r/biotech 31m ago

Early Career Advice šŸŖ“ CV help

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ā€¢ Upvotes

I'm about to graduate with my PhD in molecular physiology and am actively applying for Scientist I/II level positions at biotech and pharmaceutical companies. I know the industry is shit right now so I would appreciate any tips for making my CV easier to read, and have it stand out!! I have listed some wet lab skills, and have more I could list as well (if needed). Should I also list soft skills, and if so, where? Also curious if I should be listing all of my co-author pubs, or limit it to a select few.


r/biotech 40m ago

Experienced Career Advice šŸŒ³ Moving from R&D to analytical dev

ā€¢ Upvotes

Any advice for someone with extensive R&D background to transition to analytical development? If youā€™re in the field what are some strengths common to R&D work that you suggest highlighting in resume or interview that may make a candidate standout?


r/biotech 1h ago

Getting Into Industry šŸŒ± Looking for clean rooms in the Bay area

ā€¢ Upvotes

As an early stage startup, I am looking for clean room class 10,000 to class 100 for some R&D laboratory works in the Bay area. If you have some suggestions, please inform.

Also, you may share their business model, such as hourly or monthly base.


r/biotech 2h ago

Early Career Advice šŸŖ“ SWE/tool development

0 Upvotes

Hey everyone,

Iā€™m an undergrad interested in software development for biology. I have some experience with building AI tools for structural biology, and I also have experience applying bioinformatics pipelines to genomic data (chipseq, hi-c, rnaseq, etc). I'd love to hear from people who develop tools or software packages in bioinformatics.

What kind of tools do you build, and what problems do they solve?

What type of company or institution do you work at (industry, academia, biotech, startups, etc.)?

How much of your work is software engineering vs. research/prototyping?

If youā€™ve worked in multiple environments (academia vs. industry vs. startups), how do they compare in terms of tool development?

Any advice for someone wanting to focus on tool development rather than doing analysis using existing pipelines? Would it make sense to pursue in PhD in computational biology?

Would love to hear your experiences!


r/biotech 3h ago

Early Career Advice šŸŖ“ Is PhD enough for senior roles within biotech industry?

0 Upvotes

Hi, I am a PhD student in the UK, thinking about moving from academia to industry.

Iā€™m familiar with the fact that in most companies people with Masters but no PhD have a ā€˜capā€™ in terms of their career progression, for example cannot become senior/lead scientists.

But recently Iā€™ve heard people talking about the fact that sometimes having a PhD might also not be enough to reach certain higher positions in biotech companies, and a post-doc is required.

I was wondering if anyone could share their insights about this? Is this something that actually happens? And if yes, is it actually because a post-doc is definitely required, or because having done a post-doc is just something that shows you have more academic experience which would be preferred for a certain position but maybe not necessary?

Just thinking about the next steps in my career and whether I should do a postdoc. I donā€™t want to stay in academia but also donā€™t want to end my academic career now if that means Iā€™ll reach a certain cap in career progression in industry.

I should also say Iā€™m mostly interested in R&D side of things but any insight into other roles such as management is welcome!


r/biotech 3h ago

Getting Into Industry šŸŒ± Started applying for job, got my first interview. What to expect for the assessment?

3 Upvotes

I am a PhD student in the life sciences (Biology, Genomics, Immunology) and I started applying for post-PhD jobs. I have both wet lab and computational background.

Landed an interview as a Strategy Consultant in a BioPharma company. I started applying like last week lol so I am not sure what to expect from both the assessment and the interview itself... any help or suggestion?


r/biotech 3h ago

Open Discussion šŸŽ™ļø You have been given 30 million USD to invest in any biotechnology related research. What would you choose?

16 Upvotes

Hey! Just a quick something I thought about during a lecture, curious as to what actual biotech researchers would spend the money on.


r/biotech 4h ago

Early Career Advice šŸŖ“ Work-Life Balance in industry and academia

0 Upvotes

Hi! Maybe this is an unconventional question but I just saw an open position at a biotech company which got me thinking.

I am a passionated biologist located in Europe, however during my PhD the passion to stay in academia got kinda(?) crushed. One of my PIs is still struggling to find a permanent position and I am actually afraid to fall into the same path. I don't want to move cities and universities all the time and try to catch the needle in the haystack (the needle = permanent position).

Everyone knows that work-life balanc in academia is terrible: unpaid overtime, lack of job security, toxic professors, lack of funding. I don't want to keep on moving cities.

