What’s your background?
I am an incumbent Senior Scientist at Novo Nordisk, Denmark. I have broad research experience in epigenetics, biochemistry, molecular biology, and cell biology with its application to chronic kidney diseases and therapeutics. I have a PhD in Biotechnology (Specialization – Peptide therapeutics). After completing my PhD, I joined The Himalaya Drug Company, Bengaluru prior to moving to the USA for my Postdoctoral Research. I worked as a Postdoctoral Research Trainee at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, New York, the USA in the area of Diabetic Kidney Disease for two years. After that, I moved to Dallas, Texas and worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW). During my postdoctoral tenure at UTSW, my research was focused on understanding the role of epigenetics in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) by identifying regulatory elements involved in the manifestation of the disease.
Why did you move away from academia?
I moved away from the academia for following reasons mentioned below
- Lack of individual development and growth professionally.
- The postdoctoral position was a temporary position.
- Lack of networking among peers due to preoccupation in the lab.
- I had no work-life balance
Is there anything you miss about academia?
So far, I have not missed any about academia.
How did you get this job? Did you face any challenges when considering a move away from academia or applying for the role?
I got this job by applying for the Senior Scientist position on LinkedIn. No, I did not face any challenges while applying for this role as it was an exact match with my skill sets and very specific to my area which is Renal biology.
What motivated you to/why did you choose the sector you transitioned into?
I chose Research & Development (R&D) as I was keen to continue my research in the area of chronic kidney diseases.
Did you think you had the skills required for your current position before you started? Were you right?
Yes, I knew I had the right skills for the Senior Scientist position when I was applying. The Department was new, and they were looking for a person with experience in chronic kidney diseases. The experience I gained in Renal Biology from my two postdoctoral positions in the USA helped me secure the company’s current position.
How did your PhD prepare you for your current job? For example, what were the transferable skills that you developed during your PhD that are most relevant to your current job?
My PhD laid the foundation for me to think and work independently which is very much essential in an industry set-up. The techniques I learned during my PhD tenure such as peptide isolation, purification, and characterization are currently helping me to understand the process of drug discovery and development with ease.
Have you built a network before your transition to the industry? How it helped you in the process?
I did not have a large network before my transition to the industry. I connected with a few people working at Novo Nordisk, Denmark after the interview process on LinkedIn to get a general overview of the company, salary structure, and place.
Do you have Mentors who helped you in making the right career decisions?
I do not have a professional mentor but my spouse along with my family members helped and motivated me a lot in making the right career decision.
Did you have any preconceptions about your sector that proved to be wrong?
During my postdoctoral tenure, I used to only do research in the lab and had fewer opportunities for presenting my ideas, connecting with people, and talking about science. I had a preconception that in an industry also it was the same, but I was proved wrong.
Can you describe a typical week in your job?
The typical week is Monday to Friday (9.00 to 16.00). Nobody works on weekends. The working hours are flexible. My calendar is usually filled with lab work, data analysis, preparation of presentations, and meetings.
What is the workplace culture like? Please include comments on work-life balance, flexibility, and remote working.
The workplace culture is very friendly and there is no hierarchy. You can approach anyone, even the upper management with ease. The working hours are very flexible. If you do not have lab work (For e.g., data analysis, meetings etc.) then there is a work-from-home option. In general employees have a good work-life balance.
Do people with a PhD frequently get hired in the company/sector?
Yes, people with a PhD and considerable Postdoctoral research experience get frequently hired in the company.
What are your favorite parts of your job?
The favorite part of my job is performing research in the lab, presenting new therapeutic targets (new ideas), and networking with people. For example, I have externally collaborated with two Universities one in Denmark and other in the UK for my project (the project idea was proposed by me).
What are your reflections on your career path?
I have come a long way since my PhD in 2015. After completion of my PhD, I joined the Himalaya Drug Company as a Research Scientist. I worked on multiple projects related to various diseases such as skin disorders, liver diseases, cancer, and kidney disease. I learned a lot during my short stint at the company, but I wanted to focus on a particular disease area hence, I started looking for a postdoc position in the USA and Europe. I chose to focus on kidney diseases as in the company I gained some insights into the disease, especially Diabetic Kidney Disease. Thus, my interests led me to pursue two postdocs in the area of chronic kidney diseases. During my Postdoctoral research, I gained expertise in Renal biology and in some of the latest technologies such as ChIP-Seq, RNA-Seq, CRISPR-Cas9, and analysis of the data which helped me in secure a position in the Kidney and Pancreas Group, Novo Nordisk, Denmark. In the near future, I am planning to establish my own Healthcare/Biotech company.
Do you have any advice for current graduate students and postdocs considering a career outside of academia?
My current advice to PhD and Postdocs would be: If you want an R&D role, then focus on your technical skills, knowledge related to specific diseases, and communication skills. It is also very essential to know what assays are relevant or need to be performed for a particular project. The analytical skills and behavior of a person are also tested during the interview process.
What do you know now that you wish you’d known when exploring a transition?
I wish I had known how to negotiate or had the skills to negotiate with the offer.
Can you recommend any relevant resources, organisations or events that might help somebody new to the sector find out more about it?
I would recommend networking with people from industries on LinkedIn and learning about their career paths. STEMpeers on Facebook is an excellent group for networking and they usually organize meetings wherein they bring experts from industry (R&D; non-R&D).
