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Overview
Like many corporations, industrial research companies in the
pharmaceutical, biotechnology, semiconductor, and chemical industries
employ individuals in numerous roles. This guide will specifically focus on
research-based jobs as well as a few other common entry points for people
with advanced degrees in scientific fields. It is not uncommon for industry
employees to eventually transition into other roles within the industry.
Research and Development of products are two distinct sectors of industry
but for the purposes of this summary, they are considered together. This
work bears the most resemblance to the work in an academic research unit.
For this reason, it is often the first role that academic researchers envision
when they think of “industry” jobs.
Although the research methodologies are often the same or similar as
academic labs, there are also several distinctions worth noting:
• Fast Pace - there is an emphasis on speed and efficiency. High
operating budgets allow for access to a wealth of equipment and
materials in order to speed the pace of the projects.
• Volatility - projects are continuously being evaluated and may be
terminated quickly for a variety of reasons including strategic business
decisions. Scientists in industry must be adaptable in this fast-paced
environment.
• Organizational Structure - there are multiple levels of hierarchy.
Instead of one PI making all of the decisions, there are typically several
additional layers of management. A successful scientist is expected to
eventually take on an increasing amount of management responsibility
within this structure.
• Intellectual Property Policy - publication policies vary quite a bit within
companies. Some are open to publishing in scholarly journals, while
others are more guarded about intellectual property. This is worth
considering if one wants to consider returning to academia.
• Diverse Objectives - whereas most academic research groups focus on
new discoveries, this type of work is only one element of the industrial
research system. Researchers can be involved in many aspects of the
manufacturing process including mass production and quality control.
Industry Research Careers Guide
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TRANSITIONING INTO INDUSTRY R&D
Considerations
While some scientists are able to transition directly into an industrial
R&D position immediately after they finish their PhD, others do so after a
postdoc. Some industry research positions explicitly state that they
require experience post-PhD, while others do not say this outright. You
may find that having postdoc experience can make you more
competitive on the job market, as you can point to years worth of
additional experience and further technical expertise. Therefore, PhD
students may want to consider if a postdoc, either in academia or
industry, would be useful to transitioning into industry research.
Postdocs can indeed be a strategic move in helping you to gain specific
technical expertise that elevates your application.
Industrial Postdocs
There are a growing number of industrial postdoc programs, which offer
a transitionary-like position for academically-trained PhD scientists.
Some companies hire fresh PhD’s directly into these roles. Industrial
postdocs typically pay more than academic postdocs, vary in
publication expectations, and can be found in large industrial companies.
TECHNICAL SKILLS FOR INDUSTRY R&D POSITIONS
Aligning Your Skills
Often a company is looking for a candidate with a specific set of
technical competencies. Although they may be willing to train on some
elements of the work, they prefer that new scientists bring experience in
most of the required technical skills so they can start producing quickly.
If you apply to a position where you don’t have as close a match to the
technical skills, you will need to take extra steps to convince the
employer why you are an appropriate fit.
How to Prepare
Read job ads and determine which skills are in demand. Identify people
on campus who are currently using these techniques and ask them for
training. Try to find out when training on specific equipment is being
offered by vendors and attend these sessions.
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Competency
Why they want it
What you can do now
Teamwork
Industry research is highly
collaborative. Although it is usually
unjustified, academics can be viewed
as researchers who are only able to
operate independently.
Engage in team projects, inside and
outside of research. Try to create a
collaboration, or work cross
-
disciplinarily. Think about how to
effectively communicate this
experience.
Leadership
Industry employers want scientists
who have the potential to lead their
own research team eventually.
Demonstrating leadership abilities will
distinguish a scientist beyond their
technical abilities.
Volunteer to manage and mentor
others in the lab. Join student
organizations and community groups,
and take leadership roles.
Communication
In an industrial research setting, one
must be able to explain research
effectively to a variety of stakeholders
at a range of technical specificity. The
ability to speak to different audiences
and competently explain your work is
essential for these roles.
Seek out additional opportunities to
present your research or scientific
topics more broadly in non
-
traditional
settings. Make sure to convey your
communication experience effectively.
Business
acumen
Since private sector research is
operated as a business, showing
familiarity with some common
business practices can be
advantageous. Any experience
working with a company can serve as
evidence of the ability to effectively
transition out of academia.
Think of the laboratory as a small
business: Can you help with any
business
-like operations or
administration? Additionally, working
directly with companies is another
common way applicants build this
familiarity
- consider working with a
startup at Polsky or MATTER to gain
actual industry experience.
Networking
Open positions in industry receive
hundreds of applications and it is
difficult for them to sort through all of
this. A lead on a verified candidate
from within the company goes a long
way. It also serves as evidence of your
proactive nature and social
competency.
Talking to current industry scientists is
an essential step in trying to secure
one of these jobs. They may be able to
direct you toward specific units
looking for your expertise or even tell
you about current or upcoming
openings. Many companies have
internal referral programs, where
employees are incentivized to refer
candidates.
