43IndustryPositionGuide CSA Rollback Bonus

43
Industry
Position
Guide
ROLLBACK
INDUSTRY
POSITION GUIDE
TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY
1. Application Scientist
2. Product Manager
3. Market Research Analyst
4. R&D Scientist
5. Technology Assessment And Alliance Officer
6. R&D Project Manager
7. Technical Sales Specialist
8. Capital Equipment Specialist
9. Operation Research Analyst
10. Quality Assurance Or Quality Control Manager
11. Product Support Specialist
12. Strategic Relationship Director
43 Industry Position Guide

FINANCIAL SERVICES
13. Quantitative Analyst
14. Equity Research Analyst
15. Health Economist
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
16. Intellectual Property Lawyer
17. Patent Agent Or Scientific Consultant
18. Technology Transfer Officer
19. Patent Examiner
WRITING AND EDITING

20. Marketing Communication Specialist
21. Scientific Writer Or Technical Editor
22. Scientific Journalism
23. Medical Writer Or Medical Communication

INFORMATION AND
DATA MANAGEMENT
24. Healthcare Informatics Technology (HIT) Specialist
25. Business Intelligence Analyst
26. Data Scientist
27. Data/Machine Learning Engineer
28. User Experience Researcher
CLINICAL AND
MEDICAL AFFAIRS
29. Epidemiologist
30. Clinical Trials Project Manager
31. FDA Regulatory Affairs Admin
32. Medical Affairs Leader/Manager
33. Medical Science Liaison
34. Clinical Research Associate
35. Clinical Data Manager

BUSINESS AND STRATEGY
36. Competitive Intelligence Analyst
37. Business Development Manager
38. Research Analyst In A Venture Capital Firm
39. Management Consulting
RESEARCH POLICY,
FUNDING AND
GOVERNMENT
40. Science Public Policy Advisor
41. Science Ethics
42. Grants Facilitator
43. NIH/NSF Program Officer

Technology APPLICATION SCIENTIST
Industry 1
“The teaching experience you gained in graduate school while supervising or teaching
undergraduates will also prove to be a key transferable skill in this case.”
The application scientist position is a role that is often overlooked by job-searching
science PhDs because they believe it is a traditional sales role that requires little
or no scientific technical knowledge, and lacks parallels to the skillsets common
to PhDs. In reality this assumption is pretty far from the truth. The demand for
PhDs in application science has been increasing and it is not uncommon to find
application scientist job postings requiring PhD experience.
One challenging aspect in searching for these roles is that different organizations
use different nomenclature to refer to the same position. But whatever you find—
Application Scientist, Field Application Scientist, Technical Support Scientist, or
Field Support Scientist—in most cases, these terms essentially describe the same
professional role.
This role is especially suitable for those who want to move away from the research
bench towards more business-oriented roles (for example, business development

or project management), but are unsure of their path and want to gain more non-
academic experience in a transitional position. Application Science will provide
the ideal platform to sharpen your business knowledge and build relevant industry
expertise, because in this role you benefit from performing many tasks where you
require diverse skills and knowledge on a daily basis.
Besides technical knowledge related to research and specific lab equipment, good

communication skills and an ability to explain instructions in an uncomplicated
fashion are desired qualities for this role. Considering that there may be travel
requirements, you will meet many new people, and those who have interpersonal
skills and are less hesitant to interact with strangers are more likely to be
successful in this position. Another important component of this role involves
training sales support staff, so having presentation skills is desirable. The
teaching experience you gained in graduate school while supervising or teaching
undergraduates will also prove to be a key transferable skill in this case. As
troubleshooting problems for customers is a key task for application scientists,
one of the most vital skills necessary is the ability to think critically and solve
problems within a limited time.
As you are continuously meeting new people and helping them solve problems, a
significant secondary benefit of this role is that it offers an excellent platform for
building a wide network. As mentioned, these tend to be transitional roles and
within a few years the vast majority of application scientists move on to higher
positions in other divisions such as business development or marketing. The
network you build during your time as an application scientist will prove to be an
asset for career progression.
EXAMPLE OF ORGANIZATIONS OFFERING APPLICATION SCIENTIST
OPPORTUNITIES
y Thermo Fisher Scientific
y Life Technologies
y Bio-Rad
y ManTech International Corporation

Technology Product Management
Industry 2
“An employment survey conducted in 2012-2013 reported that demand for
this position experienced a 23% growth”
In today’s society it is hard to find an aspect of life that has not been influenced
by technology. This might indicate that the success of any company is primarily
dependent on the engineers and scientists who invent these products. However,
before the technology experts can start R&D, there is someone who determines
what they should concentrate on developing and what new product is necessary
to successfully invent, produce, and commercialize. This is the role of a Product
Manager. To put it very concisely, a Product Manager (PM) is responsible for
managing the entire life cycle of a product.
Product management is a multifunctional role that demands collaboration across
multiple divisions of the organization. Your responsibilities will not be limited
to advising scientists and engineers where to focus their expertise. Even before
that, as a PM you must understand problems in the real world, communicate with
your marketing team, and find innovative solutions to existing problems. Your
interaction with marketing or other divisions won’t stop with product creation.
You will continue collaborating with multiple divisions to develop the ideal go-
to-market strategy, identify target customer demographics, and plan product
branding.
It is understood that for a position like this, technical knowledge of your specific
sector is essential. However, scientific or technical expertise alone is not enough
for this role. Along with an understanding of technology, you must possess a
unique blend of business acumen, a creative outlook to envision new products,
and understanding of the competitive landscape. Above all you should have a

big-picture mentality and the drive to take an initial idea and transform it into
a commercially successful reality. If you are comfortable interacting with people
outside the technical field and enjoy working with a diverse group of people, then
you will enjoy this role.
For a science PhD aspiring to be a PM, it is important to remember that overall
knowledge of the entire sector—not just your specific graduate research topic—
is required for this role. Use your network to gain industry knowledge. As a PM
requires collaboration with almost every department to fulfill her or his vision,
it is very important to have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Without this, you may struggle to convince others, from the CEO to the scientists,
about the potential of your novel idea.
Your work as a PM continues after the product is developed and marketed. A
PM also oversees the management of a product after its launch, analyzes market
performance, looks for possible commercialization partnerships, determines
ways to boost commercial success, and also contributes in determining how to
terminate an older version of a product. As mentioned previously, a PM plays a
strategic role across the entire life cycle of a product.
One can find this career opportunity in almost all major organizations. However,
for science PhDs it is logical to target innovation-based sectors, such as
electronics, IT and software, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical industries. It is
important to remember that advanced science degree holders can often enter a
company in a technical role and then internally transition into a PM’s role.
An employment survey conducted in 2012-2013 reported that demand for this
position experienced a 23% growth, which is significantly higher than the national
average.
Science PhDs with the necessary attributes are highly sought after because there

is a lack of science advanced degree holders who have good communication skills,
business insight, a creative outlook, industry knowledge along with their technical
expertise. There is no doubt that a PM’s responsibilities can be demanding.
However, it is also one of the most fulfilling roles as it offers you a platform to
play a crucial role in bringing a new invention to market and thus make a tangible
positive impact on people’s lives by solving real-world problems using the power of
innovation.
EXAMPLES OF ORGANIZATIONS OFFERING PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
OPPORTUNITIES
y Google
y Johnson & Johnson
y Baxter International
y Bio-Rad Laboratories
y Pfizer
y Siemens
y Apple

Technology MARKET RESEARCH ANALYST
Industry 3
“A science PhD’s oral presentation skills as well as technical writing skills will
prove to be valuable transferable skills.”
The title of Market Research Analyst may lead science PhDs to assume that this is
a traditional marketing role, and someone like them—with a scientific, academic
background—will not be suitable for it. Actually, it is quite the opposite. Market
Research requires a lot of analytical and quantitative skills as well as technical
knowledge of the sector, so this position can be a great alternative to traditional
academic roles for science PhDs.
This role is available in almost every industry, but it is especially significant in
innovation-based sectors such as electronics, IT, or biotechnology. Aside from
major technical organizations, you can also find this kind of role in market
research firms whose sole purpose is to conduct market research for their clients.
As a market research analyst you will be expected to gain a thorough
understanding of the commercial landscape associated with a specific technology
or sector. The main goal of a market research analyst is to analyze the market
data and help the decision makers in the organization estimate the degree of
commercial success they can expect regarding a specific product or in a specific
sector.
Responsibilities will include gaining information about the market and
evaluating the key advantages and disadvantages of the product compared to
existing comparable products in the market. You will apply this information
and your technical expertise to create reports outlining the key niches for
commercialization, estimate the market size, identify current major players in
the sector, and also recognize possible future competitors. Your findings will act

as an essential tool for the administrative team to design the ideal pathway for
the commercialization of a product, estimate commercial success (revenue) and
avoid pitfalls in the process. This is a rapidly growing profession and according to
the Bureau of Labor Statistics it is projected to experience a growth of 20%. As
innovation-based industries grow and competition becomes global there will be
an increasing need for people with technological backgrounds who can analyze
competing technologies.
Besides the obvious technical and scientific knowledge, a science PhDs’ ability to
analyze and decipher large volumes of information and identify the advantages or
drawbacks of one method compared to another will be valuable skills for those
transitioning into this role. You will not only be analyzing but also presenting
your findings in both oral and written format. Therefore, a science PhD’s oral
presentation skills as well as technical writing skills will prove to be valuable
transferable skills. As market research analysts provide input (and thus influence
business strategies) and work in collaboration with strategic decision makers,
you will be constantly communicating with the main decision makers of the
organization. Hence, this role can open up doors to higher management positions.

Technology R&D SCIENTIST
Industry 4
“Unlike academia, scientists in industry don’t need to write grant applications and
suffer for lack of financial support.”
This is undoubtedly the most popular option among science PhDs who wish to
pursue a career option other than the traditional academic path. Because the
responsibilities of a research scientist in industry are conducting research and
making new discoveries, this is very attractive to science PhDs. Almost every
innovation-based industrial sector can offer this opportunity to science PhDs.
However, despite its appeal, the number of science PhDs who seek a research
position in industry right after their PhD is surprisingly small. One of the major
reasons is the reluctance of science PhDs to step out of their comfort zone. They
are sometimes further discouraged by PhD advisors who may feel that choosing
any path other than a traditional postdoc is somehow unsatisfactory, or not to be
recommended. Also, lack of knowledge about the particular industry and network
outside academia among science PhDs may mean they are unaware of these
opportunities.
On the surface it might appear that doing research, whether in industry or in a
research institute, is the same. However, although there are many similarities to
academic research, there are also some key differences in conducting research for
industry. The most important one is that in industry, research is driven by a more
singular goal – whether that be finding a cure for a specific disease, or developing
a new advanced electronic product. In comparison academic research is more
exploratory.
There are a few more things to keep in mind when considering an industry

research position. In addition to scientific research expertise, a few other skills
are also sought in industry. Interpersonal skills, the ability to work as a part of
a larger team, and to follow a stricter standard for data documentation are also
necessary for success.
Unlike other careers in industry, one obvious advantage for a science PhD is that
you don’t need to worry about a lack of transferable skills. Doing research, using
your analytical skills, and making new discoveries is what you have been trained to
do. As a PhD you have received the most specialized and rigorous training possible
for the specific area of your field. Unlike several other alternative career paths (e.g.
CI Analyst or Technical Sales Specialist) you have the advantage over someone
without a science PhD.
Another negative aspect associated with industrial scientific research is the lack of
opportunity to publish research articles or present in scientific conferences. This
was a major concern previously, but now, many innovation-based companies have
been showing an increased interest in basic research. They often encourage their
scientists to publish and attend scientific conferences to present their data.
A few things that make an industry research position a superior option compared
to an academic research career is that once you have transitioned to industry, you
will not be faced with the uncertainty of securing tenure. Research projects in
industry are financially supported by the R&D budget of the company, therefore,
unlike academia, scientists in industry don’t need to write grant applications and
suffer for lack of financial support.
Most importantly, your work will not be solely esoteric like the large majority of
academic research. Your work will have a tangible, positive influence on society
through the implementation of innovations that solve problems in daily life
or contribute to finding needed therapies. For those involved in life science, a

position as a research scientist in industry offers one of the fastest growing career
opportunities. According to statistics published by the Department of Labor, the
healthcare/medical industry is projected to grow much faster than the national
average, and research scientists involved in this sector will experience a 36% job
growth rate in the coming years.

Technology TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
Industry 5 AND ALLIANCE OFFICER
“You will be bridging the corporate world with academia and playing a key role in
the success of both.”
With more and more academic research institutes becoming interested in
translational research, and private companies putting more value on novel
innovation, there has been an increasing trend of academia-industry partnerships.
This is beneficial for both parties and, most importantly, the overall growth of
any technology-based sector. With funding from traditional sources becoming
scarce, funding from industry has proven to be a more reliable source of financial
support for academic researchers. In return, industries get access to top quality,
cutting edge innovation resulting from research in academia. In order to make
this partnership successful, industries require professionals with strong scientific
academic backgrounds who can also work as a bridge between industry and
academia. This unique and relatively new role is the responsibility of a Technology
Assessment and Alliance Manager.
It is evident from the title that the key responsibilities of this position are to
assess new technologies and facilitate academia/industry collaboration leading
to the commercialization of new inventions. In order to do so, a technology
assessment manager must have an excellent understanding of the scientific area
he is dealing with and be able to identify and prioritize technologies of interest. In
this position, you will need to compare several research projects and predict which
of those have potential for commercial success.
Among all the career options for a science PhD this is definitely one of the
most collaborative and multifunctional roles. Your responsibility is not limited

to assessing technologies. Once you have identified the technology, you will
communicate with academic researchers and licensing managers in the technology
transfer office in order to facilitate further collaboration. You will be bridging the
corporate world with academia and playing a key role towards the success of both.
So, interpersonal skills and the ability to function well in a team environment are
very important for this position.
In addition to people in academia such as researchers and licensing managers, you
will be interacting with key opinion leaders, those managing funding for R&D in
your company for the purpose of developing a balanced academic collaboration
portfolio. You will also be required to collaborate with the legal team for the
purpose of finalizing license agreements, material transfer, and confidential
disclosure agreements.
The presentation skills you developed through delivering seminars during your
PhD training will prove to be a great transferable skill as you will be presenting
your assessments to the decision makers of your company on a regular basis.
Besides scientific and intellectual property related knowledge, it is essential to
develop skill in managing the financial aspects of projects, and over time, gain
business development skills. Your organization will be counting on you to suggest
the ideal path for collaboration with different research teams depending on
the nature and stage of development the invention is in. It might be long-term
sponsored research, direct licensing, or the formation of a spin-off as a sister
company under your organization.
This role will offer you the opportunity to be exposed to a number of exciting
projects and interact with many intelligent people from all over the world.
Consequently, those who wish to pursue this role should be prepared for traveling
both domestically and internationally on a regular basis. Performing professionally
while interacting with people from culturally diverse environments will prove to

be a valuable attribute for this role.
Owing to the collaborative nature of this position, you will be growing your
network both in the scientific community and industry very quickly. This can be
a great profession for those who do not want to remain in traditional research at
the bench but still want to be associated with academic research in some way. As a
technology assessment and alliance manager, you will not be completely detached
from academia, but at the same time, you will be developing valuable business
skills that will prove very valuable for your long-term career growth.

