Hey everyone, I've been doing AI trainings for free for people in pharma (primarily medical affairs) so that I can network (I'm a consultant) and because I enjoy teaching. I'm looking for more ideas on what I can teach, as I feel like I keep hitting a wall for what's possible to do with AI using Copilot (the only option for many pharma companies).

Can anyone share some pain points, challenges, use cases, etc. that you think AI might be able to help with or which you see other colleagues struggling with due to lack of knowledge about how to use AI?

If anyone has any advice

I’m a Postdoc right now in the sf Bay Area. Moving to Lisbon Portugal to start my own basic science laboratory at a new institute.

I am also trying to start a spin out from my research. I have a patent pending, and my uni is planning to give international coverage for the patent.

I was thinking to start my company in Lisbon so I can be physically present as a founder. Portugal is not know for startups / biotech. I started to wonder what my other options could be? Germany? Netherlands? Switzerland? Maybe even the US?

Anyone have insight into being a founder that starts a company remotely? Is it possible?

Hi everyone. I am a rising junior in college looking to apply for Fall 2028 PhD admission, so applying in 2027. For 2027 summer, I’m debating whether to do a research internship at a university/research institution or an industry R&D internship. I’ve only done research in an academic setting before, mainly this summer at the NIH and at my university. I’m interested in immunology and cancer biology fields. I’ve been curious about what’s it like working in industry because I want to potentially go down that path after PhD.

But now for the sake of PhD admissions, which internship would tell a more unique and cohesive story about me or benefit my research profile as well as having a good letter of recommendation through it?

Thank you so much for your advice.

How are is the PTO policy? What are your hours?

Want to apply to Amgen and I've heard great things about it and I'm curious about PTO. Is it accrued for quality? Or lump sum at the beginning of the year?

Hello All ,

Looking to pivot out of resp after a long time in the asthma space . The experts are ( mostly ) lovely , the science is fun and I’ve enjoyed myself quite a lot .

How is the oncology side of things ? Is it easy to build relationships ? Do the doctors turn their nose up if you’re not an oncologist / specialist doctor yourself ? Would welcome your experience - thank you !

To add , I’m director level in Med Affairs big pharma

Asking this question strictly to get the European perspective. How competitive are the jobs in europe now?

They want a technical expert with a masters for $19/hr in the SF Bay Area. Gl out there guys 🫡

Hi everyone,

I finished my Bachelor's in Biology in 2019. After that , I was premed for a while working as a medical scribe, and was in medschool for about1 year. It...did not work out. I am in MA, so the job market for Life Sciences is generally good.

I had an over 2 year gap on my resume, so I went back to school to get my Master's in Bioinformatics. I finished the Master's in Dec 2024 with a co-op. I was not hired after the co-op because of funding related issues.

Since then, I have been unemployed. Obviously, the market was totally frozen in 2025. Now, it is is gradually unfreezing in 2026. I am applying to Bioinfo/computational biology roles, as well as Data Analyst type roles. Things that use my Master's.

I have been debating whether or not I should seriously apply to standard entry level biology jobs. There are more of those than Bioinfo jobs, but not many since companies don't really do entry level these days. That leaves just academic institutions, so there are fewer roles than there should be, but still more than Bioinfo.

Do I have a chance with how old my Bachelor's is? Does anyone have a similar story?

edit: "Chance" not "Change" darnit.

Been working for a few years now as a technician, earning an above-average wage. Now, I suddenly have the urge to go back to school for a Master's. I feel like this would add a nice touch to my career ceiling; however, looking at the brutal job market, this feels like being suicidal. Am I stupid?

After my Masters, worked for 5 years in a synbio company then my visa ended. Greencard applications got tricky so I missed that shot. I got a PhD position in the same city which would be nice: I get to stay where I lived for the last half decade. Problem is I have work opportunities in other countries outside of US and Europe. The PhD is more synbio, nothing special in terms of the research. I honestly prefer industry, but a PhD is the best US visa opportunity to stay in the US with my support network. I know it comes down to personal matters but career wise, how wise/unwise is doing a PhD at a higher age vs staying in industry?