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR INDUSTRY R&D POSITIONS
A variety of professional, or soft, skills are important for industry R&D
positions. The table below outlines the motivation behind why employers
look for these competencies and how you can develop them now.
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APPLICATION MATERIAL GUIDANCE FOR INDUSTRY R&D POSITIONS
General Advice
To understand what an employer is looking for, pay extra attention to the
order and frequency of skills and expertise listed in the job posting itself.
Intentionally craft your application materials to emphasize these items
clearly to the employer. If a particular technique is repeated multiple times
in the job description, make sure it shows up early and often. Or, if the first
bullet point describing a position’s role is interfacing with multiple teams,
you should make sure to emphasize teamwork experience. The job posting
tells us precisely what employers want to see.
Cover Letters
Effective cover letters for R&D positions utilize research stories to
emphasize the skills and disciplinary expertise relevant to that job. Select 2-
3 relevant research projects from any point in your research career, and tell
a story. What was the context, what did you do, and what was the
outcome? Incorporate details like teamwork and leadership. Then relate it
back to the position – how will you apply this experience to that role?
Resumes
R&D resumes are tailored snapshots of your research achievements and
expertise, adjusted to suit each individual job. If you have a wide array of
skills or are applying to a variety of roles, consider creating a master
resume that is inclusive of everything you’ve done research-wise. Then,
select the most appropriate experiences to include for each application.
You may need to shift the order of bullet points describing your research
so that the most relevant one is first. It could also mean adjusting your list
of technical skills so that you emphasize the top ones.
• 2 pages is appropriate: a typical order of sections is – education,
research experience, technical skills, select publications, and select
presentations. Extra space can go to describing leadership experience.
• Consider starting with a summary section: this section is an
opportunity to brand yourself as a particular type of scientist with the
expertise they’re looking for.
• Mirror their language: incorporate the language of the job posting into
your resume. This includes technical skills! Beware of acronyms and list
skills as they are listed in the job posting.
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NON-RESEARCH ROLES TO CONSIDER
Field Applications Scientist (FAS)
Many biotechnology companies employ scientists to help with pre- and
post-sale support of their proprietary technologies. Sometimes, the FAS will
serve as a technical specialist and in others, the FAS will play a significant
role in the sale of the technology. The FAS travels with the sales team and
performs live product demos and/or presents seminars. The FAS will
answer client’s technical questions before the sale, and often are
contracted to provide support for the product after the sale.
Technical Support Specialist
Similar to FAS positions, companies need specialists with scientific
knowledge available to its customers. These roles are typically on-site and
much of the support may be done by phone.
Sales Representative
Companies that sell research related products are always looking for
people with technical knowledge who can communicate effectively with
their customers. Some roles will require previous sales experience, while
others are available to “off the bench” scientists.
Medical Science Liaison (MSL)
Biopharma and medical device companies employ scientists to be experts
in the science of how their products work. MSLs are charged with delivering
unbiased, scientific knowledge about how a product works. They meet with
physicians and researchers to discuss technical details of the products
including issues like off-label usage of drugs. Researchers with more
clinically relevant knowledge may find it easier to make this transition.
Medical Writer
Medical writers manage several different types of scientific and technical
communication for biotech, pharma, and device companies. Many medical
writers support publications in professional journals, scientific posters,
presentations, reports, and other materials. Marketing communications
roles create materials intended for the customer, while others may be
directed toward regulatory bodies, business partners, or physicians.
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Sample Alumni Profiles
• Aparna Vasanthakumar (Postdoc, Medicine, 2015) Principal Research
Scientist at AbbVie
• Vishwas Srivastava (PhD, Chemistry, 2018) Process Engineer at Intel
• Jing Li (PhD, Chemistry, 2010) Principal Scientist, Bioanalytical Sciences
at Alnylam
• Ketrija Touw (Postdoc, Medicine, 2016) Senior Scientist at Abbott
• Jacob Johansen (PhD, Physics, 2017) AMO Scientist at Honeywell
• Sahar Mozaffari (PhD, Human Genetics, 2018) Statistical Geneticist at
23andMe
• Annie Gai (Postdoc, Molecular Engineering, 2017) Senior Scientist at 3T
Biosciences
• Frank Olechnowicz (PhD, Chemistry, 2017) Senior Chemist at Behr
Resources
Books
• Career Opportunities in Biotechnology and Drug Development
• Navigating the Path to Industry
Societies and Associations
• American Medical Writers Association
• Medical Science Liaison Institute
• Medical Science Liaison Society
Articles
• Science Careers Article on Medical Writing
• Science Careers Article on Sales Jobs
• Science Careers Article on Tech Support Jobs
• Science Careers Article on FAS Jobs
Finding Job Postings
• Ed’s Job List
• Biospace
• BioPharmGuy
• TheLabRat
• Using the job titles in this guide or technical skills as keywords, search
common industry job sites, such as LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Indeed