Technology R&D PROJECT MANAGER
Industry 6
“The analytical skills and ability of evaluating scientific data that you have developed
as a PhD will prove to be valuable for this role.”
In any technology-based industry, continuous innovation and development of
new products is one of the key ingredients for success. Therefore, a successful
R&D program is essential for a company’s future. Many have the impression
that an R&D department is all about running experiments and discovering new
innovations. In reality, it is much more than that. All the research going on in
an R&D division needs to be managed properly in order to control expenditures,
ensure the timely completion of projects, and achieve the required results. This
is the responsibility of the R&D Project Manager (PM). The many responsibilities
associated with this position make it best suited to those who possess a deep
understanding of technologies – that’s why this a great opportunity for science
PhDs interested in pursuing a nonacademic career.
One of the main tasks of R&D management is to oversee the process and
techniques used by the researchers to ensure financial support is being utilized
properly, and that the project being undertaken by the R&D team is in alignment
with the long-term strategy of the organization.
One of the initial tasks of a research PM is to understand market needs and decide
which new projects to initiate as well as which of the existing projects should
be given priority. For this, a research PM will meet with product managers and
a market evaluation team to decide which areas represent the most need and
consumer interest. Once a project is started, a PM’s main responsibilities include
setting a timeline for completion of the project and setting definite milestones for
reaching the final goal on time. The establishment of clearly defined milestones

is essential. Budgeting is another area where the PM needs to set definite
benchmarks. As R&D projects can be unpredictable, completion of projects within
the initially stipulated budget can be tricky. To be an efficient research PM, you
will need to develop strong cost-management skills.
Project managers regularly collaborate with other divisions. You will need to work
with the product development team to understand the life cycle management
of new products and determine the project outline. The marketing team’s help
will be needed to understand consumer interest and market needs. Additionally,
you will have regular meetings with oversight committees and financial teams
in order to keep them aware of cost management and the progress of your
projects. Maintaining continuous communication with all these different divisions
throughout the project is essential for the success of your project. Thus, it is
essential to have excellent interpersonal skills.
As a PhD, you have developed analytical skills and the ability to evaluate scientific
data. This will prove to be valuable for a project manager role. Another important
transferable skill for this role is multitasking. All PhDs have experience balancing
multiple research projects while taking graduate courses, writing research articles,
and sometimes even teaching all at the same time. Research PMs manage budgets,
manage their team, evaluate scientific data, and maintain communication and
collaboration with other divisions. Personnel management is a particularly
important—and often overlooked––skill for project managers to develop. You
must ensure that team members are compatible, listen to and facilitate problem
solving, select the proper professional for the various roles, and give them definite
guidelines rather than vague instructions – that way, confusion can be avoided.
Leadership skills will be critical.
Any science PhD who is eager to pursue this role can increase her or his chances
by acquiring a project management certification or taking a few courses offered

by the business school at her or his university. A research PM has a lot of
responsibilities, and it can be a stressful position. However, it is a rewarding
and fulfilling job since a research PM plays a crucial role in the success of any
innovation-based industry. Success as a research PM is also the ideal gateway to
some of the highest-level executive positions in the industry.

Technology TECHNICAL SALES SPECIALIST
Industry 7
“As teaching salespeople and explaining technology to clients are essential duties of a
TSS, you need to have teaching and presentation skills.”
There are several companies that manufacture and sell highly sophisticated
equipment or lab materials. While traditional salespeople have knowledge of
marketing, their lack of scientific knowledge limits their ability to understand—
and thus properly explain—the value of these technologies to prospective clients.
Therefore, technology-based companies require people with advanced science
degrees who can also function as part of their sales team. This specific niche is
filled by a Technical Sales Specialist (TSS).
A TSS fulfills a unique role, bridging the gap between technical knowledge and
sales skills. The exact role of a TSS might vary from one organization to another,
but the main task is to use scientific knowledge to support the larger sales team
and help the clients. As a TSS, you might be required to understand a client’s
needs and suggest the equipment ideal for solving their specific need.
Depending on how an organization’s sales division is structured, there are
two distinct ways in which one might function as a TSS. In one scenario, a
TSS initiates contact with prospective clients and acts as the primary point of
contact. They are tasked with assisting the customer to choose the right technical
equipment, closing the sale, and placing an order. In the second scenario, a TSS
partners with one or more people in a traditional sales role. These other sales
professionals are responsible for business building and getting new clients. The
TSS offers technical expertise to several different sales people as-needed and
answers technology-related questions for a number of different customers.
Often, a TSS who regularly helps a large company is appointed as an ongoing

account manager. In this situation, they are responsible for troubleshooting and
answering customer’s questions while continuing to make sales and suggest
new products or technical upgrades for this one specific client. A lack of sales
or business expertise may not be a problem. As a large number of TSSs come
from traditional scientific background without any prior sales experience, most
technology-based companies offer a specialized certification course in sales and
business. This also ensures quality and wins trust of clients.
This role requires some traveling, but a TSS can expect less than what’s required
of a traditional sales professional. Mostly, TSSs are required to go to major
scientific conferences where the attendees visiting the stall of your company might
ask scientific questions. A TSS may also be called upon to visit a client’s location
to provide customization of products or help the customer upgrade to a newly-
launched custom software program, product, or accessory.
The specific scientific degree required to become a TSS will vary depending on the
skills and knowledge necessary to effectively sell the products of that company.
The responsibilities of this position mean that interpersonal skills are necessary
in order to be successful as a TSS. It is important to have confidence and be
persuasive when trying to convince a client to purchase a new product or add an
accessory to existing equipment. Teaching salespeople and explaining technology
to clients are essential duties of a TSS, so you will need to have strong teaching
and presentation skills. Finally, a TSS must be able to troubleshoot problems in a
limited amount of time.
This position can be the ideal platform for science PhDs to gain entry into the
non-R&D section of the technology industry. All the skills that you will be learning
while working as a TSS are highly valued in the corporate world. These skills,
combined with your scientific knowledge, will enable you to secure much higher
positions later on in your career.

Technology CAPITAL EQUIPMENT
Industry 8 SPECIALIST
“The role of a CES will allow you to build an extensive network and learn about the
industry at the same time. This can help you progress into other higher positions…”
The responsibilities of a capital equipment specialist (CES) are similar to those of
a technical sales specialist but there are certain key differences. Most importantly,
unlike other technical sales specialists, a CES primarily deals only in “capital
equipment.” This term refers to items with an individual cost of over $5,000
and a useful lifespan of at least one year. Basically, it means larger and costlier
equipment used by industry and academic research laboratories. Like any position
where you will be dealing with clients on a daily basis for this role, you need to
have good communication and interpersonal skills. You must be able to convince
people that the equipment you are trying to sell will be advantageous to them. In
short, sales skills are important in this role.
The CES is responsible not only for selling capital equipment, but planning,
organizing, and implementing all activities associated with managing major
accounts and training other members of the sales team.
But selling capital equipment is not the sole duty of a CES. Two other key
responsibilities are demonstrating equipment to clients and mentoring the
sales team. Technical presentation, teaching, and explaining information—skills
developed during your PhD—are highly transferable to this role. You will have to
perform demonstrations at the customer’s site and explain to them the technical
details of using capital equipment. This is done either to make them aware of new
upgrades or train them to use a device that they have already purchased. Besides
training sessions for clients, CESs also have to deliver presentations and give

technical demonstrations for training other members of the sales team. Often,
they are expected to play the role of a mentor for newly recruited sales staff. CESs
are called upon for supporting and helping to facilitate the execution of regional
training workshops and tradeshows. Thus, teaching skills will be helpful for PhDs
in this role.
A CES often acts as the account manager for a region or territory. In such cases,
a CES will be responsible for territory penetration, boosting sales to existing
customers, planning to increase the customer base, scheduling training workshops,
and managing a team. A CES generally has higher accountability compared to
traditional sales staff.
In this position, it is essential to have detailed knowledge of the technology.
A CES must know not only of their own company’s products but competitive
products and recent developments in the market. As a CES, knowing these things
will enable you to properly explain the benefits of your equipment over your
competitors when interacting with prospective clients or training sales staff.
You’ll be able to make accurate forecasts of possible changes in this sector and
adequately modify your plans in advance. Another major responsibility of a CES is
answering technical questions for clients. It is expected that you will assist client
troubleshooting efforts while maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction.
For an advanced-science-degree holder who is stepping into the industry from
academia, this position can be a valuable first step. The role of a CES will allow
you to build an extensive network and learn about the industry at the same time.
This can help you progress into other higher positions within equipment sales or
transition into a higher position in a different division within the same company.

Technology OPERATIONS RESEARCH
Industry 9 ANALYST
“As an ORA, you will be using data mining, mathematical modeling, and statistical
analyses to provide real-time operational guidance and problem solving”
Operations Research Analysis (ORA) was first implemented by the military a few
decades ago but now it is used in almost every sector, including the corporate
sector, and it is especially important in organizations that utilize a lot of data and
information for strategic decision making.
ORAs are responsible for investigating complex issues, identifying and solving
operational problems, and facilitating more cost-effective and efficient functioning
of an organization. The simplest way of defining their role would be as high-level
problem solvers.
The main responsibilities of an ORA include formulating and applying
mathematical modeling to interpret complex data and information associated
with the business. The purpose of this task is to provide relevant information to
the decision makers and assist them in the formulation of new policies and other
managerial functions. The information provided by ORAs facilitates optimization
of processes, reduces costs, and also promotes the implementation of logistical
networks.
As an ORA you will be using data mining, mathematical modeling, and statistical
analyses to provide real-time operational guidance and problem solving. As this
requires a large amount of data analysis it is an ideal career choice for STEM PhDs
with an academic training in mathematics, statistics, computational modeling or
data mining. Although a bachelor’s degree is mentioned as minimum qualification

in most job postings, graduate degree holders are heavily favored in hiring as this
role requires high-level decision making.
Knowledge of mathematical modeling and associated computer languages is
essential for this field. As this role requires a lot of involvement in decision making
it is important to develop management skills and have good communication skills.
In order to be successful as an ORA you should develop the ability to explain
new ideas and logically convince the decision makers of your organization. As
most business decisions are strongly influenced by financial parameters, it will
serve you well to develop an understanding of basic economics and how it affects
businesses.
In most cases, as an ORA you will be utilizing existing operational models to assist
in your decision making. But in some cases models cannot be developed from
existing data. For dealing with such situations you will need to design and evaluate
novel experimental operational models.
Having all these skills alone will be not enough for you to be successful as an
ORA. You will also need to learn how to efficiently combine your technical
knowhow with creative thinking, and apply it regularly for problem solving.
Often the problems ORAs work on are complex, and expertise from more than one
discipline is required to find the ideal solution. Consequently, ORAs typically work
as a team. Once the team of ORAs proposes the solutions and the administrative
professionals make a final decision the ORAs are also responsible to ensure that
the plan is implemented successfully. In order to do so the operations research
team has to collaborate with professionals in other divisions of the organization.
Therefore, besides having technical knowledge, it is essential to be good at working
in a large team if you want to be successful as an ORA.
Two more factors making this a great career choice are its high median annual

wage and the excellent opportunity for career growth that comes with success in
this position. You will be mainly engaged in important projects, and continuously
interacting with the management team. As a result this career is an excellent
transitional role for moving into higher management roles either within the same
organization or a different one.
If you have the relevant academic background and are seriously considering
following this career path, you should look into the Institute of Operations
Research and Management Sciences commonly known as “Informs”. Their website
has valuable information on the operations research career track. It also provides
the ideal opportunity for networking with other professionals in this field and
offers opportunities for developing your knowledge and earning certifications.
The demand for this role has been boosted with more companies investing in big
data analytics platforms. Finance and insurance companies still continue to be
the biggest sector for employing ORAs. Other industries offering opportunities
for ORAs include computer systems and related organizations, healthcare,
manufacturing, and some government agencies. Between 2012-2022, this position
is estimated to grow 27 percent, making it one of the top 20 best jobs even when
non-STEM professions are taken into consideration.

Technology QUALITY ASSURANCE OR
Industry 10 QUALITY CONTROL MANAGER
“Professionals who enter the field with a science advanced degree also have a much
higher chance of progressing up the career ladder.”
Industries that deal with manufacturing products are required to ensure proper
quality and integrity of all their finished products as well as the facilities
and procedures used to manufacture them. This evaluation of quality is even
more important in technology industries like electronics, pharmaceuticals, or
biotechnology – these require more rigorous checking and evaluation. Quality
control is most stringent in sectors that deal with medicine and healthcare
products like pharmaceuticals or the medical device industry.
Quality Assurance and Quality Control managers evaluate and ensure the quality
of products. Quality Control (QC) professionals are mostly responsible for the
evaluation of products, manufacturing & research facilities, and the materials
used for manufacturing. QC analysts are required to perform standard assays for
evaluating products, and they also establish specifications and standard operating
procedures for QC processes.
Quality assurance (QA) professionals mostly ensure regulatory compliance.
They ensure that the organization’s processes of testing, documenting data, and
manufacturing comply with the specific regulatory requirements for that sector.
In this role, you will be required to analyze data, evaluate documentation, and
conduct site audits to look for possible irregularities.
The minimum academic requirement for entry-level positions in QC/QA roles
is usually a bachelor’s degree relevant to the specific industry. However, if you

want to secure a higher position like that of a QA/QC manager, you will need
an advanced degree. Some industries, such as biotechnology, require specific
scientific knowledge and training – undergraduate training might not be sufficient.
Professionals who enter the field with an advanced science degree also have a
much higher chance of progressing up the career ladder.
Industry sectors require specific technical skills and knowledge of their QA/QC
professionals, so detail-oriented candidates are well suited to this profession.
Those in quality-related roles are dedicated to ensuring that products adhere to
regulatory guidelines. So in addition to required technical knowledge, you will
need to understand regulatory laws and standard operating procedures.
In these roles, it is unlikely you will be working independently, so you must be
comfortable working in a team environment. You must communicate effectively
with everyone around you. Managers in quality-related roles have to recommend
methods of quality improvement and maintaining certain standards. It will be
essential to use strong written and oral communication skills to convey your
suggestions to decision makers.
If you want to move upward within a QA/QC hierarchy, consider earning relevant
certifications. For example, the certifications offered by The American Society for
Quality are well recognized in this field. Depending upon your prior experience
and academic background, you can choose one that’s appropriate for you. Examples
of some certifications include the Certified Quality Inspector, Certified Six Sigma
Black Belt, and Certified Quality Auditor credentials. Once you pass an exam and
earn the certification, it will improve your career-progression prospects.
There are various industry sectors that require the services of advanced-
science-degree holders with the skills and knowledge for QA/QC positions. Food
production, automobile, electronics, pharmaceuticals, energy, and utilities are some

of the major sectors that regularly employ QA/QC professionals.
Federal and provincial government departments also employ quality inspectors
who carry out regular audits to ensure compliance with various regulatory
guidelines. Self-employment is yet another option for professionals in these
roles. After gaining substantial experience, it is not uncommon for QC experts
to become independent quality consultants who are contracted by several client
companies. These professionals advise their clients regarding QC audits and
standard operating procedures.
For advanced-science-degree holders, independent roles like these offer
opportunities to transition into more business-oriented roles. That’s because
while working in QA/QC, professionals become familiar with regulatory laws,
manufacturing guidelines, and other aspects beyond the research lab.

