Alternative work to Principal Scientist in Biotech

[ConfusedScientist]

Hi,

Are there any Life Scientists out there that left their career in biotech for something else? If so, what did you do instead?

Background:
I am currently a Principal Scientist in a drug discovery biotech, but I feel trapped. I love science, but I can't handle the environment anymore. I can't deal with the hyper competitiveness anymore, the "constantly on" attitude (because obviously we love science so much), the hypercritical environment (yes - I know critical examination of data is important...).
I find it so hard to combine my work with childcare: I am still partially at the bench, but have three children that need picking up. Child drop offs/pick ups are usually on me as my husband has long working hours in healthcare. I feel judged when I have to go to pick up my children as everyone else seems to stay late (and no: it is not in my hand, my commitment to work was questioned!).
Maybe it can be solved by a company change, but as this is not the only job I have held in industry, I feel this is endemic and part of the work culture. Will a change to Big Pharma solve the problem?

At the moment, I have a very strong urge to leave science altogether for an alternative job. However, I have no idea what alternatives are out there.

So: did you change from a scientific position to something else? if so, what did you do and do you regret your choices?

Thanks

I don’t know if medical publications writing may appeal? There is lots of demand and you have the right background for it. Hours and work culture can vary by agency or company but often can be part or fully home-based.

I went into MedComms (from academia not biotech but don't think that matters in this context). I work for a medium sized independent agency. Very family friendly, flexible working, intellectually satisfying. It's client driven so workflow planning can be hard and there are certainly crunch weeks every so often, but the culture is pleasant and supportive, at least in my experience.

How did you make the jump? Did you apply for an entry(ISH) level position?

Medical writing tests are part of the interview to show that you can write and interpret and communicate data. If you’ve no previous agency or comms experience you would usually start as a junior or trainee medical writer.

I know quite a few people who have moved out of a research role, but been able to use their scientific qualifications and experience. However most of them are in the university sector which tends to be lower paid than biotech (but not always). One possible advantage of the university sector is the tendency to have family friendly policies and a generous annual leave allowance. In university research itself, I would say the culture is the same as you describe for biotech. Very high pressure, cutthroat, lab meetings at times that don’t suit anyone who needs to do school or nursery runs, and an expectation that you’ll work insane hours.

Examples:

Facilities management in scientific field (would have to start entry level though)
Medical writer in big pharma (they did very well financially)
Health & safety (needs qualifications but can pay well in some sectors)
or HSE Specialist Inspector
Research manager
Regulatory affairs in pharma
Laboratory manager
Technical sales (eg one went to sell HPLC equipment - great pay) (a lot of time on the road though)
HTA manager / tissue bank manager
Research governance e.g. research ethics admin
Research grants administrator
General manager in university- all the department managers in the university I work for started in research.

Can you transfer to the public sector? Environment Agency, APHA, Natural England all do lab work and will have better working conditions (although not necessarily better pay) than private sector

I think moving out of the lab will help. Computer based work is easier to put down or WFH.

Project management role?
Academic teaching?
Consultancy?
Innovation management?

Went in as a medical writer (still on better money than I had been in research but that's academia for you!), but the research experience stood me in good stead so once I'd learned the ropes I was promoted to senior then principal within a couple of years. Then stepped sideways into broader pharma consulting as it happens, but staying as a med writer would also have been a fine option.

I’m in regulatory affairs at big pharma (20+yrs). It’s quite flexible and fairly easy to fit around family life. Areas you could consider include:
Regulatory affairs (including nonclinical regulatory, labelling, operations)
Clinical development
Project management
Medical writing

The MHRA is somewhere to consider and you’d get good experience but I don’t think wages are that high.

All the best op,

is the team sorta like a bunch of Sheldon cooper types with regards to work ?

Oh, definitely look to move from Biotech to Pharma. I've worked in both and Pharma is, comparatively, like a nice gentle cruise ship just chugging along at a stately pace.

Depends which Pharma company you're with... mine is more like a speed boat charging through the flotilla!

Pharma jobs to consider....

Regulatory Affairs
Quality assurance / management
Medical scientific liaison
Medical information
PharmaCovigilance
Brand marketing / communications

I was going to suggest this.

Or if not lab work, the EA, employ prople with life/chemical science backgrounds for waste/water quality regulation work - field, lab, managerial.

Oh, really? That's interesting! I've worked for two and they've both been relaxing, as long as you're laidback about restructures. I actually moved after mat leave because I thought Biotech's 'OMG, we're busy and important' mindset would be a bad nursery years fit.

Yes - I was looking at that. You nudged me to contact someone in my network for more details 😀

Yes - I was thinking to first “try” big Pharma before jumping the research ship completely. I suppose they are better resourced and not spread as thinly as a start up where you have to do anything that crops up. I also imagine there are more opportunities for changes within the company if e.g. you are trying to change Department or Line Manager?

This was meant for @Stumpedasatree

And this for @Giveuprobot

Oh good, glad I have been helpful! If you have any questions specific to medical writing PM me if you would like. Good luck.

Good call. Biotech is very proud of their long hours culture… I think the reason why I stuck to a startup was that I expected good career growth. As I was in academia for a long time, I felt behind in comparison to my peers (I know, I know - I shouldn’t compare…) and thought I could have a faster progression in a start up. Instead, it was impossible to combine children with the expected hours and now I feel like I wasted two years of my life 🙄

Good info, thank you!

How about patents? Would you be up for training as a patent attorney? They always need people with biotech expertise. Or lesser paid (but less stress) patent examiner.