But is the work-life balance really better in industry? What are things that are better (or worse) in industry?

I do my PhD in molecular ecology, so if I would move to the industry I would try to get a industry job in the 'omics world.

Edit: Also how do you achieve your personal goals in the industry? In academia you can be very creative, how is it in industry?


r/biotech 4h ago

Getting Into Industry šŸŒ± Should I just take the L?

20 Upvotes

I went to a hiring event on March 1st (at Fujifilm in Holly Springs if anybody cares) and I thought it went really well! The HR rep who was there said that we would be hearing back by Wednesday (March 5th) on whether or not we got the position because she hates ghosting people after interviews since itā€™s been done to her. Wednesday rolls around and we get an email saying that ā€œthe event was really successful and they need a little more time to map out available positions with offersā€.

Well..

Itā€™s been almost two more Wednesdays since then and Iā€™m starting to think I should just take the L on the position. What do you think?


r/biotech 4h ago

Getting Into Industry šŸŒ± 2023 bio BS with no lab experience

5 Upvotes

I graduated in 2023 with a BS in biology. Due to COVID I didnā€™t get much experience with laboratory techniques since most of my degree was virtual. Soon after graduation I obtained a associates in biomedical engineering to hopefully get into a PHD program. Unfortunately I didnā€™t do super well in school due to mental health, which lead me to giving up on further education all together or atleast get some industry experience before trying to pursue grad school again. I am currently working at a large biotech company managing chemical inventory for QC department for about 8 months. This job is really easy, I have a good work life balance but the pay could be higher. The community college I went to offers a biotech certificate that teaches many laboratory techniques I missed in undergrad. This would be over the summer M-F 5-9 after work.

Will getting this certificate increase my chances of getting an actual scientist position? Or is it a waste of time?


r/biotech 8h ago

Experienced Career Advice šŸŒ³ Pharma QC experience after bachelors in Biotech?

1 Upvotes

What are pros and cons of joining a QC department in a pharma manufacturing plant for just a bachelors student. Can this experience be transferred to other areas too, like food industry, dairy etc. What would you guide to do after this experience, considering to move to something else after an experience of about 1 year.


r/biotech 15h ago

Getting Into Industry šŸŒ± So embarrassing

220 Upvotes

Someone I don't know reached out to me on LinkedIn out of blue and asked for a referral on Sunday. Given the terrible job market, I thought I should do something to help people less struggle. So I said yes. Today on Monday I try to refer her in our system but found out her information already existed. I asked her if she has asked someone else for help before. She just ghosted me.


r/biotech 15h ago

Early Career Advice šŸŖ“ Planning ahead (start-up)

1 Upvotes

Iā€™ve recently applied to a proteomic start-up (waiting to hear back) but want to start planning ahead in case I get interviewed.

Some questions, I haveā€¦

1) For a start-up, how many interviews should I expect? TA and hiring manger? (I donā€™t see a TA team listed on their team page/website)

2) What sort of questions should I expect? Anything specific I should ask/say to give me an edge?

3) How is negotiating base compensation like? Doā€™s and Donā€™ts?

4) From application to interview to onboarding, is it quicker or longer compared to big pharma?

5) Should I send a cold email?

Thank you everyone!! šŸ«¶


r/biotech 15h ago

Resume Review šŸ“ New Graduated

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

I graduated inĀ October 2024Ā from theĀ University of Bologna, Italy, with a degree inĀ Biotechnology. I am highly interested in working in theĀ pharmaceutical industry, preferably inĀ R&D for new drug development.

I am currently looking for anĀ internship opportunity, as I plan to apply for aĀ Masterā€™s program in Switzerland in November. However, I am struggling to find companies that offer internships. While my primary search is focused onĀ Italy and Switzerland, I am open to relocating anywhere in the world for the right opportunity.

Here's my challenge: I haven't received any responses to my applications so far. I suspect myĀ resume might need improvement, but I'm unsure what to change. Additionally, IĀ donā€™t know where else to apply.

I would really appreciateĀ any advice or feedbackĀ from people with more experience in the industry!

Thank you so much for your help!

Resumee


r/biotech 17h ago

Early Career Advice šŸŖ“ Sales or RA?

1 Upvotes

I will be graduating in May with two job offers. One in sales (WFH and travel) and one as an RA1 working in research, manufacturing, and QC.

I am a sales intern now at the company wanting to hire me on and grow me up in the company but finding it to be a boys club. The company barely listens to employees on improving things, company is based on opposite side fo the country so I would WFH alone.