Technology PRODUCT SUPPORT
Industry 11 SPECIALIST
“This position allows STEM PhDs to apply their extensive laboratory experience and
leverage their interpersonal skills in a customer-facing role.”
Companies that sell equipment that requires ongoing learning and support for
the user—for example, capital equipment—usually offer their clients personalized
information and assistance to improve their experience and address cases of
malfunction. This service is called product support.
Product support specialists don’t sell anything. Their role starts after the sale
is made and the equipment has been delivered. As a product support specialist,
you will interact with clients who already received initial training and walk them
through the applications and product-related queries they might have for as long
they own the product.
The primary responsibility of product support specialists is to provide product and
technical support to new and existing customers, as well as distributors and sales
staff. This includes getting to know the ins and out of the product they provide
support on, designing multifaceted experiments, developing outcome-based
approaches to maximize product usage and minimize user time, reverse engineer
experiments to come up with analysis strategies, troubleshooting hardware and
software malfunctions, and training customers that might be unfamiliar with new
equipment.
The experience handling different pieces of equipment that STEM PhDs gained
during grad school is an asset in product support specialist positions. Other

transferable skills you developed during your PhD and will come in handy if
you decide to transition to this role include the ability to quickly learn about
new equipment and technologies, knowing how to read and extract relevant
information from equipment manuals, and analyze different types of data sets.
This position allows STEM PhDs to apply their extensive laboratory experience
and leverage their interpersonal skills in a customer-facing role. As a product
support specialist, you will act as the bridge between the internal departments of
your company and the final customer.
Product support specialists combine technical knowledge and emotional
experience to add value and create rapport with their clients. You will need
strong interpersonal skills to excel in this position. Remember that customers are
humans, so building trust and making the customer feel assured that you will be
their advocate will be a relevant part of your job.
You will also have to show your time management and organizational skills as
you will have to accommodate hard questions, requests, and schedules. You will
also need to keep track of your clients and the previous conversations you had
with them. However, being able to give above-expected support to a client within
a limited time is a quality that separates average product support specialists from
outstanding ones.
The biotech, biopharma, and healthcare sectors are the main source of
employment for product support specialists with advanced degrees. These
industries prefer to hire STEM PhDs who understand scientific concepts and have
extensive lab experience, especially with types of equipment similar to those in the
company’s portfolio.
Product support specialists progress rapidly in their careers because they have

the opportunity to meet directly with managers and key opinion leaders. Which
increases their chances of promotion. Additionally, they have the opportunity to
travel and interact with different clients in person and remotely. This means that
as a product support specialist, you will continue to build your network, which will
open the door to advance vertically and horizontally in your career.

Technology STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIP DIRECTOR
Industry 12
“The ability to identify specific issues and solve complex problems through critical
thinking that you developed in grad school will help you understand which alliances
would be of most benefit to your company.”
A strategic relationship or strategic partnership is an agreement between two or
more commercial enterprises to pursue a set of agreed-upon goals. Companies
form strategic partnerships when each possesses one or more business assets or
has some expertise that will help the other by enhancing their businesses. This can
also mean that one firm is helping the other to expand to other marketplaces by
providing specific expertise.
Strategic relationship directors are the ones that make these long-lasting
agreements happen and ensure that the common goals are achieved. As a
strategic relationship director, you will be responsible for helping maintain a good
relationship between all parties, identify opportunities for new alliances, and
develop strategies for raising revenue.
In today’s world, strategic relationships power innovation and growth in all
kinds of industries. This is especially true for companies in the IT, biopharma,
and biotech sectors in which STEM PhDs can make a significant contribution.
Traditionally, strategic relationship directors have a background in management
and communication. Yet, as is the case with other positions in this list, the ability
of PhDs to utilize their technical knowledge to troubleshoot problems and help
companies develop better strategies for success has increased their demand as
strategic relationship directors.
As a STEM PhD, you are in a good position to understand the pipeline of IT,
biopharma, and biotech companies and to tackle and analyze big data, which are

getting more important every day. The ability to identify specific issues and solve
complex problems through critical thinking, which you developed in grad school,
will help you understand which alliance would be of most benefit to your company
and design strategies to achieve said alliances.
As a strategic relationship director, you will collaborate with management to make
sure that the company has an effective framework for creating and maintaining
business relationships and will be in charge of designing strategies that will foster
collaboration between your company and others. This means that you will have
to not only understand the structure and goals of the company you are working
for but also discern the whole panorama of your industry, including current
competitors and possible partners. You don’t need business experience to get a
position as a strategic relationship director, but gaining business acumen will help
you excel in this position.
Since most strategic partnerships are formal contracts that are legally binding,
you will also have to understand the specifics of each agreement you mediate,
ensure that your company complies with this agreement, and take action in case
of non-compliance either from your company or a business partner. This means
that you will have to gain some understanding of the laws that govern strategic
relationships.
Strategic relationship directors work at corporate firms, non-profits, and learning
institutions. These are leadership positions in which you will play a key role in the
growth and profitability of the company. Therefore, the compensation and benefits
packages are good. With a steady rise in innovation-based businesses, the need for
strategic relationship directors has significantly increased, and the trend is for this
position to continue growing. If you want to apply your technical knowledge and
transferable skills to set strategies that will create the innovations of tomorrow,
you should consider transitioning to a role in strategic relationships.

Financial QUANTITATIVE ANALYST
Services 13
“Over the last 10 years employment opportunities for QAs in the US has grown by
29.04 percent.”
This is another career that is almost unknown to science PhDs, even though it can
be one of their most lucrative professional options. Someone involved in academic
research may find it hard to believe that they can apply for a position in a financial
organization. The most direct path into a quantitative analysis career is by getting
a PhD in a discipline like Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Engineering, or certain
areas in Computer Science. Although a Masters in Finance possesses the required
qualification, firms often prefer PhDs because of their proven ability to conduct
independent research.
Opportunities for quantitative analysts are often found in major trading-heavy
financial institutions. The responsibilities of a quantitative analyst include
quantitative data analysis, financial research, statistical modeling, and pattern
recognition related to predicting trades. This role will require you to quickly
become proficient with customized software packages designed to make forecasts,
predict market trends, and analyze data. Even though research constitutes a
substantial part of quantitative analysts’ duties, there is one key difference from
academia: Investment information is highly time-sensitive, so you have less time
to carry out research. The ability to work under pressure and with minimal
supervision is a desirable trait among quantitative analysts. Regardless of your
specific academic background, the key traits required to be successful in this field
are financial knowledge, a grasp of mathematical concepts, and competency in
specific computer programs.
Since most industries are affected by globalization, some financial firms prefer

their analysts not only to concentrate on a specific sector but focus on a
geographical region or country. In this case, along with your financial analysis
skills, you will be expected to gain extensive expertise in economic policies,
political trends, and even the cultural aspects of that region. The ability to speak
and read a foreign language can also prove to be beneficial in this scenario.
During their initial years, analysts tend to specialize in one industry sector.
With experience, quantitative analysts can progress to the role of a portfolio
manager entrusted with overseeing multiple entry-level analysts. Alternatively,
some analysts transition to other related positions such as hedge fund analyst, or
for those with computer background, quantitative computer model development.
Some quantitative analysts may go on to become fund managers who are generally
employed by individual investors.
Considering its financial reward, it is not surprising that these positions are some
of the most highly competitive careers, and since the financial crash of 2008, the
selection process has become even tougher. Therefore, anything you can do to
distinguish yourself from the competition will prove to be beneficial. For those
still in graduate school who are serious about pursuing this career, a certification
in financial analysis will put you well ahead of the competition.
Over the last 10 years, employment opportunities for QAs in the US have grown
by 29%, and they are expected to keep increasing. According to labor statistics, QA
positions are expected to grow by 20% through to 2018.
HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT OFFER QUANTITATIVE
ANALYST ROLES:
y JP Morgan Chase & Co
y Bank of America
y TD Bank Financial Group

Financial EQUITY RESEARCH ANALYST
Services 14
“The ability to parse large volumes of information, write reports after analyzing a lot
of data, and in-depth technical knowledge of the field (gained during your PhD) are
essential transferable skills for this job.”
It is difficult for some academics to imagine a PhD in Molecular Biology working
for a financial institution. But there are a lot of science PhDs working as equity
research analysts. The goal of an equity research analyst is to provide information
to buy-side investors that will enable these investors to make informed trade
decisions. Firms rely on their analysts to answer inquiries from clients, other firm
personnel, and the general public about the risks and benefits of investing in an
industry sector.
You will be expected to research companies you are covering, analyze their latest
developments, and create financial reports using this information. The majority
of a research analyst’s time is spent researching new information by searching
on the internet, researching scientific papers, talking to investors, and attending
meetings. A research analyst combines this information with scientific knowledge
to conduct evaluations and risk assessments for companies. Finally, research
analysts must make investment recommendations based on their analysis of the
company––or even an entire sector. These financial models help the firm’s clients
to make sound investments.
The market is affected by a wide range of factors, so equity research analysts
are also expected to stay aware of current news. You will discuss market trends
with managers of the firm and talk to investors to gauge trader sentiments. As a
research analyst, you should take these factors into consideration while forming
your final predictions about a company’s earnings. Each analyst closely follows

only a small number of companies as it requires a lot of detailed analysis.
Equity research firms are best known for their reports. Each quarter, when a
company you’re covering releases their quarterly earnings report, launches a major
product, or undergoes a major acquisition, you will be expected to release a report
for the investors. This report will explain potential impacts on the company’s
trading prospects. Generally, this report is produced by equity research analysts
working as a team with research associates.
Quantitative and analytical abilities represent key transferable skills for advanced-
science-degree holders transitioning to this role. Other professional talents like the
ability to parse large volumes of information, write reports after analyzing a lot of
data, and in-depth technical knowledge of the field (gained during your PhD) are
essential transferable skills for this job. This can be a high-pressure job in terms of
producing timely results and working long hours, but it is a financially rewarding
job, and there will be ample opportunity for growth for those who are good at
forecasting. HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT OFFER
QUANTITATIVE ANALYST ROLES:
y Morgan Stanley
y Evercore
y Bank of America- Meryll Lynch
y JP Morgan Chase & Co

Financial HEALTH ECONOMIST
Services 15
“The health economist career path is financially rewarding, as the median annual
salary is estimated to be $91,860. Besides the salary you will be serving a noble goal.”
Society strives to provide and improve medical services, but while this requires
medical/clinical science professionals, efficient economic management is equally
important – without proper financial support, healthcare facilities are simply not
sustainable. This economic management is the function of a health economist.
Health economists are the professionals responsible for understanding the financial
requirements of healthcare organizations. Health economists use tools of economic
evaluation to advise these organizations in order to maintain optimal facility
efficiency. As a health economist, you can be involved in either the private or
public sector. You can apply your expertise in a hospital setting, health insurance
organization, government health agency, or pharmaceutical corporation. Public
health organizations like federal governments or the United Nations also employ
Health Economists. Health economists often serve on advisory boards that support
and provide guidance to policymakers for cost-effective planning of public health
initiatives. Health economists not only advise in the distribution of resources but
help in understanding the economic impact of major epidemics.
This career track represents an ideal opportunity for those with advanced
training in life sciences, economics, or public health. In addition to scientific
knowledge, you will need to have business skills – especially those associated with
the distribution of wealth and cost management as those will be your primary
responsibilities. The health economist career path is financially rewarding with
a median annual salary estimated around $95,000. In addition to earning such a
rewarding salary, health economists serve a noble goal: improving the standard

of healthcare in the local region or even internationally. If you’re looking for an
exciting career that also gives you the opportunity to serve others and solve health
issues, this can be an ideal career path.
Usually, the minimum academic requirement for a health economist job is a
bachelor’s degree in one of the relevant scientific disciplines. But owing to the
demand and competitiveness of the field, employers prefer hiring candidates who
possess an advanced graduate degree. Health economists work in a variety of
organizations, and their specific responsibilities vary depending on the organization.
Therefore, professionals can enter this field from a wide range of academic
backgrounds including epidemiology, public health, policy management, economics,
international relations, or biostatistics.
Candidates with analytical skills and the ability to make sense of complex data are
ideal professionals for this field. As you will be interacting regularly with people
from various backgrounds, it is also important to communicate effectively with
those who lack detailed technical expertise. The ability to plan while keeping the big
picture in mind is another much-needed skill in this role.
Government agencies and major international nonprofit organizations like the
United Nations are taking more initiative to be better prepared for controlling
global epidemics. On the other hand, in the private sector, the pharmaceutical
industry is experiencing rapid growth and ever-increasing competition. As a result
of these developments, in both private and public sectors, there is an increasing
need for health economists.

Intellectual INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Property 16 LAWYER
“A career in patent law is rewarding on its own, but it can also open up doors to
various other high-level executive roles later on.”
When researchers develop an invention with significant commercial value, this
innovation can’t be immediately commercialized. There are various steps involved
between invention and commercialization, and one of the first––and most
essential––steps is to protect the intellectual property (IP) by filing for a patent.
This is the responsibility of an intellectual property lawyer, also known as a patent
lawyer.
In order to be successful in this field, IP lawyers have to be equally knowledgeable
in technology and patent law. That is why almost all IP lawyers possess an
advanced science degree in the specific sector in which they operate. In the case
of life science IP law, a very large proportion of IP lawyers have a PhD, and some
even have multiple years of postdoctoral training experience from reputable
academic institutes.
As with every other professional role, there are several possible paths one may
follow to become an established IP lawyer. You can get a PhD or other advanced
degree in a scientific field, and then go to law school. After law school, you can
apply to IP law firms for an IP lawyer position. Another common option is to get a
PhD in science, join a patent-law firm as a scientific consultant, and start gaining IP
law knowledge through your work. The firm may let you go to law school while you
are still working. In many cases, the law firm pays the tuition. In either situation,
before you are eligible to litigate IP cases, you will be required to pass a patent law
examination offered by the USPTO, commonly known as the “Patent Bar.”

