what it is that causes diseases? Then, my friend, a career in virology is perfect for you!

Virology is in fact, one of the most complex and demanding fields in the sphere of medicine, but it is very rewarding nonetheless. As a virologist, you will be working with a plethora of disciplines, and is very fruitful in terms of knowledge.

So you may ask me, what exactly does a virologist do? As you can probably tell from the name, virology is all about the study of viruses. You probably know that in today's world, illnesses and diseases are a dime a dozen, and its viruses that cause most of them. As a virologist, you will be studying these very illness-causing menaces. If you used to enjoy your biology lab sessions, looking at specimens under a microscope, and observing them, then you will just love this field! But it's not only that; it will also come under your career scope to try and find ways to kill these viruses and eradicate disease forever!

Here's a question that some people may have - "Why is virology so important?" Well, as I said before, as a virologist, it is your duty to study all these disease causing viruses. It probably sounds easy, but you have a great responsibility on your shoulders. Think about it like this: You probably know that the one disease that is killing hundreds of people everyday all over the world is AIDS/HIV. Its such a deadly virus, and can still cause bouts of panic amongst groups of people. Given the chance, wouldn't you like to find a cure for it? Yes, you would.

Virology is a career option that is heavily anchored in research. So yes, it may take some time to find what it is that you seek. Sometimes it may even take years. But it has been due to the intelligent work of hard working virologists that the world is a better place to live in, than compared to about 10 years ago. And their work speaks for itself - many fatal viruses are harmless these days.

So how can you qualify to become a virologist? From the above words, you probably have realized that the path towards this career requires a lot of studying. For starters, you will need a Bachelors degree in Microbiology or Immunology. Once that is completed, you will require a Masters degree or a PhD on the subject. It does sound a little intimidating at first, but this is the required amount of knowledge that you need to get into this field. But written knowledge isn't enough. You definitely need some practical hands-on knowledge. For this, you can probably help out at a lab, where not only can you learn, you may be able to learn a little bit of money for your work as well.

Experience counts a lot in this field - and you require a lot of experience if you plan to apply to big companies, and to higher positions. So make that decision, and give it your best shot! Who knows, you just might be someone who saves the world!