Life Science: How to Transition from Academia to Industry

While working in academia can be very rewarding for the intellectually curious and creative, it comes at a cost. Funding is increasingly scarce, and after a while, the relentless process of applying for grants and churning out papers can really grind you down. No wonder so many researchers and academics find themselves looking beyond the university lab for a more stable and financially rewarding kind of life science career.

Switching fields can be daunting, but don't worry: you can make the transition without having to start over from scratch. If you're interested in moving away from the perilous funding model of academia and pursuing a more lucrative career in industry, we're here to help.

Don't miss our advice for undergraduates at the end of this article!

 

Academia vs Industry: How Do They Compare?

The key difference between academia and industry is their respective goals and objectives.

Academic work is concerned with the discovery of new knowledge and novel insights. This tends to involve long-term projects, the success of which will be judged by how much knowledge they contribute to the scientific community.

Meanwhile, industry is driven by commercial interests. Research is done with the market in mind, and this means shorter project timelines, greater collaboration across teams, and a joint focus on both business and science outcomes. Success in the life science industry is judged by financial metrics, e.g. increased revenue and company growth as a result of bringing new drug and device innovations to market.

 

Transferable Skills

Now that we've examined the differences between academia and industry, you might be wondering how to move away from one and into the other. It's actually more doable than you might think.

You've no doubt acquired a vast range of useful skills during your time in academia, and the majority of these will transfer seamlessly into an industry role. A good working knowledge of your specialist area is a given, but it's likely that you have also picked up some (if not all) of the following skills:

• Teamwork and collaboration
• Communication skills (verbal and written)
• Imaging, testing and quality control
• Time management and consistently meeting deadlines
• Critical and analytical skills
• Planning and problem solving
• Technical expertise
• Adaptability
• Data collection and analysis

These capabilities will serve you well in the life science industry. For example...

• Strong teamwork is essential in fast-moving research and development (R&D) roles
• Excellent communication skills are just as useful when presenting to stakeholders as they are when presenting to peers
• Testing and quality control are crucial when bringing new drugs and devices safely to market
• Good time management is a must for fast-paced, business-driven industry environments
• Your technical expertise will allow you to provide cutting-edge insights during the product development process

Furthermore, the knowledge and skills you've accrued over the course your academic career will enable you to move beyond R&D should you find yourself drawn to one of the many other career paths that the life science industry has to offer.

 

Life Science Industry Career Options

If you love the research side of things, the good news is that the industry has plenty of job opportunities for researchers—and all without the headache of wondering where your next funding grant is going to come from! On top of that, an industry role can also allow for research beyond the lab. For example, you can move into product development and clinical trials, staying in touch with the R&D side of things but focusing on practical applications and real-world results.

But there are many opportunities beyond research too. Maybe you've discovered that you enjoy communicating ideas to new audiences—in which case, medical or scientific writing might be a great fit. You may even find that you're an excellent candidate for pharmaceutical sales, where product knowledge and sparkling communication are key skills.

Do you also have a knack for meticulous attention to detail? A career in regulation and standards, navigating the complex drug and device approval process, might be a great match for your skills. And for those with excellent leadership and organisational skills, there's the opportunity for project management and even C-suite roles.

 

How to Secure an Industry Job

So how do you actually transition away from academia and into the industry?

Firstly, you need to identify all of your relevant skills (the examples above should help you to get started). Secondly, and most importantly, you need to show potential employers how those skills make you an excellent candidate for their company.

In both your CV and any job applications you submit, you must be explicit about your abilities and experience. Recruiters may not be specialists in your field, so it's important to make everything crystal clear when you're discussing your skill set and how it might serve the life science industry. Don't be shy about telling them what you bring to the table from your experience in academia. Also, remember to tailor your application—focus on the skills that make you suitable for the job in question rather than listing past publications and presentations (which are of more concern to academic posts than industry positions).

Don't forget to take advantage of networking opportunities. You may already have contacts who made the leap from academia to industry before you. Get their advice and insight into the hiring process, and if possible, get some references from within the industry. They'll be best placed to vouch for your value in a way that employers will understand.

 

Advice for Undergraduates

Undergrads who already know that they wish to pursue a career in industry rather than academia should consider including a year in industry as part of their undergraduate degree. If your university offers sandwich courses, this is an ideal opportunity to gain experience and forge contacts before you've even graduated. It'll help you to develop an industry-focused skill set, and give you an edge when it comes to applying for jobs after graduation. You may even be offered a position with the company where you spent your sandwich year!

For undergraduates whose universities don't offer a sandwich year structure, all is not lost. There are plenty of opportunities for summer placements that'll give you a taste for what the industry has to offer before the end of your degree. Your university will be able to provide information on these placements and how and when to apply for them.

Finally, the preceding advice applies when writing your CV and submitting applications. Make your abilities and experiences explicit so that recruiters can see exactly what you will bring to the table. And don't be modest when listing your skills! They may well give you the edge over another applicant who shied away from sharing their full skill set.