This field is suitable for science PhDs who are detail-oriented and do not mind
a lot of reading and writing. Key transferable skills for this role include detailed
subject knowledge, technical writing skills, and the ability to research specific,
relevant information. For this role, you will need to pick up legal terms, search
patent databases, and draft patents. One exciting part of this profession is that you
will have access to confidential information about recent scientific inventions. You
will be instrumental in helping these developments achieve commercial success.
As is obvious from the responsibilities of an IP lawyer, the most likely places
to find this opportunity will be in IP law firms. However, you can also find
employment in technology-based organizations with their own legal divisions and
in some major research institutes such as the NIH.
A career in patent law is rewarding on its own, but it can also open up doors to
various other high-level executive roles later on. Owing to an understanding of
legal material and knowledge of the sector in which they are employed, IP lawyers
are highly sought after as consultants for growing organizations. Qualified,
experienced IP lawyers are often offered advisor roles for startups. IP lawyers
work with a range of professionals, from academic researchers to the owners of
startups, which facilitates the development of a substantial network of talented
contacts. These contacts can be valuable for further career progression.
EXAMPLES OF ORGANIZATIONS WHICH OFFER THIS OPPORTUNITY:
y Foley and Lardner, LLP
y Kilpatrick, Townsend and Stockton
y Cantour Colburn LLP
y Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC

Intellectual PATENT AGENT OR SCIENTIFIC
Property 17 CONSULTANT
“You will be constantly exposed to cutting-edge technology, and you’ll learn about a
broad range of new inventions in a fairly short amount of time.”
Technology-based industries, as well as academic research institutes, are judged
by the number and quality of novel innovations they produce. One of the key
components in the process of innovation and its commercialization is the
protection of intellectual property. Without a patent, a new invention can’t progress
beyond the research laboratory. Science PhDs with knowledge of the legal field can
be involved in this legal process in a few different roles. We have discussed IP law
and mentioned that a science PhDs can become a patent attorney by going to law
school after acquiring a PhD. But law firms that deal with intellectual property also
hire PhDs as scientific advisors or patent agents. For this role, you are not required
to have a law degree. As a patent agent, you can play an important role in the
drafting, submission, and securing the final approval of a patent.
Generally, a science PhD is hired as a scientific consultant and is mostly involved
in searching patents and conducting scientific due diligence, and this gives one an
opportunity to learn about the legal field. Advanced science degree holders who
join the firm as scientific advisors are expected to clear the USPTO examination
(commonly known as the patent bar) and become patent agents. They are generally
given one year by a law firm to prepare for and clear the USPTO examination.
Once you pass this exam, you are eligible to function officially as a patent agent.
Patent agents conduct patent prosecution, so in-depth scientific expertise is useful
in researching technical documents associated with legal issues. They are also
eligible to draft patents. In most cases, once a science PhD has gained two to three

years of work experience in the legal field, they choose to go to law school. If an
advanced science degree holder is interested, some law firms even pay for their
patent agents to go to law school and become patent attorneys. They may continue
working as patent agents during the day and attend law school in the evening. The
majority of reputable law programs offer evening classes designed for working
legal professionals.
Besides having technical knowledge, the most important quality required for
being successful in this role is strong writing skills. As a patent agent, this is what
you will be doing much of the time. Although you will be utilizing your scientific
knowledge, writing legal material differs, and you must adapt to this style and
learn legal terms. Another skill that you will be using frequently is doing research
to look for related patents on intellectual property databases. Your ability to
search for information, acquired as a PhD candidate, will be a key transferable skill
for this role.
As laws are regularly updated by the USPTO, another essential aspect of this role
is to constantly keep up with revisions of existing laws or additions of new ones.
The analytical skills and writing skills that you acquired during graduate research
is directly applicable to this field. As your daily task will involve drafting patents
for novel inventions, you will be constantly exposed to cutting-edge technology
and learn about a broad range of new inventions in a fairly short amount of time.
Working in an intellectual property law firm allows you to work with a wide
range of people involved in the life science industry, so this allows you to build a
network that will prove valuable for your career progression.

Intellectual TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
Property 18 OFFICER
“It keeps you at the forefront of new innovations coming out of multiple labs and
offers an ideal blend of academic research and business development.”
If you invent something that has direct translational value, what steps will be
necessary to actually bring it out in the market? As you can imagine, it is a long
and complex process, and one of the crucial parts of this process will be applying
for patent(s) and dealing with the intellectual property law associated with your
invention.
This is one of those rare opportunities which is right there in your university and
can give you exposure to the world outside academic research without even leaving
your campus. The purpose of a university’s Office of Technology Transfer is to
manage intellectual property resulting from research conducted in the university
and facilitate the commercialization of these innovations.
Almost every major research institute, university, and research hospital employs
science PhDs as Technology Transfer Officers. The licensing of technologies is a
major source of revenue, and universities wish to see a return on their investment
in research. According to the Association of University Technology Managers
(AUTM) “Licensing activity survey FY2008” (2010) a total of 3,208 patents were
granted to university research personnel, and licensing fees of technologies from
institutions of higher education generated a total of about $2.5 billion in the fiscal
year 2008. In the same year, research faculties across the nation created 595 new
companies utilizing the technologies they invented. And all this happened through
the technology transfer offices of these research organizations.

As a technology transfer officer, your goal will be to identify promising
technologies, manage intellectual property (IP) portfolios, search for opportunities
for the licensing of these inventions, and facilitate the foundation of startups
based on the university’s research.
This keeps you in touch with new innovations coming out of multiple labs and
offers an ideal blend of academic research and business development. As you will
be working in close collaboration with the inventors, this career will enable you to
be involved with the commercial aspects of the technology sector without being
completely detached from academia.
This position offers the ideal platform for a science PhD to develop skills that
will help them to transition to other careers. As you will constantly be dealing
with USPTO submissions, managing patent portfolios and patent deadlines, you
will gain the basic knowledge required for an IP law career. Additionally, you will
be working with startups that are being spun off from the university’s invention.
This will offer you the opportunity to acquire business strategy and business
development knowledge. Tenure as a Technology Transfer Officer can also be a
great pathway to transition into business development roles in industry or a career
in IP law.

Intellectual PATENT EXAMINER
Property 19
“Science PhDs often enjoy working as a patent agent as this role provides a
combination of technical, writing and legal duties. It also offers the opportunity to
learn about and deal with the most current technological advances happening in your
areas of interest.”
Protection of intellectual property is a crucial step in realizing the commercial
potential of innovation, so evaluation of new inventions and granting patents is an
essential aspect for the progress of all innovation dependent industry sectors. This
granting of licenses is regulated by the patent offices of respective governments,
and it provides professional opportunities for science advanced degree holders in
the role of Patent Examiners.
Searching through databases of patents and understanding past patents are major
parts of this role. The purpose of this patent search is to find the most relevant
previously published technical disclosures (“prior art”) so that the patentability
of a new submission can be compared against it, and the patentability of the
application can be judged.
As a patent examiner, you will be entrusted to determine whether the invention
is sufficiently novel and inventive to be granted a patent. To do this, you will be
utilizing your scientific knowledge for technical and legal evaluation of the patent
application and comparing it with state of the art. Once you have evaluated the
initial application, you will be required to communicate your decision to the client.
A patent examiner often suggests modification and conducts any negotiation with
the inventors or their legal representatives if necessary. You will also be required
to write a final report about your decision.

Science PhDs often enjoy working as patent agents as this role provides a
combination of technical writing and legal duties. It also offers the opportunity to
learn about and deal with the most current technological advances happening in
your areas of interest. You must realize that this position requires a lot of database
searching and working alone. So if you prefer interacting with people during work,
then this is not the ideal role for you.
Although an undergraduate college degree is the official minimum academic
requirement for being a patent examiner, science PhDs are favored for this role.
This is even truer in the cases of examiners dealing with patents for inventions in
the fields of life science and chemistry as detailed scientific knowledge is highly
valued. Almost every patent agent evaluating biotechnology, medicinal chemistry,
or pharmaceutical related patents has a PhD in the relevant field. Written
communication is also an important skill for this position. Patent Examiners need
to be efficient at searching databases, investigating technical information, and
making logical analyses as they have to implement these daily for searching and
analyzing prior art. Logical thinking and researching for information are essential
transferable skills most science PhDs already possess.
You can improve your chances of finding employment as a patent examiner by
gaining some knowledge about scientific patents and intellectual property. A
science PhD or postdoctoral researcher can achieve this by interning in their
university’s Office of Technology Transfer. If your lab’s research yields any
patentable result or product, another way of gaining IP law experience is to work
on IP related documentation associated with your lab’s research.
Since nowadays databases are global and international collaborations are quite
common, you may come across prior art in a different language, or you might
have to negotiate with a team of foreign inventors, so it helps to know multiple
languages. If you want to work as a patent agent in Europe, you have to be fluent

in at least two official languages of the European Patent Office (EPO): English,
German, and French.
As mentioned previously, your primary source of employment will be government
agencies such as the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) or EPO
that examine and grant patents. The USPTO alone employs about 6000 patent
examiners, making it one of the largest IP law-related organizations in the world,
and they are in constant need of new examiners.
This means that if you work as a patent agent, you must be prepared to be placed
in the cities where major federal offices are situated. Those working as patent
agents in Europe’s EPO will be based in either Munich or Berlin (Germany) or The
Hague (the Netherlands) while their US counterparts are likely to be confined to
the Washington, D.C. area.
The role of a patent examiner will not only offer you an exciting opportunity
where you can utilize your scientific knowledge, but it is also a noble job.
In this role, a science PhD will be directly facilitating innovation and its
commercialization as without a patent, an invention has little value in the real
world.

Writing & MARKETING COMMUNICATION
Editing 20 SPECIALIST
“With continued growth in the technology-based industry, professionals who possess a
combination of relevant scientific knowledge and adequate technical writing skills will
be increasingly sought after for marketing communication roles.”
A Marketing Communication Specialist position will be a good fit for advanced
science degree holders who enjoy communication and writing for a broad
audience. Marketing Communication Specialists are responsible for producing
communication material for both internal purposes as well as communicating
externally with corporate partners, creating advertisements, and writing technical
product brochures.
The responsibilities can be wide-ranging, and your contribution will be spread
across multiple divisions such as marketing (particularly advertising) and public
relations. A marketing communication specialist can also be involved in writing
and managing the content of the official website of an organization. So you will
get to interact with people from almost every division of your organization.
The marketing materials with technically accurate information that you find in
the stalls of various pharmaceutical, instrumentation, or software companies at
scientific conferences are also produced by marketing communication specialists.
You may even be required to work with leaders of the marketing division to
produce technical material that will be used to train newly hired technical sales
staff.
If you are a science PhD who enjoys writing, then you should definitely consider
pursuing a career as a marketing communication specialist. Considering their
key responsibilities, it is evident that proficiency in communication and writing

skills are absolute necessities. So, PhDs who are used to writing papers, publishing
scientific articles, and dissertations already possess the key transferable skills
for this position. In addition to writing, other desirable qualities for this role are
interpersonal skills, oral presentation skills, and editing skills. Besides technical
know-how, it is beneficial to have basic knowledge of branding and marketing.
One key difference from writing in academia that you must keep in mind is that
you must tailor your content to your audience. Even though you are writing about
technical aspects, it should not be filled with scientific jargon or complicated
details that are acceptable in academic research articles. If you enjoy being creative
and are comfortable with designing and formatting, this will be a major advantage
for this role. As social media is a key communication tool for every organization,
being social media savvy can also be an asset for those who wish to work in this
position.
According to a recent survey by The Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for marketing
and promotional professionals are projected to experience 13 percent growth
during the 2008 to 2018 period. With continued growth in the technology-based
industry, professionals who possess a combination of relevant scientific knowledge
and adequate technical writing skills will be increasingly sought after for
marketing communication roles.
For science PhDs, the most likely place for finding opportunity as marketing
communication specialists will be in organizations involved in one of the
technology-based sectors such as IT/ software, biotech, healthcare, and electronics.
Another option would be to seek employment in a specialized marketing and
communications firm that offers marketing communication services to various
clients, including those in technology-based sectors.

Writing & SCIENTIFIC WRITER OR
Editing 21 TECHNICAL EDITOR
“The writing skills that you developed while writing research publications and your
dissertation can be utilized by a variety of organizations.”
One of the most common concerns expressed by science PhDs who wish to
transition out of academia is that they do not have adequate transferable skills.
However, in graduate school, one does a lot of writing. Lab reports, scientific
articles, assignments for graduate courses, and above all, your dissertation. You
will be glad to know these writing skills can be put to good use in multiple roles
available outside academia.A wide variety of organizations, ranging from the tech
industry to market research firms, require the services of professionals who have
the combination of scientific knowledge and writing skills that science PhDs have
already acquired.
Every major technology-based organization needs people who are good at writing
scientific material for a variety of purposes, such as communicating with investors,
providing information to the general public, writing instruction manuals,
advertising the products, and also for maintaining a social media presence. If
you are the kind of person who really enjoys researching information and writing
about it, this may be the ideal career for you.
Another positive aspect of this profession is that the demand for scientific
writers is not limited to a narrow range of industries. The writing skills that
you developed while writing research publications and your dissertation can be
utilized by a variety of organizations. There is a high demand for these abilities in
technology-based industries such as IT, pharmaceuticals, and biotech. There are
also employment opportunities in other organizations that specialize in medical

writing or technical writing for a specific sector. Even market research companies
require writers for their reports.
Another aspect of scientific writing that makes it suited to science PhDs is that
before creating a report or writing a technical document, you will be required to
do a large amount of research and information gathering, and then selecting the
relevant details and facts suitable for your article. These are skills you have already
developed as a PhD or a Postdoc. A scientific or technical writer must remain
aware of all the most recent developments in his or her field. So even though you
are not directly involved in research, as a technical writer, you will get to know all
the current technological breakthroughs. Unlike working as a PhD in this position,
you will be writing about a wide range of scientific topics, so you will be exposed
to a large variety of knowledge.
For those of you who would wish to stay more closely associated with academia,
writing and editing for scientific journals or writing news articles related to
science and technology are other options that might be more to your liking. If you
do not wish to travel, this role will be comfortable as writers rarely need to do so.
Some even work independently from a home office. This career will be suitable for
those science PhDs who prefer to work alone rather than in a large team.

Writing & SCIENTIFIC JOURNALIST
Editing 22
“If you are seriously considering pursuing scientific journalism as a career path,
starting a blog where you can showcase your scientific writing talents might open up
doors in this field.”
Anyone who follows the news must have noticed that many important news stories
are associated with science and technology - from electric cars to outbreaks, to
climate change, to controversies with GM crops. This opens up opportunities
in journalism for advanced science degree holders. While covering stories like
these, science PhDs with writing skills are likely to be favored over professionals
from other fields who have equally good writing credentials but lack the in-depth
scientific knowledge.
Apart from having scientific knowledge, another essential quality you obviously
need to have to be successful in this position is your scientific writing skills. All
science PhDs have extensive writing experience from writing research articles,
grants, and your dissertation. So, this will be directly applicable to the role of a
scientific journalist.
However, there is one major difference between writing in academia that you need
to be aware of. As a scientific journalist, the vast majority of your audience will be
people without a science background. So, through your writing, you should be able
to convey the technical aspects of a story to people outside the scientific world.
You should precisely describe cutting-edge scientific developments in a language
that can be understood by readers who are not experts in that specific topic.
While working in a lab conducting extensive research and gathering information
before starting a project is considered mandatory. These specific skills can be

applied while investigating the detailed information related to a story that you
will be writing as a journalist. Before you can write a story, you need to research
the scientific facts associated with it. In a world driven by easily accessible
information, anyone can do fact-checking. So, the scientific accuracy of news
stories is more important than ever. An inaccurate scientific fact can ruin an
organization’s reputation. This is another reason why professionals with scientific
academic training are sort after in the world of science journalism.
Scientific journalists can find employment in new channels, scientific journals, and
news magazines. If you are seriously considering pursuing scientific journalism
as a career path, starting a blog where you can showcase your scientific writing
talents might open up doors in this field.

