Top 10 Alternative Biotech Career Options Outside the Research lab
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Top 10 Alternative Biotech Career Options Outside the Research lab

Working in the laboratory is a popular option for life science graduates. However, not everyone who completes their Graduate, Postgraduate or Ph.D. degree in Biotech & life science ends up working in laboratories or in the academia.

The truth is – a lot of things can change over time. Some individuals lose their passion throughout the process while some are drawn by stronger forces and other callings outside the laboratory.

Others may find that the job market isn’t what it used to be five years ago and they end up getting disappointed.

But whatever your choices are, there are a handful of career options outside the lab for individuals who have completed a B.sc / Ms.c or Ph.D. Degree in Biotech & Life Science. Here is a list of ten most possible options for Ph.D. graduates who do not want or couldn’t get a job in a laboratory.

  1. Technical Writing

Just because you haven’t landed a job in a

laboratory setting, doesn’t mean your degree in life science is useless. You have a higher degree in understanding technical materials and a complete training in writing technical papers, which could qualify you for a position as a technical writer in Biopharma.

Biopharma industries are engaged in producing high-tech pharmaceutical products. Since the qualifications for a technical writer is high, the payout could also be high.

In a recent survey, the demand for technical writers in Biopharma abroad is constantly increasing, with a median annual salary of $69,850 per year in 2016. If you’re passionate in technical writing, you could land a position as a manager or CMC technical writer in hospitals and health organizations. Your job assignments can include grant writing, getting documentation papers done for regulatory agencies, and writing technical reports of current pharmaceutical research.

2. Teaching 

Candidates with a Ph.D. degree can easily get into the teaching field. As per new govt rule now its mandatory for one to have a Ph.D. degree to get into any University as a lecturer. You can always remain in touch with your subject via this profession, in fact, you can learn more and sharpen your skills further during the process. As you climb up the ladder with experience the salary package increases proportionately. M.sc Candidates with NET qualification can also get into teaching domain in selected institutes. Kendriya Vidyalaya are on a constant lookout for PGT posts.

Biotecnika has the biggest fleet of teachers for training CSIR NET Life science students. If you want to be a part of it, then you can apply below :

Apply For Teaching Job @ Biotecnika

3. Food Safety Inspector

If you are thinking of a stable job in the government sector or in Private MNC, then this position is right for you. You will not be completely out of the lab and not totally into it. The main job of a Food Safety inspector is to monitor food distributors, Processors and manufactures to keep a check on the safety & sanitation violations leading to food contamination. They have to make sure that the food meets all safety qualifications before they go out to the public.

Govt of India hire Food Safety inspectors on a large scale. Also Food MNCs like Britannia, ITC etc are on a constant lookout for this position. This position involves a lot of responsibility and the career ladder is also great. The average salary one can earn at this post is up to Rs 40,000/- pm.

4. Patent Analyst

Biotechnology is a field where technological advancements are rapid. Loads of efforts & investment goes into a research and into the development of a novel idea, product etc. Because of this, it’s essential for Scientists & research organizations to defend the innovation they create with Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). IP industry includes businesses supplying patent, copyright or trademark services, law firms helping customers apply IP rights, knowledge or legal process outsourcing firms that are assisting in patent docketing or even patent searching or technical firms who need to work really difficult to create, protect and enforce intellectual assets. An average salary of a Patent Analyst can range from Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000/- pm

There are lots of profiles in the IP industry apart from an IP Analyst, Naming a few are Patent Engineers, Patent Agent, Patent Writer or Drafter, Legal Researcher and may more.

5. Business Analysts

Who says you can’t work on the business side of the world when you are a Ph.D. life scientists? Science and business are often interrelated, especially when it comes to the development of new products.

Generally, biotech startup companies utilize scientific principles to come up with noble inventions. It could be a high-tech treatment or computer-controlled machines that could change the way how we live. For these inventions to be replicated and available to the public, they may need to connect with venture capital firms and private organizations to fund their inventions.

