I had an interesting exchange with Mr Philip Yeo about biomedical researchers equipping themselves with financial know-hows. I would think that is possible. I knew a friend who was a Ph.D. candidate and passed his Chartered Financial Analyst stage 1 and 2 examinations. His story was a little different because he subsequently grew disillusioned with his life in the laboratory and gave up his Ph.D. studies altogether. He told me that he wanted to move on to finance as a career option.
However, I think being a financial analyst is more than just "knowing the know-hows". Looking at balance sheets for the P/E ratios, liquidity numbers or studying stock market activity by looking at level II quotes, past trends, etc, aren't enough. More research has to be done on the stock option, futures, equities, bonds, etc. The typical financial analyst has to be in the know of the events concerning a company. For instance, news on a particular company buying over another company whose products can boost the current technology of the former's products, thereby increasing sales, is valuable. It doesn't come as a surprise that a typical financial analyst working for a top financial firm spends a substantial amount on his image. These typical analysts are also social animals, and having established a wide network of contacts, they are able to make informed decisions on their choice of investments.
To conclude, it's possible to do biomedical science and KNOW HOW to read financial statements. However, being a financial analyst involves more than just reading financial statements. To be a financial analyst, the proverbial scientist has to swap his lab coat for his business suit!
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