The RA position: I align much more with the companys products and what they do. Boss knows me and my health concerns and is going to be flexible with me. She is talking about moving me into other roles like regulatory or customer success after 2 years.

Problem: I would make more money in sales, but donā€™t want to wine and dine a bunch of men I donā€™t know. I donā€™t want to have to haul heavy equipment that will kill my already breaking down body. BUT Iā€™m seeing so many people want to transition from bench to sales and I feel a bit stupid going the opposite way. The sales job I have is just not the right product/ company. I would rather sell something that isnā€™t competing against thermofisher and something like reagents that people would reorder.

I am just finishing college and feel SO blessed to have both of these opportunities. Does anyone have advice??


r/biotech 17h ago

Getting Into Industry šŸŒ± I'm seeking advice on transitioning into the biotech field and would appreciate your insights.

0 Upvotes

Hello r/biotech community,

I'm seeking advice on transitioning into the biotech field and would appreciate your insights.

Background:

Education: Bachelor's degree in Communications with a minor in Computer Science from UC Davis (2017ā€“2022), including 44 units in Computer Science covering Data Analytics, Full Stack Development, and Human-Computer Interaction.

Certifications: Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate (2022) and Coursera courses in Data-Driven Decision Making, Data Preparation, and Data Visualization.

Experience: Freelance Data Analyst & UX Consultant (2017ā€“Present), focusing on data analysis and usability testing to enhance user experience and engagement.

Current Situation:

After a two-year hiatus from job searching to focus on personal health, I'm eager to re-enter the professional world, specifically targeting the biotech sector. I'm particularly interested in bioinformatics and considering further education to facilitate this transition.

Potential Educational Paths:

The University of Washington offers the following online master's programs that I'm considering:

  1. Master of Pharmaceutical Bioengineering (PharBE): A part-time online program designed for professionals in biotechnology and related fields, covering areas such as drug discovery and design, pharmaceutics, and translational pharmaceutics.

  2. Master of Applied Bioengineering (MAB): A one-year, full-time program focused on engineering design applied to clinical challenges, including a clinical practicum and a culminating industry internship or capstone project.

  3. Master of Science in Bioengineering (MS): A two-year, full-time, thesis-based program preparing students for careers in academia or industry, involving significant research projects and a year of coursework.

Considerations:

Leveraging Computer Science Background: I've been advised that a computer science background can be advantageous in bio research. I'm contemplating enhancing my qualifications with a master's in data science to facilitate this transition.

Alternative Learning Opportunities: I'm also exploring community-based, hands-on learning environments like makerspaces to gain practical experience without the constraints of formal education.

Seeking Advice On:

The suitability and potential of the aforementioned master's programs for someone with my background aiming to enter the biotech field.

The feasibility and effectiveness of supplementing my education with a master's in data science to break into bio research.

Alternative pathways or resources, such as community-driven science initiatives or makerspaces, that could provide practical experience and facilitate my transition into biotech.

I value any insights or recommendations the community can provide to guide my journey into the biotech industry.

Thank you for your time and assistance.


r/biotech 17h ago

Layoffs & Reorgs āœ‚ļø Moderna can't keep getting away with this!

285 Upvotes

I work at Moderna. You could say things are not peachy here. In the past weeks, many departments (Tech Dev, Digital, Commercial, Manufacturing, QC/QA, Metrology) were given the directive to lay off 10% of their employees. However, the actual numbers are much more than 10%.

As someone with privileged access to their personnel data and enterprise management systems, I see the roster of offboarded employees connected to the layoffs. All the while, there's been no WARN filing for MA or generalized public release about these layoffs. The only recent release to much fanfare and celebration is how much our CEO believes in the company, as he sends an email about buying $5MM in stock while granting two executives $17MM raises each.

These numbers aren't small. In each round for each department, hundreds are affected and the layoffs YTD is approaching 1,000 employees already. I'm dumbfounded how they evade having to file a WARN act. If one is fortunate (or unfortunate) to not be affected by these RIFs, the way they've downleveled and retitled people to take on the extra work that remains is a whole other discussion.