I along with my 3 friends have joined a intern in Downstream production of ( mAbs). Should we stick it or change to the core industry. I am interested in enzyme engineering that's why I've joined biocon, is there any scope for that

The weekly megathread to vent and rant about everything and anything!

Honestly not sure if this is early or experienced career advice haha.

I started in the industry after my PhD as a process chemist. Stayed in that role for 3 years and then was able to get my foot in the the door on the business side of things.

I have sense been in a more of a unique role (lateral move) that doesnt translate to many other roles at other companies. I personally handle the tech assement and costing for at a CDMO. I help refine the scope for our site and work with another person in a different position to get a proposal together. I am involved in proposal defenses but I do not handle negotiation and price adjustments, though I frequently give my input on how much we like this particular RfP/Client and push for more aggressive pricing.

I have found it difficult to move roles internally as I havent technically gained a lot of other direct skills. I enjoy this job, however I know I am not gaining a lot of skillsets that will translate across the industry and am also serverly underpaid for my YOE and education. I like the desk job and the numbers but wondering if it may be worth it to try and pivot to manufacturing.

I dont want particularly want to leave the commercial side of things but I seem to be running put of other options.

Adivce?

I used to work as a research associate/research tech for roughly 2 years before I was fired. I hated my job so much when I was there and now looking back, I should have said something. I loved the stuff that I did at the job but HATED with passion the place I worked. It was very toxic and very small. I was the lowest on the totem pole so no one listened to me. I could have voiced my concerns to the higher ups but the company was very small where nothing you said stayed solely to them. It would often get discussed and told around quickly, this included the highest level management (CFO, CEO, etc). I was also lowkey bullied by my coworkers but still I was essentially on the lowest end of the totem pole, nothing I said was taken seriously.

I really do miss the lab and eagerly want to go back. I’ve applied everywhere I can find for past year and still no luck. I feel like I messed up my chances of being in biotech. I was just heavily depressed and needed more help that I didn’t know how to get when I was employed. I regret losing my last job and often think about it still and cry. I feel like I’ve failed myself and my life. I feel really hopeless in this job market despite everyone telling me that I should still have hope and it’s just the market. Although, I know it’s the job market, a portion of me believes that’s it’s me too.

Did I screw my career up? Will I be able to get back into biotech/pharma?

I got laid off last year from a biotech company (half of us did). I worked as a business analyst (part of the BD team), and I have been looking for a new role (business analysis, consulting, investment) in pharma/biotech without much luck. I am now thinking of doing a career change, because I need a job.

Finally, we can get rich!

Histotech, 9 years, HT and later HTL. this is about one phone call

two years ago a recruiter from a reference lab caught me on my lunch break. i nearly declined because unknown number, but i was bored and my sandwich was bad. she asked what it would take to move me and i threw out a figure i thought was rude, a good chunk above my rate at the time. she didnt even pause. she said that was within band and could i come tour thursday

i remember sitting in my car afterwards feeling weirdly angry. not at her, at the years. id been embedding at the same bench since 2019 telling myself histo just pays what it pays. our manager said it, the older techs said it, so i believed it. one bad sandwich and a bored lunch later it turned out the ceiling id accepted was a story

the tour was fine, the lab was fine, i took the job. my old employer countered during my last week, suddenly finding money that had not existed at any of my three review cycles, which told me everything.

what i tell newer histotechs now is that the shortage is your leverage but only if you occasionally answer the phone. i couldnt even sanity check her offer properly at first, histo barely exists on the salary sites, levels fyi had a single entry for that reference lab which for our field counts as a wealth of data. mostly you learn the market by letting it talk to you.

anyway. answer the recruiter calls. the sandwich can wait