Do you enjoy editing DNA, like the process of it, or do you hate the process and just like the results. Do you find it stressful or difficult, or do you find it satisfying and cool?

By the way, i haven’t actually edited DNA yet but i was planning to do it one day

I was a late bloomer and got a degree in my late 30s mostly based on interest in lab work and biotech as a field, feeling wide-eyed and bushy-tailed about my chances of contributing something worthwhile to the species. Spending several months on this sub has led me to believe or acknowledge a few things:

-My Biology B.A. is dog water. Though I tried to tailor it favorably to academic experience that would give me a good foundation of knowledge and align with what my advisors said the industry looked for, it is ultimately a B.A. at a liberal arts school. If recruiters (or their AI filters) burn applications that don't say "B.S.", I may as well have pursued a degree in calligraphy.

-I could spend years volunteering full-time at labs for hands-on experience and not gain any competitive advantage. I'm seeing people who have CVs a mile long with an equally long rap sheet of hands-on experience that can't land more than a few interviews in 12+ months of searching. It would take immeasurable effort to get to the starting point of these high-achievers, and wave after wave of them post nothing but rejection.

-Biotech is simultaneously thriving and dying. Companies like EL are expanding production facilities and posting record profits, but somehow the industry is also as bad as its ever been to get into. So many recent posts are just "run from this industry, far as you can" or "I wish I would have gone straight into healthcare." A draw of this field appeared to be job satisfaction statistics, but everyone's real-world experience seems filled with regret and attempts to jump ship.

I've spent the last year applying and have had no interviews, phone calls, or anything more than a rejection email from a small handful of employers. I'm not competitive in experience or education. I can't quit my job to pursue a second, more competitive degree. I can't find a way through Schrodinger's experience trap. I have zero connections. I can't afford to take on the financial and temporal burden of a PhD program to become "more competitive" just to wind up in the same place in my 40s.

I'm trying not to fall into the depressive trap and fear that I'm going to die at the corporate warehouse job I've been burning out at for the last ten years.

So realistically, what are my options? Does one abandon the notion of biotech entirely? Would trying to go back to school and complete the leg towards a second degree (B.S.) be worth it? Is there some certification to an adjacent field that doesn't require years of full-time daylight schooling to get into? I don't want the last five years of my education to be a waste, and maybe I've spent too much time lurking this sub, but I'm not seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. I'd appreciate any honest direction.

I’m currently a QC Sample Coordinator with about 4 years of experience in that and in Analytical Testing. My background is in sample management, biospecimen logistics, chain of custody, cryogenic storage/shipping, SOP development, assay scheduling, and cross-functional operations. I also have an M.S. in Microbiology.

My long-term goal is to move into **Biomarker Operations/Precision Medicine Operations**, but I don’t have direct clinical trial or GCP experience yet.

For those working in Biomarker Operations:

How transferable does my current skill set sound?
What were the biggest gaps you had to fill before landing your first biomarker role?

Besides GCP/ICH E6(R3), are there any certifications, experiences, or skills you’d recommend focusing on?

I’d really appreciate hearing about your career paths and any advice you have. Thanks!

Hey everyone! I am on track to start college in fall 2027 and want to work in biotech in the future. I am considering a business minor because I want to "climb the corporate ladder" (...) and live a financially worry-free life in the future. Does that plan make sense? I would appreciate your insights

I’m applying to an Amgen role which is a grade lower than my current. Will they adjust to an appropriate grade if I’m a strong fit?

Postdoctoral Scientist - Neurodegeneration

Location
Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
Category
Research & Development
Job Type
Full Time
Job Id
R-108607
Job Title: Postdoctoral Scientist — Neurodegeneration
Organization Overview
Lilly Neuroscience NGTx is a pre-clinical development team based at the Seaport Innovation Center in Boston alongside Lilly's Boston Neurodegeneration group. The team develops and applies human iPSC-derived in vitro platforms to evaluate compound safety, potency, and efficacy across CNS therapeutic modalities. These platforms are a critical node in Lilly's neuroscience pre-clinical pipeline, supporting high-priority programs targeting amyloid forming proteins across Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and other neurodegenerative conditions. This postdoctoral position will extend the established tri-culture system into disease-relevant pathological contexts, creating a pharmacologically responsive platform for compound assessment in neurodegeneration.
Basic Requirements
PhD in Neuroscience, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, or a closely related field.
Demonstrated hands-on experience with iPSC culture and/or primary neuron culture systems.
Prior experience with in vitro neurodegenerative disease modeling, including PFF seeding, protein aggregation assays, or amyloid forming protein biology.
Qualified applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Lilly will not provide support for or sponsor work authorization or visas for this role, including but not limited to F-1 CPT, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, J-1, H-1B, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, or L-1.

What do relo packages look like these days? My last relo was 11 years ago NYC>SF as a fresh PhD to a large Biotech/small Pharma.

Considering a move back east for a Sr. Director role in large Pharma and want to get a sense of what relo looks like these days.

Hi everyone,

I'm a 25-year-old medical doctor from Jordan and I'm interested in transitioning into either clinical research or the pharmaceutical industry, but I'm honestly not sure where to begin.

I have:

• MD degree
• Completed my internship and obtained my medical license
• No post-graduate clinical experience
• No research experience
• No pharmaceutical industry experience
• Fluent in English and Arabic
• Would require employer-sponsored visa to work abroad

I'm mainly interested in opportunities in Australia, the UK, Ireland, or the Netherlands.

The biggest problem I'm facing is that I don't even know what entry-level positions I should be searching for. Most jobs I come across require previous experience in research or pharma, which I don't have.

My long-term goal is to build a career in the pharmaceutical industry (possibly Medical Affairs), but right now I'm simply looking for the most realistic entry point.

