3 answers
Christine
Student
1
Question
Updated
1009 views
"What are the pros and cons of being in Biotechnology Pharma vs. Academia"?
I was asked about whether I'm planning on going the Pharma or Academia route, but I wasn't 100% sure about the differences.
Login to comment
3 answers
Jaime Koralewski
Quality Assurance Senior Director in Biotech/Pharmaceutical Industry.
6
Answers
Bath, Pennsylvania
Updated
Jaime’s Answer
Few things.
1 - Academia will require additional degree work if you want to go above lab assistant type work. So, you're looking at PhD, etc. In Biotech/Pharma, you can do a lot more with just a bachelor's degree.
2- Academia generally has less regulations to perform research, versus Biotech/Pharma is more heavily regulated as you move through the phases of development (candidate therapy identification & characterization), preclinical (animal safety studies, etc.), and clinical (human trials). There are also a lot more functions and directions to go in when you enter the Biotech world if you don't want to be in the lab or research environment forever. Think - quality, business operations, clinical monitoring, supply chain, technical writing, etc.
3- Salaries and possibly benefits are going to be more competitive in Biotech/Pharma than academia
4-I would suspect that there is more volatility in job security when working in Biotech/Pharma as layoffs and reorganizations happen a lot.
5- Work in academia is more reliant on research grants and university budgets
6-Navigation through corporate politics can be frustrating in Biotech/Pharma
For Biotech/Pharma, you also have to consider the size of the company. There are huge differences in operations and culture between Big Pharma (Pfizer, Sanofi, K&J, GSK, etc.) than smaller Biotech (e.g. Cambridge area biotechs ranging from 30-500 or so employees).
Even if you decide that Academia is for you, it would be worth taking on an internship if you can at a Biotech or Pharma company so that you can experience it first hand. Granted, you won't get the full picture as an intern but you can learn a lot just by witnessing the culture, surroundings, and the people you work with.
1 - Academia will require additional degree work if you want to go above lab assistant type work. So, you're looking at PhD, etc. In Biotech/Pharma, you can do a lot more with just a bachelor's degree.
2- Academia generally has less regulations to perform research, versus Biotech/Pharma is more heavily regulated as you move through the phases of development (candidate therapy identification & characterization), preclinical (animal safety studies, etc.), and clinical (human trials). There are also a lot more functions and directions to go in when you enter the Biotech world if you don't want to be in the lab or research environment forever. Think - quality, business operations, clinical monitoring, supply chain, technical writing, etc.
3- Salaries and possibly benefits are going to be more competitive in Biotech/Pharma than academia
4-I would suspect that there is more volatility in job security when working in Biotech/Pharma as layoffs and reorganizations happen a lot.
5- Work in academia is more reliant on research grants and university budgets
6-Navigation through corporate politics can be frustrating in Biotech/Pharma
For Biotech/Pharma, you also have to consider the size of the company. There are huge differences in operations and culture between Big Pharma (Pfizer, Sanofi, K&J, GSK, etc.) than smaller Biotech (e.g. Cambridge area biotechs ranging from 30-500 or so employees).
Even if you decide that Academia is for you, it would be worth taking on an internship if you can at a Biotech or Pharma company so that you can experience it first hand. Granted, you won't get the full picture as an intern but you can learn a lot just by witnessing the culture, surroundings, and the people you work with.
Karthick Natarajan
Postdoctoral Researcher at NYU Langone Health
32
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Karthick’s Answer
Hi Christine,
Academia is for those who love exploring. Here, you discover new things with the help of grants. Success comes from publishing important work and having the freedom to think deeply.
Industry is for those who like building. Here, you apply ideas with the support of a company. Success is about getting products to market with a strong focus on strategy.
So, what excites you more: the freedom to uncover new knowledge or the focus to put it into action?
Academia is for those who love exploring. Here, you discover new things with the help of grants. Success comes from publishing important work and having the freedom to think deeply.
Industry is for those who like building. Here, you apply ideas with the support of a company. Success is about getting products to market with a strong focus on strategy.
So, what excites you more: the freedom to uncover new knowledge or the focus to put it into action?
Michael Trocchia
Supply Chain Director
86
Answers
Mine Hill Township, New Jersey
Updated
Michael’s Answer
Depends on your interests and major. To go into academia you’d likely need a doctorate level degree.
To go into industry a bachelor degree will likely suffice.
To go into industry a bachelor degree will likely suffice.