Writing & MEDICAL WRITER OR MEDICAL
Editing 23 COMMUNICATOR
“Employers prefer professionals with an advanced degree in the relevant field.”
The various divisions of a pharmaceutical or healthcare organization require the
creation and distribution of documents for several different purposes. Medical
Writers, who are also known as Medical Communicators, play an integral role in
this function. Medical writers create regulatory applications, marketing material
for a drug or medical device, clinical trials related documents, documentation
intended for institutional review boards (IRBs), and other official paperwork
necessary for the medical sector.
As the job title indicates, written communication skills are essential for this
position. But one should keep in mind that writing skills alone are not enough
to be successful in this position. Medical writers must also have knowledge of
medical science, which makes this a good career choice for life science advanced
degree holders. It is essential to have the ability to summarize and explain large
pieces of technical information in a way that will be understandable by a wide
variety of readers. The kind of technical knowledge you need to have will also vary
depending on the type of writing you do. For example, regulatory writers must
understand the regulatory process and related documentation. At the same time,
those working on IRBs or clinical trial documents must have knowledge of the
clinical trial process.
Although there are no predetermined, strict academic qualifications required for
a medical writer’s job, employers prefer professionals with an advanced degree in
the relevant field. The pharmaceutical industry mostly hires those writers who
have a doctoral degree in life science. You will need to have excellent writing

skills, strong subject knowledge, and an ability to organize ideas so that it is easily
understandable for a wide range of audiences.
Besides having the required academic background, you can further improve your
chances of being successful in this field by taking writing courses that will offer
you the opportunity to write on subjects outside your specific circle. Even though
you might be good at writing research manuscripts and dissertations, these are
not great examples of what you will be required to do as a medical writer. This is
because academic scientific writing is filled with jargon and is meant for a very
narrow range of audience who understands the subject very well. On the other
hand, a medical writer will sometimes be required to communicate information of
medical studies or trials so that it offers clarity to audiences from a much wider
range, including clinical regulators, investors, physicians, or even the general
public.
There are several training courses available for medical writers that provide
specific training and certifications required for this role. Professional
organizations such as the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) and
the Drug Information Association (DIA), as well as several universities, offer
certifications for medical writing. The AMWA even has a specific medical writing
certification course for the pharmaceutical industry.
Other than acquiring relevant certification, another major advantage of joining a
professional network such as AMWA is that you build a network within the field
and also get to know about the sector’s current trends and career opportunities.
Even if you are an excellent writer, you will be more successful if you have in-
depth technical knowledge and familiarity with the terms used in the specific
industry. So to prepare yourself, try to gain as much knowledge as possible
about the life science industry. Often those trying to establish themselves as

medical writers acquire this experience by first working as scientific researchers,
regulatory affairs associates, clinical trial professionals, or in another role
associated with the life science industry. This will prove to be invaluable in
understanding the concepts and how the industry works; knowledge critical to
your success as a medical writer.
Your primary source of employment will be pharmaceutical or medical device
companies, clinical research organizations (CROs), and specialized medical
education or publishing organizations. Often science PhDs who are trying to break
into this field start off as freelance writers to gain initial experience and establish
their credibility. Even established medical writers sometimes continue to work as
freelancers, owing to the advantage of flexible work hours and the opportunity to
work for multiple clients.
Data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that technical/scientific
writers (a category that includes medical writers) will experience a 15% job growth
over ten years starting from 2012. In recent years there has been substantial
growth in the medical sector, regulatory guidelines have become more stringent,
and there has been more pressure on pharmaceutical companies to share
information with the public. All these trends have resulted in increasing demand
for medical writers who possess the unique combination of scientific knowledge
and writing communication skills, making this a great alternative career
opportunity for life science advanced degree holders with an aptitude for writing.

Information &
Data Management HEALTHCARE INFORMATION
24 TECHNOLOGY (HIT)
SPECIALIST
“Students who are trained in life science fields that involve the use of online databases
such as Genomics or Bioinformatics will find transitioning in this role easier.”
The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act
(HITECH Act) was enacted by the US Government in 2009. One of the primary
criteria of this act is to convert all healthcare-related data into electronic format.
Owing to this new government initiative, there has been a massive push for the
adoption of healthcare technology by healthcare providers. This has made the role
of HIT specialist one of the fastest-growing jobs. As a HIT professional, you will
be responsible for the organization of patients’ medical records in the database,
verifying medical charts, and regularly communicating with physicians to ensure
the accuracy or the clarification of diagnoses.
Knowledge of computers and databases is essential for this role, and you should
also develop knowledge of electronic records maintenance and data security.
Picking up skills related to the processing of electronic records, ensuring data
privacy, and implementing procedures of medical coding is also necessary for
functioning in the HIT field. Understanding of regulatory laws associated with
electronic medical records is also important, as every HIT specialist needs to
ensure that their activities are complying with medical rules.
Successful HIT professionals must be meticulous in handling data, be detail-
oriented, have excellent organizational skills, and be able to process and track
large amounts of information efficiently. All these are qualities that advanced

science degree holders develop during their graduate training, making them
suitable for this role. Additionally, HIT professionals with knowledge of healthcare
and medical issues will find it easier to transition into this role.
Students who are trained in life science fields that involve the use of online
databases such as Genomics or Bioinformatics will find transitioning in this
role easier. Knowledge of medical research and medical terminology is also an
important transferable asset. Other than scientific knowledge, you will need to
learn about medical coding, information technology, clinical databases, medical
billing, and anatomy to be successful in this field.
If you are really keen on pursuing a career in Healthcare Informatics, you should
consider taking a certification course on HIT. Since the actual work mostly
involves handling online databases, taking online courses gives you hands-on
training. There are several online courses available about this field, and they are a
good way to increase your chances of getting hired.
Since this field requires handling of medical data and compliance with medical
rules, it requires professionals to pass certification exams. There are various types
of certifications available for this career path, and which one you are eligible for will
depend on your academic background and career goals. Earning these certifications
or licenses will also significantly improve your chances of career growth.
Until recently, all healthcare organizations were maintaining patient records in
paper format. But with the new government initiative, there is an ongoing push
to gradually transfer all healthcare-related information to databases. This means
many medical facilities need HIT specialists over the next 10 years. Hospitals,
ambulatory healthcare services, clinical research centers, academic research
institutions, and health insurance providers are the main sources of employment
for HIT professionals.

As more and more organizations are opting for digital methods of medical records
management, this career is expected to grow rapidly. A HIT related survey
published in 2013 reported that between 2007-2011, there were a total of 434,282
HIT related job postings, making it one of the fastest-growing fields.

Information & BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE
Data Management
25
ANALYST
“One of the most important personality traits for being successful in this role
is to be meticulous.”
The simplest definition of a Business Intelligence Analyst (BIA) is that it is
someone who looks into a large amount of information and analyzes it to
determine the strengths and weaknesses of an organization, and then engineers a
plan for the organization’s future success.
Although the basic educational requirement for a BIA is a bachelor’s degree related
to computer science, most organizations prefer a graduate degree. A combination
of business experiences and a computer science degree is highly sought after
for this role. If you have some database management experience and specific
expertise related to the relevant field (for example, finance or healthcare), this will
significantly improve your chances of securing a job as a BIA. Besides having good
knowledge of computer science, analytics and communication skills are highly
valued in this position.
As prior business experience is valued in this field, completing an internship or
certification course associated with business intelligence while working towards
completing your graduate degree will give you a significant advantage. There are
several online courses available for business analysis that will also add value to
your resume.
One of the most important personality traits for being successful in

this role is to be meticulous. Sifting through huge volumes of data and
extracting actionable information is essential for this position. Those who

are flexible enough to work independently as well as being a part of a larger
team are suitable for this role. All these are skills that advanced science
degree holders have developed, thus making them suitable candidates for
a BIA position. Another advantage of having a graduate degree is that it
increases your chances of being promoted to a senior position.
As a BIA, you will be responsible for analyzing data and assisting the company in
understanding future trends and how it needs to adapt. While starting a project,
you will be required to research the company’s past performance data. Then, using
this information and knowledge of the current trends, the BIA may be responsible
for creating a database that will tell the decision-makers about where the company
is going and how it needs to adapt to current trends to be successful.
BIA job opportunities tend to be concentrated in areas with a high number of
business organizations. According to a recent Forbes report, Houston, Washington
D.C., Boston, and Philadelphia are some of the best cities to find business
intelligence related jobs, and the two sectors which are most likely to hire BIA are
healthcare and finance.
Careers within the BI field are rapidly evolving. After gaining initial experience,
one can further specialize by moving into one of three related fields. Some BIAs go
into consulting and contracting. This career path might require some travel, but it
results in a high financial payoff. This is suitable for those with a range of business
skills along with their technical knowledge.
Those analysts who pursue an industry-specific track will gain specialization
in analyzing data related to a particular type of company or type of data.
Some industry professionals might also get involved in customized software
development. The third option for analysts is to work in government or non-profit
sectors. BIAs associated with these organizations also enjoy more opportunities to

be involved in training and preparing reports.
As this is a growing field, it has the advantage of offering multiple ways to enter
into it and various opportunities for career growth once employed. BIAs can
enter the field under a range of job titles, depending on their prior experience and
education. Those with a graduate degree who can demonstrate business acumen
and people skills can rise to levels of Business Intelligence Project Manager in a
relatively short time.
With continuous change affecting all sectors and organizations dealing with
organizing and analyzing an ever-increasing volume of data, this role is predicted
to have a very promising job outlook for the coming decade. According to
the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), BIA hiring is projected to grow by 22
percent between 2010 and 2020. As businesses adapt to handling more business
intelligence related data, the position of BIA will be in more demand. The
increasing demand for this role is also expected to result in a steady growth in
average salary.

Information & DATA SCIENTIST
Data Management
26 “Graduate degree holders who are trained to recognize fundamental methods of
machine learning, data mining, and predictive analytics are the ones who are most in
demand for these DS positions.”
If you have been following the recent trends in business, it is impossible to not
notice the rapid growth in the utilization of big data and analytics. This has
naturally resulted in an increase in demand for professionals capable of analyzing
data and extracting actionable information from it. This has led to the rapid rise
in demand for Data Scientists (DSs) who possess the required knowledge.
This is a relatively new career path that has been around for less than a decade.
The term “Data Scientist” was officially used for the first time in 2008 by D.J.
Patil and Jeff Hammerbacher, who were the respective heads of data and analytics
at LinkedIn and Facebook at that time.
Graduate degree holders who are trained to recognize fundamental methods of
machine learning, data mining, and predictive analytics are the ones who are
most in demand for these DS positions. The preferred academic background for
DSs positions are generally computer science, software engineering, statistics,
computational modeling, and math majors. Basic knowledge of statistical
programming languages such as Python, or database querying language such as
SQL is highly sought after for data science-related roles.
Because this is a relatively new field, DSs are often responsible for developing their
own customized tools. As a DS, you will have to use your technical knowledge to
undertake academic style research to make discoveries and apply them for creative
problem-solving. One example of this is the creation of the language “Hive” by

the team of DSs at Facebook. The abilities to conduct in-depth research and
troubleshooting developed during your science graduate degree training will serve
as key transferable skills.
Capably analyzing a large quantity of data and then finding important information
from within this ocean of formless data is the key ingredient for success.
Therefore, the skills you developed during graduate research will be valuable in
this role. Computational and analytical skills are crucial, but they alone are not
enough to be successful in this role. You also need to understand the business
aspects and be able to predict how the information will influence future decisions.
So a good DS also has to develop business acumen.
Other than handling data, you will be responsible for helping others in making
data-driven decisions. To do this, you will need to learn to decipher and visualize
information from large volumes of data. So knowledge of data visualization tools
such as d3.js will be beneficial. To communicate effectively with decision-makers
and other members of the organization, you must be able to convey the message
to both technical and non-technical professionals. Teaching and presentation skills
you developed during grad school will be an important transferable skill for this
task. Communication skills are also important for this position.
Professionals required by the data science job market can be categorized into two
types: those with strong computational and technical knowledge, and analysts who
examine big data to make informed decisions. Analysts are decision-makers who
are relied upon to suggest what actions should be taken based on the data so that
it yields the maximum benefit to the organization.
One aspect of this career path that you need to be careful about is that the
position title “Data Scientist” is used to refer to a range of different roles within

companies. Verify the responsibilities of the position and how they align with your
academic background before you apply.
A recent report by The McKinsey Global Institute has predicted that by 2018 there
could be a shortage of between 140,000 to 190,000 people with in-depth analytics
training in the US alone. The same report also predicts that managers will need
to develop the knowledge required to understand big data and how it can be used
to make more efficient decisions. The number of managerial professionals who
lack these skills is estimated to be around 1.5 million by 2018. All these findings
indicate that there is a high demand for DSs, and it will continue to grow in the
next few years.

Clinical & DATA/MACHINE LEARNING
Medical Affairs ENGINEER
27
“Data engineers build and optimize the data infrastructure upon which other
employees – such as data scientists – will later perform analysis and
extract information.”
Every day, more companies across industries are creating strategies to
analyze and extract insights from big data. These companies rely on a strong
data infrastructure and on machine learning models—a subfield of artificial
intelligence—to analyze big data.
Data engineers build and optimize the data infrastructure upon which other
employees – such as data scientists – will later perform analysis and extract
information. They take the raw data and clean and organize them into datasets
and databases. They also ensure that the data are accurate and available to the
relevant individuals. Data engineers ensure the quality of the data and monitor
the data infrastructure rather than designing models or solving problems; they
can handle large amounts of data and design large scale applications. Once a new
model is designed, data engineers implement and deploy it. These individuals rely
on software engineering to perform their jobs. They have a strong knowledge of
programming languages, understand how to build and extract information from
databases, and use top-of-the-line tools to manage data.
Machine learning engineers develop the machine learning models used to analyze
big data. These sophisticated programmers run experiments to construct models
that will later enter production and become automated tools available to other
employees. They focus on designing data-driven products capable of answering
operational questions. Machine learning engineers perform some typical tasks of

data engineers, such as ensuring a functional data flow between the database and
the rest of the systems and scalable tool optimization. They also perform some
roles attributed to data scientists when they use machine learning to create tools
that analyze big data and give insights that allow them to propose strategies for
the company. These professionals need a strong knowledge of computer science,
programming, machine learning algorithms and libraries, and data and model
evaluation.
If you learned how to code and developed knowledge of statistics, linear algebra,
and computer science during your PhD, you are a strong candidate for any of
these positions. If you don’t have coding skills, but want to pursue a career in data
engineering, you can learn some coding and start programming. Programming
languages are getting easier to learn, and you don’t have to take additional formal
education to learn them. You only need the learning skills you developed during
your PhD and some online courses. Another strategy you can use is to work as
a data analyst and learn the skills you need to become a data engineer on the
job. After that, you can transition to a data engineer position within the same
company.
The need for data engineers and machine learning engineers is growing at a faster
pace that the need for data scientists. The market for data engineers grew by
122% between 2013 and 2015 and has continued to grow in the past years. Machine
learning engineer was named the top emerging job according to a LinkedIn
survey, and the year over year growth this position was 96%. Data and machine
learning engineers earn six-figure salaries and have above-average job stability and
opportunities for career progression.

Clinical & USER EXPERIENCE
Medical Affairs RESEARCHER
27
“UX researchers are in the list of CNNMoney’s 100 Best Jobs in America, and the
field is expected to grow by 15% over the next 10 years.”
User experience (UX) refers to the emotions and attitudes that a user has when
exploring a particular product, system, or service. This term was coined for
products that involve the interaction of a human with a computer, such as web
pages and apps. UX involves the practical, experiential, meaningful, and valuable
aspects of using that particular product, as well as the user’s perceptions of how
easy to use and effective the product is.
The main role of UX researchers is to make websites, apps, and other pieces
of technology as easy to use as possible by proposing the desired UX of each
product. To do so, they must gather information about the product, recognize
the conditions that must be fulfilled to achieve the desired experience, and build
prototypes and models to test the product before it enters the market. Good UX
is regarded as the most important aspect that internet products must consider
in order to win the market. Therefore, UX researchers play an essential role in
product development and success.
As a UX researcher, you will have to collect data about current products in the
market, the products that your competitors offer, and the market’s needs. You
will also have to perform surveys and interview experts. Once you gather that
information, you will have to analyze it and propose the appropriate UX for your
product based on your analyses. As a PhD, you have extensive experience gathering
great amounts of information, extracting relevant insights from it, and proposing
strategies based on those insights.