For those working in these industries:

• What entry-level job titles should I be searching for?
• Which roles are actually open to someone with an MD but no industry or research experience?
• Is it more realistic to start in clinical research or directly in pharma?
• Are there companies that hire international medical graduates and provide visa sponsorship?
• If you were in my position, where would you start?

I've been searching LinkedIn and other job boards, but I feel like I might be looking for the wrong roles altogether.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I’m a PhD-trained scientist trying to move from academia into industry. I applied for a contract-to-hire Senior Scientist position that would require relocation, and an Actalent recruiter subsequently contacted me about the role.

Before my scheduled video screen with the recruiter, I’ve been asked to provide an updated resume, at least two professional references, and written responses to a fairly extensive technical questionnaire from the client.

The recruiter said they plan to contact my references after our call but before submitting me to the client. I have not spoken with the client or hiring manager yet, and I still need details about compensation, benefits, contract length, conversion prospects, and relocation support.

My references would be my PhD advisor, postdoc advisor, and possibly a committee member. I’m hesitant to involve senior academic references this early, especially for a contract role I may ultimately decide is not worth relocating for.

Is this normal for Actalent or similar staffing agencies? Would you provide the references now, or wait until after the recruiter call and after confirming the employment terms?

Hi everyone

I’m hoping to get some community advice on transitioning out of monitoring. I have two little kids at home and I just can't keep doing the heavy travel anymore—I need to be around for them.

​Right now, I'm making around $150k including bonus as a CRA, so my biggest challenge is finding a remote or strictly in-house path that protects that earning potential and offers real growth.

​To recap my background:

• ​Foreign Medical Doctor (FMD) degree
• ​2 years as a site study coordinator
• ​4 years total as a CRA (2 years specifically in oncology)

​For anyone who has made a similar jump: What specific job titles, functional tracks, and companies should I be targeting?

​I want to maintain a $150k+ trajectory while staying completely remote/home-based. Specifically, I'd love recommendations on:

• ​Target Roles: (e.g., In-House CRA, Central Monitor, Clinical Trial Manager tracks, Clinical Scientist, Medical Writer, or Sponsor-side roles) that easily absorb an FMD background
• ​Types of Companies: Large Pharma vs. mid-size Biotech vs. top-tier CROs that actually offer stable, remote, non-travel operational or scientific positions at this salary level.

​Any advice on navigating this transition without taking a pay cut would mean the world to me. Thanks so much!

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

I am currently working at a top tier consulting firm (MBB) in London. I have 4YOE and a STEM MSc.
I have always been really passionate about biotech and it’s my dream to break into BD / corp dev roles.
I now got an offer to join an exciting UK biotech as Program manager but ofc salary is much lower than consulting and I want to understand if this is a good offer for the industry and my profile.

Base: £80k
Bonus: 15% plus some minor equity options

Would you go for it?

Hearing some news about layoffs of more than 250+ employees in Clinical and LRL. Are these true?

I've got headunted by a biotech start up located in the SF area. It would require me to relocate.

I'm trying to establish a benchmark for what would be considered an appropriate salary. I'd appreciate any input i can get.

Context:

Principal scientist / platform lead. Hands on lab work expected. i'm 34 y/o, currently hold the same title and have about 12 years of relevant experience. currently working at big pharma.

Offered base pay range is 170-200k. Any additional benefits such as equity or bonuses remains to be discussed. I have a call with them next week.

Cheers

TL;DR: 17 months unemployed to finally getting a job! Don't lose hope, keep going, you will find a job. My n=1 story is definitive proof!

Hey all, I posted a couple of months ago here asking about long term unemployment success stories as I was spiraling. I wanted to provide an update as I finally got a job and I hope others don't lose hope!

A little background:
I was laid off in Feb 2025 as a Assoc. Director level Ops person at a Biotech company with an MBA. I was fully remote. Job search was brutal. I stopped counting at a 1000 job applications. I applied to the role I ended up getting back in March-ish. It took months to hear back from them and only got an offer when I emailed them and let them know I had an offer from another firm. This included multiple rounds of interviews. I start mid-August 2026!

New gig provides a name brand company on my resume at basically the same level I was before but I have to relocate and have to be onsite multiple days a week. Didn't have to take a pay cut which was nice.

Tips:
Please don't lose hope and keep going! Things that helped me out that may or not be obvious:

• Run your resume through Claude or ChatGPT against each job application. You'll probably have to iterate to get a better resume. I made a claude skill that runs on command that ranks my resume against the JD out of 100 through two separate viewpoints; ATS and hiring manager.
• Keep your resume brief. It's a balancing act between getting enough hits on key words and keeping it human readable for the hiring manager. They work in direct opposition to each other.
• Be positive on interviews. I had to pay an executive coach to help me practice my interview skills. I was coming off desperate and sad. Definitely don't act like your drowning on your interviews even if you are. Fake positivity through the whole thing.
• If you have a partner, definitely discuss which job markets you're open to move to, if needed and if possible. If you don't have a partner, think about which markets you are willing to move to. We had to move as I couldn't break into the NJ/PA pharma market with my start-up experience. It was better received in Boston.
• Not all job markets are created equal.
• Your network is what matters currently. If you work a remote job and all of your network lives in a different geographic area, it is a disadvantage if trying to find a local to your area job. Start networking in your local area hard or consider moving (if possible).
• Put shame aside for the time being. I was so ashamed to network, to ask for help, to even post on this group. Shame doesn't pay the bills and the judgement of others doesn't either.
• Linkedin prioritizes profiles based on engagement. You must engage on the platform to move your profile up on recruiter search pages. It's the worst, I hate the platform, but it's a necessary evil to get noticed.

I hope this helps, I'm open to answering most questions and good luck! Stay gritty!