The Transition to Industry Biology in the Private Sector

Topics: Types of Private-sector Positions for Biologists Key Differences Between Academia/Private Sector Different workplaces and job types in Pharmaceutical/Biotechnology Companies Research Areas Important Website But, can you go home again?

Jobs in the Private Sector 1.The Pharmaceutical and Biotech Industries. The Quest for Therapeutics. Many Companies Have Research Programs as Rigorous as Found in Academia. 2.Contract Research Laboratories (For-profit and Non-profit). “Science for Hire.” Work is Very Specific, Task-oriented.

Key Differences from Academia Tenure You Work as Part of a Team “Freedom” of Research Pursuits Hiring: Academia- Research Program Private Sector – Meet Immediate Need

Pharmaceutical/Biotech Industries (What’s Your Adrenaline Level?) Small StartupCompaniesLarger Established Companies Fewer People – Wear Many Hats Excitement for Company’s Mission Risky – Can be Lucrative or “Live Fast, Die Young Leave a Beautiful Corpse.” More Stable. Infrastructure in Place. Not as Diverse People Interactions as Startups Capital for Equipment More Available.

Some Key Therapeutic Targets Cancer – So much more is known now than >500 potential therapeutics in clinical trials. Mortality rates overall not greatly changed. Infectious Diseases – Microbial Mutation = Never- ending Battle. Clues from sequencing studies for new targets. Neurodegenerative Diseases – Alzheimer's (5 million in US currently), ALS, Parkinson's, etc. Immune Disorders/Inflammatory Diseases – Autoimmune diseases, Asthma. No new Lupus therapeutic in 30 years.

Two Major “Camps” in Pharma/Biotech DRUG DISCOVERY Basic Research for Efficacy Mechanism of Action Studies Technological Advances (Mouse Models, Sequencing, Mass Spec) Make It a Very Exciting Time in Discovery DRUG DEVELOPMENT Later Stage, When Therapeutic Looks Promising Safety Testing (Toxicology) Highly Regulated Science (GLPs - Must have SOPs, Validated Methods, Evidence of Equipment Calibration and Personnel Training.)

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Can You Return to Academia? Yes…But You Must Be Able to Publish!

Summary Exciting Time for Biotechnology Fulfillment of Bringing Therapeutics to Patients Roller Coaster or Merry-go-round? Ready to Put the Team First? Consider a Postdoc Position in Industry. Biospace.com Return to Academia? Make Sure You Can Publish.