With that matter, venture capital firms or investment banks would need a business analyst who can understand the product and provide projections regarding its economic viability. There are several job openings for business or financial analysts abroad, with a median annual salary of $81,760 per year.

6. Health Informatics

Health informatics professionals utilize their knowledge in healthcare and life sciences to make use of a large amount of data available in the information system. So if you’re a tech-savvy person, this could be an ideal option for you.

When you work in the informatics, people will mostly refer to you as a data scientist. It’s a huge area in Biopharma and definitely a one-of-a-kind life sciences career option for people who are passionate about technology.

The demand for health informatics is expected to rise to 11 percent in 2024, which is a good news. At present, the median average salary of health informatics professionals is up to Rs 7 lakh per year.

7. Medical Science Liaison (MSL)

MSLs are the highest paying job in Biopharma. They are also considered to be the most specific medical-related job and a highly competitive role in the pharmaceutical industry. If you have a specialty in any branch of life science like CNS, Hematology, or Pulmonary, then this could be your calling.

Your primary work as an MSL is to bridge communication between clinical medicine and pharmaceutical industries. You will be the spokesperson and educator between different companies. The advantage of this job position is the chance to explore different countries and cities considering that you will be sent to meet with various medical professionals.

8. Regulatory Affairs

Just like what we said, there are numerous career options after Ph.D. life science. One of the in-demand stable jobs outside the laboratory is to work in regulatory affairs. You can work as a regulatory scientist or an associate director of regulatory operations in biotech and pharmaceuticals, medical institutions, and cosmetics.

This job involves writing and reviewing documents to ensure that they conform to government procedures. It is an excellent life science career for detail-oriented individuals. The average annual salary of this job is around $82,798 to $129,000.

9. BioTech Marketing

Having a Ph.D. in Life Science gives you a wider opportunity than you can ever imagine including the chance to work in print, radio or TV. You read it right! If you believe that you’re a good communicator and wants to work as a marketer or advertiser, this could be your chance.

Biotech marketing is viewed as a little broader than a pharmaceutical sales representative. It requires the ability to create a marketing strategy and develop different approaches to popularize a certain product. Unlike sales representative, it focuses more on branding a particular product in a way that appeals to the mass. The average annual salary of biotech marketer or advertiser is around $66,473 to $115,796.

10. Business development

The business development comprises a substantial percentage of jobs in both the public and private sector and is essential to many organizations engaged in global development work.

This position oftentimes overlaps with sales and marketing jobs. Part of this job is identifying key prospects and possibilities to help a certain company expand its business. It requires a great knowledge and passion for business and a deeper understanding in Biotech.

Apply For Business Development Job @ Biotecnika

The decision to make a switch from laboratory works to a non-laboratory career in biotech doesn’t come easy. Many scientists are anxious that they might enjoy as much independence outside the lab as they do when working with their own lab research. However, there are also many advantages to working outside the laboratory such as the chance to expand your options.

There are certainly several other choices than we’ve listed here. The key is to strike a balance between your passion and the greater opportunity that lies ahead of you to secure your ideal industry position.

 

Perfection is her hobby, Reliability is a synonym, Editing is her passion, Excellence is her Goal, Tactfulness is in her genes, Yellow is her Fav color. Preety is the name of the Professional on whom entire BioTecNika relies when it comes to its website. A Gold Medalist in Biotech from SRM University, Chennai with a 9.9 CGPA ( was awarded the Gold Medal by Honorable Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi , as seen in the pic ), She decided to join forces with BioTecNika to ensure India's largest BioSciences Portal expands its reach to every city in India. She has redesigned the new avatar of BioTecNika from scratch and heads the most dynamic, vibrant and well informed Online Team at Biotecnika Info Labs Pvt Ltd

3 COMMENTS

  1. Article is well summarized, but under each heading there should be stepwise information to reach that particular position or industry. Add names of companies which do hiring for above mentioned positions.

  2. Hlw sir
    My name is Nirjala Gupta am a B.sc biotech 3rd year student
    If any job for me so plz tell me sir

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