To gather the information you need, you will have to use a variety of investigative
methods. UX practitioners have borrowed many techniques from academics,
scientists, and others. In other words, the research background you have as a PhDs
will be an asset if you decide to transition into this position.
UX researchers are similar to data scientists because, rather than hypothesizing
about what a consumer may like, they analyze actual consumer behavior and form
data-driven insights to address the needs of these consumers. UX researchers
replace guesswork with informed insights, and as a PhD, you are extremely
qualified to do just that. You don’t need a specific degree to be a UX researcher,
but you should have experience with technology and an understanding of people’s
behavior. You will also need to understand your target audience
UX researchers usually work with UX designers, engineers, and product managers
to turn the insight they gather from data into actionable, consumer-centric results
that resonate with the audience. So, the collaboration and people management
skills that you gathered in grad school by mentoring undergraduates, establishing
collaborations with other labs, and discussing with your colleagues will come in
handy if you become a UX researcher.
UX researchers are in the list of CNNMoney’s 100 Best Jobs in America list
and the field is expected to grow by 15% over the next 10 years. According to
Glassdoor, the median salary of UX researcher positions is above $90,000 per year
and is expected to increase.

Clinical & EPIDEMIOLOGIST
Medical Affairs
“According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports, epidemiologists will
29
experience job growth of 24% in the next 10 years.”
Epidemiologists can be defined as specialists who study the cause of infectious
diseases and other major health problems, and their chief goal is to devise
strategies for stopping and preventing the spread of public health hazards.
As an epidemiologist, you will be responsible for determining the cause of diseases,
identify the population or region that is at risk, evaluate risk factors, and design a
plan for the prevention of further incidences. If there is already an outbreak, the
primary task of an epidemiologist is to detect and contain the epidemic as soon as
possible.
Epidemiologists often collect large volumes of clinical and demographic data and
analyze them to figure out the demographic groups which might be at risk for
specific diseases. Following their analysis, epidemiologists communicate their
findings to policymakers or healthcare professionals who can design a plan to
prevent or stop the disease outbreak. Providing management and guidelines for
healthcare programs, evaluating their progress, and continuously planning for
improvement in measures for prevention of disease are some of the other key
responsibilities of this role.
Although superficially most epidemiologists seem to be performing similar tasks.
Based on the specific type of epidemiology they are involved in and the location of
their work, they can be further classified into different types. Academic Research
Epidemiologists are employed in universities or research institutes. As the name
suggests, their primary responsibilities include conducting research on etiologic or

environmental factors and gaining a better understanding of diseases. The second
type of epidemiologists are those who mostly work in clinical trials for biopharma
organizations. They are known as Clinical Trial Epidemiologists.
They are responsible for monitoring the negative side effects of drugs in clinical
trials and providing inputs for designing clinical studies. They also advise
others on enrolling appropriate patient populations and ensuring the validity
of the trial. Yet another type of epidemiologist career path is that of an Applied
Epidemiologist. Those who follow this career path can expect to be employed
by federal agencies such as the FDA or CDC. Surveilling disease outbreaks and
investigating risk factors of the spreading of a disease are some of the key tasks
of this position. Applied epidemiologists are also called upon for recommending
responses to public health issues and assisting policymakers in decision making.
Nowadays, with the growing threat of terrorism, another field where
epidemiologists are in increasing demand is devising preventive measures against
bioterrorism. Some epidemiologists can also find employment in the department
of defense. Epidemiologists need to have a graduate degree in a related field, and
specific majors like microbiology, epidemiology, or public health are considered
highly desirable. Your training in fields of biology will prove to be useful, as
epidemiology teams have to draw upon extensive use of techniques derived from
biochemistry, and clinical and molecular biology. If you are interested in this field,
it is also preferable to have knowledge of data collection and statistical analysis for
biological samples.
As an epidemiologist, it is essential to study the data and understand the
underlying demographic and social tendencies that triggered an outbreak.
Therefore, a science advanced degree holder’s ability to analyze and understand
scientific data will be a key transferable skill for this role. Knowledge of diseases
and their fundamental origins will also prove to be instrumental.

Besides having the technical expertise, it is important to have good communication
skills (both oral and written) as your role will include advising teams of healthcare
professionals or policymakers. In most cases, you will be working and interacting
with various professionals other than the ones in your own field. So it is important
to be good at teamwork and collaboration.
According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports, epidemiologists will
experience job growth of 24% in the next 10 years. Some states in the US are even
reported to have a shortage of public health experts. As there is an increase in
awareness of public health issues and changes in healthcare policies, epidemiology
is one of the healthcare-related professions that is expected to have favorable
employment prospects in the coming years.

Clinical & CLINICAL TRIAL PROJECT
Medical Affairs MANAGER
30
“Presentation and teaching skills, which you acquired during your PhD training, will
prove to be valuable transferable skills for this role”
Science PhDs who are involved in research are well aware of the importance of
preclinical research associated with new innovations in the medical field. But
this phase is only the beginning of medical innovation, and the clinical trial that
follows it is equally important for the commercialization of a new advancement.
After the preclinical research phase, every novel therapy or medical device needs
to gain approval from the appropriate regulatory body (such as the FDA). To do
so, it has to go through a long and stringent clinical trial process. Ensuring the
smooth functioning and monitoring of clinical trials, while maintaining compliance
with regulatory guidelines are the key responsibilities of a Clinical Trials Project
Manager.
As the name suggests, a Clinical Trials Manager is responsible for the overall
management and successful completion of clinical trials. The ability to become
familiar with the rules and technical terms common to FDA regulatory processes,
such as randomization and data management, is an absolute necessity for this
role. This role will also require you to conduct the recruitment of an appropriate
number of subjects for the trial, and secure approval from the various ethics
boards.
A clinical trial manager is entrusted with a lot of documentation. You will be
writing protocols for studies, creating clinical research forms (CRF), and preparing
other key documents that are used to collect clinical data. Your scientific writing

skills will prove to be a great transferable skill for this role. Early and accurate
rectification of issues is crucial for the success of any clinical study. It is crucial to
interpret data correctly and be able to forecast the direction in which the study is
heading.
Clinical trials require efficient coordination across several different professional
departments and review boards, so being proficient in maintaining communication
and facilitating collaboration is essential to success in this role. Hence, excellent
communication (both written and oral) and strong interpersonal skills are sought-
after qualities for this position.
Failure to achieve timely completion of clinical trials results in not only massive
loss of resources, but also a possible rejection of approval for the invention.
Consequently, time management and coordination with everyone involved in the
project is essential if you want to pursue this career.
Most major clinical trials are multi-site (or even multinational), so traveling for
work and interacting with people belonging to diverse linguistic and cultural
backgrounds are integral parts of this role. Clinical trial managers not only
oversee trials, but they are also responsible for training clinical research associates
(CRA) and data management professionals. The presentation and teaching skills
which you acquired during your PhD training will prove to be valuable transferable
skills for this role.
You can find this specific role in three different kinds of organizations;
specialized Clinical Research Organizations (CRO), research hospitals, and major
pharmaceutical companies that conduct trials for their own drugs. According to
the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the healthcare industry is projected to create 4
million new jobs between 2008 and 2018. Moreover, with the recent expiration of
patents for multiple top-grossing drugs, there has been a recent push towards R&D

and trials for expediting the commercialization of new drugs. As a combined effect
of these factors, the revenue of the clinical research sector is projected to grow
from $11 billion to $23 billion in 5 years. Hence, job growth in this field is expected
to be significantly higher than that of other sectors.
EXAMPLES OF A FEW ORGANIZATIONS WHICH OFFER THIS
OPPORTUNITY:
y Parexel International
y Quintiles Transnational
y Pharmaceutical Product Development, LLC (PPD)
y ICON plc

Clinical & FDA REGULATORY AFFAIRS
Medical Affairs ADMINISTRATOR
31
“Regulatory professionals are among the least affected by job losses in the medical
sector.”
With the growing complexity and continuous evolution of regulatory laws,
advanced science degree holders with detailed scientific knowledge are in
increasing demand for regulatory roles. The primary responsibility of an FDA
Regulatory Affairs Administrator is to deal with FDA regulatory matters, which
mostly consist of documentation and filing of regulatory paperwork such as IND
(Investigational New Drug) or NDA (New Drug Application) for the approval
of clinical products by the FDA. Your main aim would be to connect the dots
between research and development of a clinical product and its regulatory
approval.
The documentation you will be responsible for will include details from how the
drug was produced to statistical analysis of the results of clinical trials. Detailed
knowledge of the regulatory requirements and the drug development lifecycle is
required to be successful in this role. Being detail-oriented and skilled at time
management are also essential for this role, as accurate completion and timely
submission of documentation for regulatory filings are its key responsibilities.
As a regulatory affairs administrator, you will be working with a team of
regulatory professionals. Often you will also be required to consult and work with
other departments such as scientists from R&D or those involved in clinical trials
to gather required information as a scientific background is beneficial in creating
the best possible submission. The scientific knowledge possessed by science PhDs
gives them an advantage over bachelor’s degree holders.

On a regular basis, new rules and regulations are added to the FDA’s regulatory
guidelines. Data from a report by George Mason University’s Mercatus Center
indicates that the number of regulatory requirements enforced by the FDA has
increased by 15% between the years 2000 and 2012. Therefore, continuously
educating yourself and remaining well-informed regarding changes in regulatory
guidelines is essential for your continued success and growth in this role. A
science PhDs habit of ongoing research and learning will prove to be a valuable
transferable skill in this role.
Although ensuring regulatory filing is the main duty of this role, it is not the
only responsibility. Some other functions might include ensuring the compliance
of product labeling and promotional material. As all departments need to
maintain regulatory standards, providing regulatory advice so that the facilities
of other departments—such as manufacturing or packaging—are compliant with
regulatory guidelines is another critical responsibility of this role. You might also
be required to provide FDA rules-related training to marketing professionals, so
your presentation and teaching skills will prove to be useful in this role. Paying
attention to detail and being well organized are other valuable skills for this role
as you will be handling a great deal of documentation both online and off.
For the healthcare industry, securing the approval of drugs and medical devices is
always a high priority because this approval is crucial to commercializing products
and generating revenue. Industry experts believe that the roles of regulatory
professionals are one of the least affected by job losses in the medical sector.
According to data from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, between the years of
2008 and 2018, job growth for the medical affairs related professions are expected
to increase more than any other sector, owing to an aging population more prone
to developing health problems.

Clinical & MEDICAL AFFAIRS LEADER
Medical Affairs
“It is necessary to have the ability to engage, influence, and build effective
32
relationships with KOLs, across functional and geographic boundaries. So it is
essential to be good at working with people.”
The medical affairs team can be broadly defined as an extension of the scientific
team, who use their technical expertise to support stages after basic R&D, such as
late-stage development and post-market support for drugs or medical devices.
The members of the medical affairs team are associated with several roles spread
across multiple functions. Medical affairs groups perform many activities, often
overlapping with sales, medical marketing, clinical development, and relationship
development with key stakeholders. The role of the Medical Affairs Leader (MAL)
is to lead and supervise this team and maintain cohesion among the various
functional divisions within it, so it is essential to be able to bridge the gap
between the functioning of multiple departments.
For the role of MAL, employers prefer to hire professionals with a doctoral degree
(PhD or MD) who act as therapeutic area experts. Detailed scientific knowledge
of one specific area is generally preferred for this role, and this requirement gives
science PhDs an advantage over others.
Depending on the size and structure of an organization, the medical affairs team
is responsible in varying degrees for clinical development and acting as a bridge
between the R&D department and other commercialization oriented divisions such
as business development or marketing. The MAL also interacts with the regulatory
team to ensure all the steps required for drug safety are being followed, and post-
market drug safety functions are being properly conducted. Post-launch medical

communication, strategic activities, and training of the medical workforce also
needs to be overseen by the MAL.
The MAL also supervises members of the medical affairs team who are responsible
for providing scientific support and technical training to marketing divisions.
In this role, you might have to deliver training and check marketing material
to ensure scientific accuracy. So advanced science degree holders’ teaching and
scientific presentation skills will prove to be helpful for this task.
The ability to translate data into a strategic medical plan, and then make critical
decisions based on this data is a sought after skill for this role. As science PhDs
are constantly analyzing research data and planning experiments, it will prove
to be a valuable transferable skill for this role. The proven ability to engage,
influence, and build effective relationships with key opinion leaders (KOLs) across
functional and geographic boundaries are also important skills for this role.
As it is evident from the description of the responsibilities of a MAL, their
role encompasses scientific, informational, communications, and interpersonal
activities. As it involves interaction with and coordination of different functional
groups, a lot of time is spent in meetings. Success in this role depends on building
relationships both within your organization (KOLs and regulatory experts) and
with external partners (KOLs and physicians). It is necessary to have the ability to
engage, influence, and build effective relationships with KOLs, across functional
and geographic boundaries. So it is essential to be good at working with people.
This will not be an ideal career for someone who prefers to work by themselves or
only deal with bench research.
To summarize, a MAL’s role requires you to have detailed scientific knowledge
of at least one specific therapeutic area, great people skills, and awareness of the
“bigger picture.” Since this position requires you to understand the marketing and

business aspects, it is also beneficial to have an entrepreneurial mindset along
with your scientific knowledge.
The latest employment outlook report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
does not have specific data on MALs. Still, it does report that Medical Services
Managers, a role similar to MAL, is predicted to experience a growth of 23% from
the period of 2012-22.
Increased competition and more stringent regulatory laws have pushed
organizations to provide healthcare professionals and patients with more accurate
scientific and medical information relating to the value of its products. This has
made the medical affairs group (http://www.worksure.org/pages/medical-affairs-
management.html) one of the fastest-growing in today’s biopharmaceutical
industry.

Clinical & MEDICAL SCIENCE LIAISON
Medical Affairs
“Hiring for the MSL role has grown by 76% making it one of the fastest growing
33
professions for life science degree holders”
Medical Science Liaison (MSL) is a rapidly growing opportunity for STEM PhDs.
This is a highly specific position that can be found in various healthcare-oriented
sectors such as pharmaceutical, biotechnology, contract research organizations
(CROs), and medical device organizations.
The biggest misconception regarding MSLs is that it is a sales position. Actually,
MSLs are scientifically trained field personnel who are officially considered to be
part of the medical staff. They are not permitted to discuss drug prices or conduct
sales when interacting with therapists or other medical professionals. They have
much greater freedom, more in-depth knowledge of therapeutic areas of research,
and they discuss the scientific aspects of medicines and other products with
physicians. One of their key responsibilities is to build rapport with Key Opinion
Leaders (KOLs) in various therapeutic areas of research by utilizing their scientific
knowledge.
The scientific and medical knowledge that you gain during PhD or postdoctoral
training in a life science field will make you a great candidate for this position.
It also helps if you are “people-person” and have excellent interpersonal skills
because interacting with new people and building rapport is crucial for being
successful in this role. Other necessary attributes you will need are the ability
to work independently, good written and verbal communication, and strong
organizational skills. A PhD’s ability to teach and conduct scientific presentations
will also prove to be valuable transferable skills for an MSL role. This position

requires a lot of travel, as face-to-face interactions are crucial for building a
professional relationship with KOLs and relevant decision-makers. MSLs can travel
up to 75% of their time, depending on the territory they are responsible for.
A few decades ago, the first MSLs were selected from experienced sales
representatives who had strong scientific backgrounds. However, since the late
1980s, there has been a push towards hiring doctoral degree holders with relevant
scientific knowledge for this position. Currently, PhDs with medical knowledge
have a significant advantage in finding employment as an MSL. According to
information from the Medical Science Liaison Society, 90% of current MSLs hold a
PhD or MD degree.
With growing interest in medical affairs and increasing interaction between KOLs
and the pharma industry, demand for MSLs is expanding. However, MSL positions
are highly competitive, and in some major organizations, only 1-2% of applicants
get hired as MSLs. So it is advisable that if you cannot find an MSL position in
your first attempt, you can improve your chances by taking a clinical trials related
position such as a Clinical Research Associate (CRA). A PhD combined with a few
years of experience as a CRA is considered by some industry experts as the best
possible preparation to successfully secure an MSL position.
You can find MSL employment opportunities in most of the major pharmaceutical,
biotechnology, or medical device companies. Other healthcare-related
organizations such as CROs also employ MSL professionals. According to a report
jointly done by Mckinsey and Company and Korn/Ferry International on trends
in medical affairs, the value of medical roles, such as MSLs, will increase due to
higher interaction between pharmaceutical companies and KOLs.
This report also suggests that with an increased scrutiny of products and more
stringent regulatory guidelines, there will be more focus on providing scientific

evidence, which will result in increased demand for professionals with strong
scientific backgrounds such as science PhDs in MSL roles.
The Medical Science Liaison Society recently reported that data from the latest
survey conducted among the top ten US pharmaceutical companies indicated that
since 2005 hiring for the MSL role has grown by 76%, making it one of the fastest-
growing professions for life science degree holders.

