Perhaps you have just started graduate school, or perhaps you are almost done. Regardless of when you started or why you chose this path, at some point you may wonder, “What’s next?”
Maybe by this point, you have decided that you do not want to do wet lab work for the rest of your life. Where do you start? It is not an easy task for graduate students to explore alternate career options. With little information easily accessible and the constant touting of the glory of academia, it is often suggested that either post-doctoral training or research in industry are the primary and most reachable options. However, these options are not suitable for everyone and stepping away from wet lab research does not mean you cannot put your degree to use in your career. There are many ways to leverage your scientific background outside of the lab. According to a 2023 study published in eLife, over 30% of PhD graduates at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory end up in careers outside of wet lab research. We forget there is life outside of the laboratory. We forget we have transferrable skills beyond pipetting and making buffers. There are ways to make a living in science without conducting research, which you can and should explore to figure out which of these options fit your goals and preferred lifestyle. Even early in your graduate studies, taking time to explore your goals and options allows you to make the most of your degree to gain additional transferable skills and strengthen your resume for seamless transition into your desired career.
Although not an exhaustive list, here are some popular non-academic career options you could explore after your graduate degree.
Scientific communication
One of the most popular science-related non-research careers, scientific writers are essential to making scientific concepts and results accessible to the general public. This role provides the unique opportunity to contribute to disseminating valuable information and combating misinformation while still staying closely connected to reviewing data. This field extends to journalism, illustration, and even publishing. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, remote and hybrid work arrangements have become common for scientific writers, which may be suitable for your preferred lifestyle.
Project management
The demand for project managers continues to grow across different STEM fields. Requiring strong organizational and communication skills, project managers are responsible for planning and resource allocation to ensure product pipelines are executed within scope, on time, and within budget. Acting as the point guard on a basketball team, the project manager coordinates harmonious play and adjusts approach in real time for successful project outcomes. Project management certification courses are offered in many institutions. While not mandatory, the certification program can provide additional skills and insight for effective project management in industry.
Business development managers
Typically focused on commercializing new ideas or business opportunities, business development managers aim to expand the company’s market presence, drive business growth, and extend partnerships. Working closely with data analysts, business development managers scope competitors, conduct market research, analyze scientific and commercial data, and perform strategic planning to advance company growth. Although not required, a certification in project management or marketing could boost your expertise and competitiveness for this field.
Medical Science Liaison
MSLs are employees for biopharmaceuticals that serve as a non-promotional delivery route of drug information to healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. As an MSL, you would share key trial results, discuss unmet medical needs, and gather insight and feedback on therapeutic regimens and patient care. This career enables you to stay current with clinical research while building strong networks in the healthcare system.
Quality Control / Assurance
For any product on the market, the manufacturing process needs to be perfected, upscaled, and sustained. This requires a team of experts in monitoring the manufacturing process and assessing the quality of the products through rigorous testing. As a quality control analyst, your role will require you to be meticulous in recording keeping and adhere to strict standards.
Regulatory Affairs
Like quality control, regulatory affairs require strict adherence to regulatory guidelines for safety and therapeutic efficacy, and an understanding of the laws governing the business. Employers range from biopharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations to government positions. A certification in regulatory affairs can enhance your qualifications and competitiveness for these positions.
Consulting
Making use of your research expertise, consulting allows you to apply what you have learned to help others looking to succeed in their research. Using your critical thinking skills, you will work in teams to conduct market research, scope client problems, and present strategies for product launches, manufacturing, clinical trials, and other areas along the product pipeline. This job often requires a PhD and some experience in consulting. If you are interested in this field, participating in case competitions would not only provide you consulting experience but begin to build your resume for transitioning into this career.
Technical specialist / Field application scientist
Like consulting, these careers involve applying your knowledge to help others succeed in their research. These roles often involve product demonstrations and troubleshooting from reagents and protocols to hardware installation. If you enjoy traveling and interacting with customers, this career may be the right choice for you.
The most challenging part about searching for alternative career paths is that you have limited information and experience in these jobs. Seeking connections and networking with professionals pursuing those careers is critical to not only determining if a job might be the right fit for you but can also help you transition into your chosen career. Just remember that career paths do not have to be linear and there is no wrong choice, we all must start somewhere.
References
https://www.biospace.com/12-careers-for-life-scientists-outside-of-the-lab
https://bitesizebio.com/301/alternative-careers-for-scientists/
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/job-sectors/science-and-pharmaceuticals/10-
alternative-science-careers
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.78706
Ling Ling Tai
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