What’s your background?
I completed my Ph.D. from CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, and then moved to the University of Wisconsin- Madison, the USA for my post-doctoral research. During my doctoral research, I worked in target-based cancer drug discovery research whereas during my postdoctoral research I understood the mechanism of hematopoietic stem cells quiescence and differentiation. I extensively used different transgenic mouse models, multicolor flow cytometry, cell sorting, and protein purification and developed different bioassays to achieve my objectives. Currently, I am working in Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company in India and developing new biological assays and animal models.
Why did you move away from academia?
Academia does knowledge-based research and they provide in-depth understanding and more information about the particular subject area from existing knowledge. Industry performs product-driven research and they are more interested in translating existing knowledge which can provide direct benefit to humans. After working for ten years in academia, I wanted to take an opportunity in application-based research and therefore I decided to move into the industry.
Is there anything you miss about academia?
Flexibility to work, academia is more flexible regarding timelines and work as compared to Industry.
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 the job through social websites like LinkedIn. I connected with domain experts of the pharma and life science research-based companies and expressed my interest. Transition is always challenging, especially since the new joiner must go through various training and other administrative requirements which I never faced in academia, and also the work culture and environment are never the same.
What motivated you to/why did you choose the sector you transitioned into?
I am always keen to learn new things and ready to take on new responsibilities. I already had >9 years of research experience in academia, and therefore this time I transitioned into industrial research.
Did you think you had the skills required for your current position before you started? Were you right?
Most of my technical skills matched the requirement, but industrial research is highly dynamic and we have to adjust accordingly.
How did your Ph.D. prepare you for your current job? For example, what were the transferable skills that you developed during your Ph.D. that are most relevant to your current job?
Before transitioning into the industry, I completed my Ph.D. and postdoctoral research work. I got the opportunity to work with different research groups and in different research areas. I was able to learn various technical and managerial skills which are relevant to my current job. I learned various techniques related to in-vivo experiments, and multicolor flow cytometer skills, other than that I developed my skills as a scientific writer, reviewer, communicator, project, and lab manager.
Have you built a network before your transition to the industry? How it helped you in the process?
I made my scientific profile on various online platforms like LinkedIn, Google scholar, publon, research gate, Scopus, and various job portals. This helped my profile easily be visible to potential recruiters.
Do you have Mentors who helped you in making the right career decisions?
My friends and my family members helped me to make the right career decision.
Did you have any preconceptions about your sector that proved to be wrong?
No
Can you describe a typical week in your job?
Planning experiments, arrangement of reagents, conducting experiments, data collection, report preparation, data presentation, and meeting with external and internal collaborators.
What is the workplace culture like? Please include comments on work-life balance, flexibility, and remote working?
Workplace culture is healthy and everyone is easily approachable. Work-life balance is ok and has the flexibility to work. I mostly do the benchwork, so, get less opportunities for remote working.
Do people with a Ph.D. frequently get hired in the company/sector?
No
What are your favorite parts of your job?
Experimental planning, discussion, and reviewing the external and internal projects.
What are your reflections on your career path?
Things are not easy, just keep trying.
Do you have any advice for current graduate students and postdocs considering a career outside of academia?
Don’t undervalue yourself, PhD and postdocs are among the very few highly qualified people in the world. Don’t be stuck at one place and one kind of work, keep exploring new opportunities to work and be ready for new responsibilities.
What do you know now that you wish you’d known when exploring a transition?
Industries don’t prefer the overqualified person. Make the transition as soon as possible if you have the minimum qualification for the position you are looking for. Don’t settle for less, negotiate the salary as much as you can.
Can you recommend any relevant resources, organizations, or events that might help somebody new to the sector find out more about it?
Subscribe to the job recommendations from various job portals to personal email.