Clinical & CLINICAL RESEARCH
Medical Affairs ASSOCIATE
34
“Employers often tend to show a preference towards PhD graduates while hiring for
CRA jobs owing to their scientific expertise and ability to document
and analyze data.”
This is yet another position linked with the clinical trial process that can be an
excellent opportunity for science advanced degree holders from several different
academic backgrounds. A Clinical Research Associate (commonly known as a
CRA) can be described as a clinical trial professional who oversees, monitors, and
provides guidance to the administration and progress of a clinical trial on behalf
of the sponsoring organization.
In most cases, a sponsoring organization is a major life science-oriented
company (for a drug or medical device) that may conduct the trial directly by
itself or employ a Contract Research Organization (CRO) to carry out the trial
on their behalf.
The everyday duties of a CRA consist of executing data collection methods,
coordinating between sponsor and CROs, implementation of clinical trial
protocols, and maintaining smooth collection and maintenance of the clinical trial
data. In this role, you will be required to maintain communication with medical
professionals and hospital staff and also establish collaborations with new clinical
trial sites. Training of staff and explaining protocols to enrolled study subjects to
ensure adherence to regulatory guidelines and timely completion are some other
significant responsibilities of CRAs. In most cases, CRAs are required to do some
amount of traveling as they need to visit multiple clinical trial sites.

To be successful in any clinical trial role, you must have knowledge of the product
development life cycle for specific clinical products. Scientific expertise in the
field of medicinal chemistry or pharmaceuticals might also prove to be helpful
for those CRAs who will be involved in trials for new therapeutic compounds.
Besides scientific expertise, it is essential to have a detailed understanding of FDA
regulatory laws pertaining to clinical trials.
CRAs come from a range of academic backgrounds in life science, medicine,
pharmacy, or chemistry. As explaining protocols to subjects enrolled in a study
is necessary to ensure their compliance, having the ability to communicate
effectively to people from different backgrounds is an important skill for this
position. Presenting and demonstrating might also prove to be key transferable
skills for a CRA, as this practice will be familiar to anyone who has done
teaching assistantship during their graduate training. As this role involves a lot of
documentation, it helps to be detail-oriented and efficient in documenting data. All
these are skills which most science PhDs learned and applied during their graduate
training, making them the ideal candidates for CRA positions.
Employers often tend to show a preference towards PhD graduates while hiring for
CRA jobs owing to their scientific expertise and ability to document and analyze
data. PhDs also tend to get promoted to senior positions faster. A PhD can be
promoted to a senior CRA position within two years of joining an organization
as a CRA. Some employers require clinical trials related to specific certifications
like the one you can earn through the Association of Clinical Trial Professionals
(ACRP). Even when it is not mandatory, acquiring these relevant certifications
once you have started working in the clinical trials field will significantly improve
your prospects of higher pay and career growth.
In a survey conducted by CNN, the position of CRA was among the top 5 “Best
Jobs in America.” Although the Bureau of Labor Statistics did not have separate

data specifically for CRAs, according to its employment report, jobs involving
clinical and medical technicians (the description closest to CRA) are predicted
to experience a 30% growth from 2012-2022 making them one of the fastest-
growing careers. CRA is not only a rewarding career with great prospects, but for
science PhDs, it can also prove to be the ideal transition role for getting into other
positions such as clinical trials project manager or medical science liaison.

Clinical & CLINICAL DATA MANAGER
Medical Affairs
“If you have prior experience with clinical trial databases or electronic data capture
35
(EDC) environments it will prove to be useful.”
The process of commercialization of a medical invention does not end with
success in an R&D lab. Following its scientific discovery, every novel therapeutic
compound or medical device has to go through a long stringent clinical trial
process to gain the necessary regulatory approval. This crucial process of clinical
trials and handling of the corresponding data offers multiple career opportunities
for those with advanced science degrees, and the role of Clinical Data Managers
(CDM) is one such position.
Over the past decade, many technological advances have been made in the field of
managing clinical data. However, despite these developments, efficient collection,
analysis, and management of databases for clinical data still remain a significant
challenge for pharmaceutical companies and medical research organizations.
The clinical trial process generates a large volume of clinical data that needs to
be recorded and accurately processed for submission to the regulatory body. This
is where CDMs come in. They are responsible for ensuring every detail associated
with the clinical trial is recorded in a database and checked for any possible error.
They have to maintain records for and be knowledgeable about a range of factors
such as any adverse effect associated with a medication, data from regular patient
medical evaluations, and the demography of the patient populations.
To function as a CDM, you will need to learn to use customized clinical databases,
such as Oracle Clinical, Medidata Rave, and Clintrial. You will receive training on
this once you are hired as a CDM, but it is helpful to have some computer science

and programming background.
Knowledge of medical terminology, FDA regulatory laws, and the various steps
involved in clinical trials is essential for a position in this field. If you have
prior experience with clinical trial databases or electronic data capture (EDC)
environments, it will prove to be useful. This can be an ideal career opportunity
for those with advanced science degrees in disciplines such as medicine, life
science, pharmacy, or nursing. In addition, some computer science fields such as
bioinformatics or data management can prepare someone for this field.
The academic background suitable for a CDM role is variable since there
are various types of clinical trials. One might participate in a trial for a new
therapeutic molecule or behavior therapy technique, or assessment of medical
devices, or other studies involving human subjects.
Ensuring accurate and timely processing of clinical data is necessary for the
efficient completion of a clinical study. Hence, as a CDM, you need to be detail-
oriented and good at time management. Once the database is updated, the CDM
has to deliver the data and related reports to biostatisticians and other appropriate
reviewers for further evaluation and submission to regulatory authorities. The
preciseness of clinical trial data can make or break a novel medical invention, so
careful management and analysis of data are essential to guarantee success.
The CDM is not only responsible for the development and execution of data testing
and analysis plans, but also has to design ways to improve processes. Therefore, an
ability to see the bigger picture and plan accordingly will be a helpful ability for
this role — managing large amounts of data is an integral part of this career. You
will have to be proficient in screening, grouping, and rectifying clinical data.
In this role, the CDM also has to interact with clinical trial professionals from
other teams for solving operational problems related to data management and

ensuring the whole process is in compliance with regulatory guidelines. As
regulatory laws are constantly changing, if you want to be successful in this
role, you must be prepared to regularly update your knowledge regarding FDA
guidelines, protocols, and clinical trial procedures.
Most clinical data manager jobs are found in pharmaceutical companies and
biotechnology firms and contract research organizations (CROs) that serve
pharmaceutical companies. Opportunities as CDM are also available in hospitals or
medical research institutions that serve as sites for clinical trials.
Some states and countries require every professional who handles clinical data
to undergo specific clinical trial oriented certification before they are authorized
to be involved in the management of clinical data, but not all. These certification
processes are designed to evaluate the individual’s knowledge of medical
terminologies, regulatory laws, and grasp over customized clinical trial software.
Most organizations train newly hired CDM professionals and make them go
through the certification process. So if you are not certified and yet are interested
in pursuing a career in the CDM field, it is not a cause of concern.

Business & COMPETITIVE INTELLIGENCE
Strategy 36 ANALYST
“Turning information about competitors into actionable intelligence for your own
organization will be your goal.”
A large number of science PhDs and postdocs are willing or even eager to
transition into industry, but there is a lack of information on finding alternatives
to the traditional academic career path. In addition to being unaware of the
different roles, some PhDs also believe that they may not possess the transferable
skills required to be successful in these non-academic roles.
Most PhDs have been led to believe that they will be required to go to school
again to get another degree (such as an MBA or JD) to make them suited for
careers outside academia. On the contrary, there are certain industry positions
where PhDs can be successful by applying the skills they already possess—and
competitive intelligence (CI) analyst is one such position. This position will allow
you to apply your technical knowledge as well as your skill in analyzing large
volumes of information gained during your years of PhD training.
In this role, gathering information about your competitor’s products (or inventions
in the pipeline) and then analyzing how these might affect your organization will
be your key responsibilities. This isn’t spying, nor is it unethical. There are several
ethical and legal sources through which organizations can obtain information
about their competitors. Aside from working in a company involved in any of
the technology-based sectors, you can also find employment as a CI analyst in
specialized CI firms. These CI firms are usually dedicated to one technology
sector and offer CI services for their clients.
To be successful as a CI analyst, you must be able to gather information and

then critically analyze it. In short, turning information about competitors into
actionable intelligence for your own organization will be your goal. Your input
will be used to determine threats or opportunities in advance. One of the main
functions of the CI team is to utilize knowledge about the competitor’s position
and support the management in making strategic decisions so that they can design
the appropriate game plan to compete with rivals.
You will be required to gather information from key opinion leaders (KOLs) in
the specific field, attend scientific conferences, and go through online resources.
Instead of learning about only your own organization’s product or technology,
this role provides you an opportunity to study the external environment of the
entire sector and learn to apply it for decision making, which can be an asset in
career growth. CI can be a gateway to higher executive positions, as indirectly, you
are already contributing to decision making and connected to the main decision-
makers of your organization.
According to a Global Intelligence Alliance survey, the industries which
put the most importance on CI are IT and software, healthcare (including
pharmaceuticals), financial, energy, and manufacturing sectors. These same sectors
were predicted to be most likely to offer employment opportunities for entry-level
CI professionals in the coming years. In another survey, professionals involved in
hiring were asked about future prospects for CI analysts, and 60% of respondents
reported that the future hiring trend for CI professionals looks positive. In the
next few years, there will be an increase in the hiring of entry-level positions.
EXAMPLES OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT OFFER THIS OPPORTUNITY:
y IMS Health
y Sedulo Group
y Deallus Consulting
y Fuld & Company

Business & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Strategy 37 MANAGER
“Business Development was ranked in the top 100 in terms of growth, earning
potential, and work satisfaction.”
The overall goal of a business development manager (BDM) is to ensure long-
term business growth. At first glance, it might appear that these duties do not
require any technical knowledge. While this might be true in the case of finance
or the banking sector, it does not hold true for technology-based industries. To
be an efficient business development professional in a biotechnology or software
organization, you will need a detailed understanding of the technological aspects.
In most management roles, MBAs are preferred over other degree holders, but
owing to the multifunctional nature of the role, there are no specific qualifications
to become a BDM. This can work in your favor if you are a science PhD and
interested in transitioning to Business Development (BD). If you have the right
combination of scientific knowledge, analytical skills, interpersonal skills, and
basic business knowledge, it can open up opportunities in BD.
A BDM’s key responsibilities include developing new business opportunities,
managing existing products, developing market strategy, and building new
business partnerships. As a BDM, you will have to decide which new innovation
among those in the pipeline should be given priority based on market needs and
the positioning of competitors. Therefore, thorough knowledge of a company’s
culture, its products, and the sector are critical.
You will need a combination of technical knowledge, analytical skills, and an
understanding of current developments in the market to forecast what will be

required to increase sales and compete with the main competitors in the sector. A
PhD’s presentation and teaching skills will also be valuable as BDM because they
are expected to deliver training to new members of the BD and marketing teams.
This role requires frequent collaboration, especially with those in marketing and
sales, so it is essential to have a cooperative attitude.
Besides technical knowledge, understanding of business strategies, marketing,
and commercialization is necessary for this role. Science PhDs sometimes miss
out on these positions due to their lack of business skills. However, if you are
keen on pursuing a career in BD, there are several possible ways in which you can
gain basic BD knowledge and thus make yourself more attractive to prospective
employers. If you take these steps proactively while you are still working on your
PhD or postdoctoral training, it will make you stand out from other science PhDs
trying to break into business development.
First, you might be able to take business courses offered by the business school of
your university. In some cases, your department might even offer a tuition waiver
for these extra courses. With the growing economic importance of technology-
oriented sectors, several management departments even offer specific business
development courses tailored for business management in technical sectors such
as biotechnology or the IT industry. There are also some short BD certifications
designed for people who wish to transition into business.
Another way of bolstering your resume for a BD position is to involve yourself
in the formation of a startup being developed based on an invention from your
university. For this, you should build a network or even offer to volunteer at
the office of technology transfer—an office on campus that handles intellectual
property resulting from the research taking place at the school. This will give you
practical BD experience even before you graduate.

According to a recent career survey (CNN Money, 2013) that compared a vast
number of careers based on growth, earning potential, and work satisfaction,
business development was ranked in the top 100 with a projected growth rate of
16.4%.
You must keep in mind that this is a multifunctional role, and the exact role of a
BDM will vary depending upon the size of the company and what stage of growth
it is in. Professionals with scientific backgrounds often enter an organization in
a technical role such as R&D, and then, once they have acquired some industry
knowledge, they can internally transfer to a business development role.

Business & RESEARCH ANALYST IN
Strategy 38 VENTURE CAPITAL
“This role offers a great learning opportunity for those of you who have
entrepreneurial aspirations.”
Venture Capital (VC) firms are organizations that use capital provided by a group
of investors to finance startups or small businesses. They offer much needed fiscal
support to early-stage businesses, and in return they benefit from the long-term
growth and financial success of these businesses. Once a startup in which a VC
firm has invested is acquired by larger company or goes public, the investors of
the firm profit.
You will be wondering how someone with an advanced scientific degree can fit
into an organization involved in investing capital. Well, VC firms, which are
focused in investing in technology-based sectors such as pharmaceuticals, IT, and
biotechnology hire professionals with advanced degrees in science as Research
Analysts. This profession is one of the least known career paths available to
science PhDs.
The goal of technology-oriented VC firms is to invest in and facilitate growth of
small businesses dealing with commercialization of new technologies, and once
they are successful, make profit. This might sound straightforward, but it carries
substantial financial risk because in a competitive market return on investment is
not always guaranteed. So before smart investors put money into a new business
they’ll seek assurance about the likelihood of making a profit. Every idea pitched
to VC firms goes through rigorous due diligence and this is where professionals
with detailed technological knowledge play an important role as research analysts.

