Anybody in Biotech/Pharma? Please read, I need advice :)

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
1
Hello everybody.

I decided to start this thread because I'm quite new in Switzerland and I need some advice (and to make some network ). I am a Biotech graduate and I am looking for a job in the Biotech or Pharma industry, but for I haven't been successful. I would like to have a clear idea about this field, what it really means working for a Biotech/Pharma company, maybe also what could be my own chances to get any kind of job, preferably from someone who is already inside this world. So I am talking to you, either you work for a big company or you are a member of a startup (these ones are very welcome, I would love to join a startup and gain new experience), and you are located in the Zurich or Basel area, or anywhere in Switzerland (I am now based in Zurich, but I have no problem in taking a train and join you wherever you are). I would like to steal some of your time to have a chat, maybe in front of a coffee (I will pay, since I'm "arbeitslos" it's all I can give back for now ). In the worst case, it will be about meeting new nice people for the both of us! Thanks for reading

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First off, can you please tell more specifically what your degree is in? I'm not familiar with just Biotech..perhaps it is a Euro degree? Do you have a Bachelor's, Master's, PhD?

There are many parts to a phama company so we need more info. For example, I have been in the industry for ~15 years as a biostatistician working on clinical trials. There are bench top science (preclinical), clinical trials, post-marketing (epidemiology and more), manufacturing, QC, regulatory, marketing, etc.

3
Thanks, you are right, I should have been more specific, but my post was already long enough .

I am Italian and I hold a Master of Science in Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology from an Italian University. This kind of degree actually covers a broad spectrum of subjects, from molecular biology, to the study of biomasses for energetic purposes, to more Chemistry-related subjects (for example, I performed my Master thesis work within the Physical Chemistry laboratory in my University). This doesn't make the whole thing any easier. For that reason, I think a good starting point would be try to understand the job market in the Biotech/Pharma industry talking to people who work in these companies (should they be big or small), to find out what I really can do within this world (for example, in my dreams I see myself in a R&D laboratory, but I realized I lack experience in many important techniques, so where should I start from?). I hope I managed to be a little bit more precise, otherwise further questions are welcome

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To be honest, the number of jobs varies so much it is hard to really comment on what you might like to do.

Even just R&D lab defines a whole load of options!

Most pharma companies hiring for lab folk know what they are looking for, either people with specific development/research skills, and/or technical skills or PhDs doing blue-sky research.

By simply saying "I want to work in pharma/biotech" you are really saying you don't have a clue what you want to do, which is not a great starting point.

Do you know anyone who works in a pharma company? Can the lecturers from your uni put you in contact with people/alumni who work in the industry so that you can start to get an idea for what you want to do?

That will give you much more idea about what your options are, which will give you more focus and ideas of what jobs to go for, which is always more attractive to potential employers.

5
Thank you for your reply. The fact that I am being so generic is most of all due to the fact that I am looking for my first "real" job, and, as you may know, it is not easy to orientate in the job market once you are out of University. Many of my former University mates is doing a PhD, which is really not my ideal next step. And I am not specialized enough to say that I have all the required skills to work in a specific branch. I am probably in the phase "Oh, everybody replies to my application with a *no, thanks*, so I am not able to do anything after all these years of study", which is obviously not helping in setting a clear goal. But, apart of that, what you are suggesting me is actually what I am trying to do: since I have no other way to be put in contact with someone who works in the industry (because my former lecturers can only put me in contact with other people from academia), I use the forum, not to ask people what should I do to get hired somewhere, but just to have an idea of how this industry works, so I can see where to apply my skills, which new skills I have to develop and so on.

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Hello shesingswing!

If you don't mind travelling, check out the events of i-net innovation networks basel - they are free of cost (because we're public, funded by the cantons Basel-Stadt, Baselland and Jura) and usually include a networking part at the end, where you will be able to meet people from the industry. We have a focus on Life Sciences - so this may help you further.

We currently only have an event on Precision Medicine in our pipeline, but rest assured that other biotech/pharma topics will come up soon!

I hope this may help a little :-)

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You can also check out Zurich life science day from ETH and UZH, they have presentations about different career tracks in biotech/pharma and many networking possibilities: http://www.lifescience-youngscientis...6homepage.html

For startups, check out the science parks of the areas you are interested in online. When you find a company you like, drop them a line about yourself and try to set up a networking meeting where you can both find out more about what they do and introduce yourself. They might not have the funding/open positions at that moment but it is a good way to familiarize yourself with what the market offers and make an impression which may get you hired in the future.