What’s your background?
I have mostly done my research in organic Chemistry in India. After moving to the USA, I started doing research in the interface of chemistry & biology. So, I have a background in both Chemistry & Biochemistry.
Why did you move away from academia?
I enjoyed doing research in academia. However, during an industrial internship I realized that industrial research is much more application oriented. This was something which motivated me to move away from academia. Also, the work-life balance in industry is much better compared to academic positions.
Is there anything you miss about academia?
No, I don’t miss anything 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 applied for the job from the company website. Before this, I also applied to some other positions and had interviews with some companies. Those earlier interviews assisted me in the preparation for this position.
I think tailoring the resume and preparing for the interview is an important part of the application process. This is often challenging since academia doesn’t train us for these things.
What motivated you to/why did you choose the sector you transitioned into?
I think it is important to choose a sector where you can simultaneously contribute & learn. This provides you the perfect platform for future endeavors. Learning is the only way to grow in our career, which motivated me for this position.
Did you think you had the skills required for your current position before you started? Were you right?
I thought I understood many biological assays and techniques which can be used for this position. Working in a collaborative environment was also beneficial.
I was right about it. However, I am still learning about some other assays & techniques in this 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?
I think it is important to understand the role of PhD, especially in terms of building a strong mentality. We put a lot of effort into our research and build a strong work ethic. This is an essential element for any profession. Also, the work often requires collaboration with different groups which helps us when we join in an industrial position. Working with a team plays a key role in industry. PhD prepares us for all these skills.
Have you built a network before your transition to industry? How it helped you in the process?
Yes, I did build a network. I communicated with different seniors from my department. They helped me in tailoring the resume and preparing properly for the interview process. Some of them also helped for positions in their companies.
Do you have Mentors who helped you in making the right career decisions?
Yes, I have mentors. They constantly help me in providing the right advice for my career. I think mentorship is a very important part of the journey.
Did you have any preconceptions about your sector that proved to be wrong?
In the short span of my industrial job, I didn’t find any such thing.
Can you describe a typical week in your job?
In my job, I have few responsibilities. Meetings are an essential part of it. I participate in approximately 10-15 meetings per week. Also, I am engaged with different experiments, designing the expts, performing them & finally analyzing the data. It also includes communication with different group members about the data and future plannings based on the data.
What is the workplace culture like? Please include comments on work-life balance, flexibility, remote working?
In my position, I have a good work-life balance.
I typically work 8-9 hours a day and it is flexible in terms of start and end time. I also work from home in situations where I have more meetings and data analysis.
Do people with a PhD frequently get hired in the company/sector?
Yes, after PhD people can be hired in my sector.
What are your favourite parts of your job?
I think the best part is, I am learning a lot in this role. Also, I enjoy the collaborative environment.
What are your reflections on your career path?
For my career path, I want to stay in the industrial job and learn. In the future, I also want to lead a team.
Do you have any advice for current graduate students and postdocs considering a career outside of academia?
I think it is important to know the flip side of the story before choosing a career path. Many of us think we want to stay in academia without even having proper knowledge about non-academic jobs. So, the best we can do is to learn about these jobs too. It will make the decision more rational and will be helpful in the long run.
What do you know now that you wish you’d known when exploring a transition?
Often, we look at the job description and find that only (30-40) % skills are matching. And then we do not apply for the position. I think this is something we all should avoid. We neglect the transferrable skills obtained during our PhD.
Can you recommend any relevant resources, organisations or events that might help somebody new to the sector find out more about it?
I think there are a couple of organizations which are doing a good job in this arena, such as SciROI & STEMPeers. They have initiatives around the year for educating the young minds.