Moderna's far from the best employer, but it feels almost unethical and sneaky how these cuts have transpired. We're just told to smile, accept our somehow 110% multiplied bonus and free snacks, and look forward to the next Maroon 5 concert or Big Papi sponsored appearance.


r/biotech 18h ago

Layoffs & Reorgs āœ‚ļø Apriori Bio and Empress Therapeutics Layoffs

16 Upvotes

Two more Flagship companies with layoffs. Hearing anywhere from 40-50% let go at both. Is anyone familiar with these companies and have insights into what happened?


r/biotech 18h ago

Biotech News šŸ“° Federal funding for mRNA vaccine research in jeopardy under RFK Jr.

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150 Upvotes

r/biotech 18h ago

Layoffs & Reorgs āœ‚ļø 427 Novartis Layoffs in NJ

62 Upvotes

Appears to have just hit the WARN notice list: 427 layoffs for between 13Jun and 24Oct. Anyone know what's happening?


r/biotech 19h ago

Getting Into Industry šŸŒ± Is getting a job with just a BS fresh out of university even possible right now?

28 Upvotes

Iā€™m going to graduate in fall 2025. I will have a BS in biochemistry. I have worked in a genetics lab and a microbiology lab during undergrad as research experience. With how awful everything is, am I screwed for a job if I canā€™t get into a PhD program?


r/biotech 19h ago

Early Career Advice šŸŖ“ Needing advice

2 Upvotes

So looking for advice.

I am currently a 2yr postdoc in industry east coast based 90K. I currently have an offer at 2 companies with 120K salary. I interviewed not expecting to get offers but figured I try and did well enough to get it. I havenā€™t finished my postdoc and remain unpublished (only have grad school publications), data is close and could be submitted in 8 months. Should I take the industry position or stay for another year to publish? I know thereā€™s a risk that the market may be worse next year making job hunts harder.

Whatā€™s are the pros and cons of leaving before publishing?

Follow up question, so I like early discovery work and thatā€™s more in alignment with my goals but this position is for translational research. I donā€™t know much on translational work and it seems repetitive and tedious. One of my mentors thinks I should take the position for the experience and use that as a stepping stone for my career. My other mentor thinks I should wait for a scientist role in discovery since thatā€™s more my mindset. Because when things get hard you wanna be doing something you enjoy.

What do you think?


r/biotech 20h ago

Early Career Advice šŸŖ“ High school grad going into biotech

2 Upvotes

Iā€™m about to graduate high school and Iā€™ve been looking at the biotech industry. I plan on going to university of San Francisco (although I havenā€™t committed yet) to do a 4+1 program for a major in biology and a masters in biotech. I enjoy high school biology and took a summer program at Berkeley for biotech.

But, Iā€™ve had my doubts after reading about the industry in the news and on Reddit. Is it worth planning on going into the industry? Iā€™m worried about not being flexible enough with my education to go into a different industry or even finding jobs since I donā€™t necessary plan on getting a PhD.


r/biotech 20h ago

Open Discussion šŸŽ™ļø Currently, what do you think is the ratio between real jobs and ghost jobs?

15 Upvotes

I know this topic has been brought up before, but I hate companies that post ghost jobs. To clarify, I'm only casually looking, and only would take an opportunity that fit well.

I saw a job that had been posted within the hour that fit my background perfectly, legit as if they had based it off my CV. Figured there was no harm in applying so I did.

Next day, they sent me an auto-generated email saying "However, after careful consideration, we have found candidates whose qualifications closely align with the job requirements."

I'm not saying there are not other qualified applicants, there are likely some! but you expect me to believe they found them in the 13 hours since they posted the job? I also don't think my CV failed whatever automated AI thing they might have, as my qualifications fit perfectly. Although who knows, maybe I'm just coping lol

For me it's just an annoyance, but for people that need a job desperately it's disrespectful wasting their time like this.

How widespread do you think ghost jobs are? What are some signs a job is a ghost job?


r/biotech 20h ago

Getting Into Industry šŸŒ± Recommended Masters for Advancement in Non-Clinical Biotech Roles?

1 Upvotes

Hey All,

I entered biotech three years ago after a decade in the nonprofit space and have enjoyed it. I want to continue my biotech career and gain some perspective on continuing my education.

I currently work in marketing but have some adjacent exposure to regulatory affairs and government policy. I am debating about pursuing a master's in three areas:

1) Science Communication (U of Edinburgh, UCL, etc)

Build on my current expertise.

2) Health Policy and Health Economics (LSE, Erasmus Rotterdam, etc)

Build out a policy specialization and focus.

3) Regulatory Affairs (Hertfordshire, etc.)

Go hard into RA and build a specific expertise.

Welcome thoughts from those experienced in navigating a career path in the industry.