The main responsibilities of a research analyst are to identify new investment
opportunities, evaluate new inventions, and determine if they will be worthy of
investment. You will be required to conduct deep analyses of the new technology,
identify its competitive advantages and predict its chances of being successful. In
short, you will be providing research support to the investors and aiding them in
selecting the best possible investment opportunities.
As a research analyst it is also important to be aware of all the current
technological and commercial developments in your firm’s sector. Besides
scientific knowledge, in order to be successful in this field you must be an efficient
networker, possess good presentation skills, and have the ability to recognize the
potential of commercial success in a new technology. In order to find leads you
might have to make cold calls, attend scientific conferences and go to networking
events. This is definitely not a position for someone who prefers to work alone and
is not comfortable with regularly meeting new people.
Besides specialized VC firms which invest in technology-based industries you
can also find employment in some large private companies who are involved in
corporate venture capital. These are mostly large pharma or software companies.
These larger organizations offer seed funding or growth stage capital to smaller
organizations in their own sector with the prospect of a merger, or acquisition, or
some other commercial partnership later on.
This role offers a great learning opportunity for those who have entrepreneurial
aspirations. According to a National Venture Capital Association report,
investments by VC firms resulted in revenue worth $3 trillion and supported 12
million jobs. (NVCA 2012) You may also find it fulfilling to know that you are
directly contributing to job creation and helping society by bringing beneficial new
innovations to the market.

EXAMPLES OF ORGANIZATIONS OFFERING THIS OPPORTUNITY:
y VC Firms
y Companies with Corporate VC division
y HIG Ventures
y Sequoia Capital
y Siemens - Siemens Venture Capital
y Google - Google Ventures

Business & MANAGEMENT CONSULTING
Strategy 39
“In recent years, some of the major consulting firms have even started consulting
workshops or short internships specially designed for science PhDs, Post-docs, and
MDs.”
As recently as a decade ago, consulting firms employed only MBAs as consultants,
but in recent years—with a steady rise in innovation-based business—there has
been a significant rise in the number of science PhDs being hired by consulting
firms. You may not have considered consulting, but consider that as a PhD, you
are already proficient in identifying specific issues and solving complex problems
through critical thinking.
In the consulting world of science, PhDs are increasingly in demand for the
ability to utilize their technical knowledge to troubleshoot problems and help
companies develop better strategies for success. There is a myth that to get into
consulting, you must possess prior business knowledge. While this might be of
some assistance, the lack will not exclude a science PhD from opportunities in
consulting. Even the most reputed global consulting firms have specialized job
opportunities for advanced science degree holders such as PhDs and MDs.
If you are still concerned about a lack of prior business or strategy experience,
you will be happy to know that in recent years some of the major consulting firms
have even started consulting workshops or short internships specially designed for
science PhDs, Post-docs and MDs. This is generally offered to newly hired science
degree holders for a few weeks and is often referred to as a “mini-MBA.” This
prepares science PhDs or MDs for the business world.
The ability to solve challenging problems and design strategies is crucial for

success in this field. As you will be working in a collaborative environment,
prospective employers are looking for teamwork and communication skills
and leadership capabilities. The ability to present your findings both as oral
presentations (PowerPoints) and through writing are also valuable skills.
Brainstorming in groups, being analytical, and delivering solutions to technical
problems are key requirements for success as a consultant.
Even though you are troubleshooting and applying analytical skills like scientific
research, there are two key differences to consider. One of the main obstacles that
scientists transitioning to consulting face is that they must provide solutions in a
relatively short amount of time compared to academic research. Another difference
is that while offering a solution, it should be done keeping the big picture in mind,
rather than taking a long time to deeply analyze a highly specific problem. This
change in habit may become more comfortable over time.
One mistake science PhDs often make while trying to transition into consulting
is that while applying for consulting firms, they only target well known, larger
firms like McKinsey or Boston Consulting Group. Instead of limiting yourself to a
handful of firms, you can increase your chances by applying to smaller ‘boutique’
consulting firms that cater specifically to clients in one specific technology-based
sector (Biotechnology or IT, etc.). If you use one of these smaller firms which are
involved in consulting in your research field, you have a much better chance of
getting hired. Once you gain some experience, you may be able to secure a position
in one of the larger, well-known firms.
According to a Bloomberg report, the consulting market is expected to experience
an overall annual growth of 3.7%. The same report stated that the management
consulting market grew by 8.5% in one year, to a total value of $39.3 billion.
One major advantage of consulting is that it is known to open up a lot of doors

to a variety of opportunities once you decide to move on beyond consulting.
After leaving consulting firms, successful consultants have gone on to become
entrepreneurs, advisors for startups, teachers in business schools, and even to hold
management positions in the technology-based industry.
EXAMPLES OF ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH OFFER THIS OPPORTUNITY:
y McKinsey
y Boston Consulting Group
y Deloitte
y LEK Consulting

Research Policy, SCIENCE PUBLIC POLICY
Funding & ADVISOR
Government 40
“A lot of postdoctoral fellowships are being offered by federal agencies for facilitating
the training of science PhDs in public policy.”
If someone were to walk into a science conference and ask all the scientists how
many of them are satisfied with current science policies and laws, most likely,
only a few hands would go up. If you are an advanced science degree holder (MD
or PhD) and want to be a catalyst for change, following a career in Science Public
Policy is your opportunity to take action. There are various types of public policy
positions available, but the professional role most suited for someone with a
science PhD is that of a Science Public Policy Advisor.
This position will require you to not only understand science but also efficiently
communicate with policymakers. In short, you will act as a bridge between the
scientific and bureaucratic worlds. In this role, you will do a lot of negotiating,
explaining, and communicating with people who don’t have a scientific
background. Interpersonal skills, communication skills, and the ability to persuade
people will be important. As politicians will form a large proportion of your target
audience, patience and diplomacy are highly valued attributes.
All of us have been frustrated by political inaction from time to time. But when it
comes to science policies, a lot of the time, a government’s failure to take action
for rectifying a certain issue is not because of a lack of will, but rather a lack of
awareness. Therefore, one of the critical contributions of science public policy
advisors is to gather information, analyze the problem, suggest a solution, and
present it in a condensed format to the relevant government department.

Keeping up with continuously changing rules and regulations and ensuring
everyone involved in decision making is made aware of these changes is also an
important part of a science public policy advisor’s duties. As we know, there is
a disconnect between those involved in research and those who formulate the
policies affecting crucial aspects of research, such as funding or laws of bioethics.
Therefore, science PhDs who have moved into the realm of science policy can
play an important role in bridging this gap. To achieve this, they often organize
conferences to foster communication between scientists and policymakers, which
offers a common platform for the exchange of ideas.
If you decide on a career change after a few years, the skills you will pick up in
this role will also prove to be beneficial in administrative roles. Professionals with
public policy experience are highly sought after for administrative roles in both
academia (Dean or Provost) and in industries that regularly deal with government
agencies.
With growing concerns over climate change, complexities surrounding regulating
biotech products, changing energy needs, and changes in healthcare, there is
an increasing demand for science PhDs who possess the required skills and are
willing to get involved in public policy. In fact, there is a shortage of professionals
in this field, and this can work to your advantage. Federal agencies offer several
postdoctoral fellowships to facilitate the training of science PhDs in public policy.
These can provide you the ideal gateway into a full-time public policy advisory
role.
The main places to find science public policy career opportunities are government
agencies. So instead of providing you with examples of organizations, here is a
list of training and scholarship programs in public policy offered to science PhDs
through government agencies:
y Science Policy Fellowships and Internships – UK

y The Royal Society’s MP-Scientist pairing scheme – US
y AAAS Science Policy Fellowships.
y Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Internship – The National
y Academies of Science and Engineering
y Presidential Management Internship – The US Office of Personnel
Management (Some scientific organizations also offer science public-policy
oriented postdoctoral scholarships)
y American Chemical Society
y American Institute of Physics – Canada
y CIHR Policy Research Initiative – Australia
y CSIRO Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme
y ANSTO Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

Research Policy, SCIENCE ETHICS
Funding &
“Science PhDs who wish to be successful as ethics professionals need to be aware
Government 41
of social issues, new technological developments and stay abreast of any changes in
public policies or laws.”
Ethics related professionals can come from a variety of academic backgrounds, and
the path to a career in this field is not necessarily well defined or linear. You can
find ethics professionals from backgrounds ranging from science PhD to religious
scholars. Until lately, this was not a well-defined role, but with the increasing
importance of animal rights, legal implications of medical research, and social
debate associated with new technologies, the demand of ethics professionals with
proper scientific training has increased exponentially.
As it gains importance and becomes more well-defined, it offers further career
opportunities for people with appropriate technical background, such as science
PhDs. Although this field can be very multidimensional, the various professional
roles available to those interested in Ethics can be broadly divided into the
following three categories based on the kind of projects they deal with; Clinical
Ethics, Research Ethics, and Bioethics.
Those working in Clinical Ethics are mostly based in hospitals or other major
medical facilities. The bulk of their work involves reviewing medical research and
clinical trial-related proposals for ethical conduct and ensuring that the rights of
subjects are protected. They may also be called upon for hearing cases involving
ethical conflicts that might have legal implications. Research Ethics staff are
mostly found in universities and research institutes. They act as members of IRB
or IACUC committees that review academic research proposals to ensure they
meet proper ethical guidelines of research, including safeguarding the rights of

animal subjects used for biomedical research.
Among the three categories of Ethics related careers, the one that has gained the
most prominence in recent years is definitely bioethics. It is hard to ignore the
growing importance and value of biotechnology in modern society. But along with
its benefits, it has brought its own share of ethics-related controversies. Conflicts
range from the political debate surrounding the cultivation of GM crops to social
controversies associated with embryonic stem cell research. All this debate means,
is that there is a need for professionals who can offer a unique blend of scientific
knowledge and appreciation for ethics. The influence of most of these innovations
is not limited to the realm of academic research anymore. They have social,
economic as well as ethical consequences. So a bioethics professional needs to
maintain a “big-picture” point of view.
The prospect of personalized medicine and diagnostics has become a reality owing
to the knowledge derived from mapping of the human genome. Unless monitored
by ethics professionals, this knowledge can be misused. The significance of ethics
is highlighted by the fact that the recently completed Human Genome Project
made it a requirement that 1-3% of its total funding should be used to study the
ethical and social effects of this project. The advice of ethics professionals is also
sought while designing public policies related to research, medicine, agriculture,
and several other fields, which might have ethical consequences.
This can be a very multidimensional and interesting career. Science PhDs who
wish to be successful as ethics professionals need to be aware of social issues, new
technological developments and stay abreast of any changes in public policies or
laws. They should not only possess scientific knowledge but also have the far-
sightedness to understand and predict the possible ethical and social implications
of scientific innovations.

Research Policy, GRANT FACILITATOR
Funding &
There are a lot of science PhDs who want to be involved in academic research but
Government 42
do not like the idea of conducting experiments at the bench or dealing with the
pressure of securing tenure that inevitably comes with being a research faculty. If
you are one of those, this role of Grant Facilitator may be ideal for you.
Those of you who did their PhD or postdoctoral training in a relatively large-sized
university or research institute might have interacted with a grant facilitator in
the process of applying for grants. The primary purpose of this position is to work
with faculties to develop successful grant submission to various funding agencies.
Since most of us have written and applied for funding during our PhD, all of you
already possess the exact transferable skill required for this role.
Although grant writing is the main responsibility of this role, it is definitely not
the sole function of a grant facilitator. The department relies on them to search
and identify suitable funding opportunities and notify the researchers belonging
to the relevant field. So keeping abreast of different funding opportunities and
various types of research being conducted in the institute is essential for this role.
You not only interact with scientists, but you also get to communicate with
government officials, healthcare providers, and members of research ethics review
boards. Unlike a PhD or postdoctoral trainee, your interactions will not be limited
to one specific area of research. You will have the opportunity to work with
scientists from a variety of fields, which prevents it from getting boring. A grant
facilitator also helps the department’s graduate students by conducting grant-
writing workshops and training programs.
As anyone involved in academic research knows, grant submission is not just about
technical writing. You also need to ensure all the various accompanying documents

(e.g., IRB approval, consortium, paperwork for industry-academia partnerships) are
in place to ensure the success of an application for funding. Given that you will be
interacting and communicating with a variety of people, being skilled at teamwork
and having a collaborative attitude are desirable qualities for this position.
Grant Facilitators have to deal with a lot of paperwork that requires accurate
details, and they have to deal with a new submission deadline approximately
every two to three weeks. Therefore, two other attributes that will enable you
to be successful as a grant facilitator are being detail-oriented and being good at
managing time.
For any science PhD who wants to pursue this career, the best place to start will
be by talking to the grant facilitator in your own university and signing up for
some grant writing workshops. Overall this can be an exciting opportunity for
those who love being involved in academic research without actually conducting
research. It also offers the prospect of contributing to the success of a variety of
important scientific research projects.

Research Policy, NIH/NSF PROGRAM OFFICER
Funding &
“Outside of their duties associated with the funding process officers often get
Government 43
invitations to presentations in scientific conferences, or career workshops in academic
institutions.”
Anyone who has submitted a research proposal to one of the major federal
agencies such as NIH will be aware of the title of the Program Officer (PO).
Although, as a science PhD student or postdoc, you might have received emails
from them, you may know little about them. Science PhDs often overlook this
great career opportunity.
A PO needs to demonstrate expertise in their specific scientific field, so it can be
an ideal career for PhDs. They are assigned to manage either a single program or
multiple programs. Your tasks will include the screening of proposals following
their submission, and then allocating them to appropriate review panels. The PO is
also responsible for the important task of identifying the right reviewers for each
review panel based on their previous experience and scientific expertise. After the
panel has reviewed the grant and provided their feedback, a PO assesses the merits
and drawbacks of each individual proposal and finally makes a recommendation on
whether funding should be provided to the grant proposal.
Other than facilitating the decision making of newly submitted grants, a PO also
has to manage a portfolio of grants that have already been funded. You might be
required to attend meetings with colleagues who were previously involved with the
same program and update the program’s “solicitation.”
Another aspect of a PO’s duties, which is often unknown and hence not utilized
by Principal Investigators (PI), is that they can offer helpful guidance regarding

grant submissions before the official submission of the grant proposal. A PI can
set up an appointment with the PO before grant submission and seek his unofficial
feedback.
Sometimes if time is available, some POs might also get the opportunity to
contribute to the area of science policy. They attend meetings and maintain
international collaboration on matters like climate change or research ethics.
As you must have realized, being knowledgeable about the latest scientific
developments is essential for this role. So POs are expected to remain acquainted
with the developments in their respective fields by reading up on journals and
attending scientific conferences or seminars.
Communication and collaboration are also essential parts of a PO’s duties as some
programs are managed cooperatively by multiple divisions within one federal
organization, as in the case of the NIH and the National Science Foundation
(NSF). Outside of their duties associated with the funding process, officers often
get invitations to presentations in scientific conferences or career workshops in
academic institutions.
If you are considering this career path, you need to keep two conditions in mind.
First, this job will most likely confine you to locations of major government offices
in your country. For example, if you are in the US working as a PO, most of your
opportunities will probably be in the Washington, DC area. The other aspect you
need to be aware of is that it is highly unlikely for a non-citizen to enter into this
career path as they are primarily government jobs.
Two critical assets needed to be successful as a PO will be detailed scientific
knowledge and an excellent understanding of the grant submission and funding
process. It also helps to have good communication skills, both written and oral,
since you will be working in a collaborative scenario involving reviewers and

POs from other divisions, as well as communicating with PIs from academic
institutions. A vital requirement of this position will be to continuously update
your knowledge and remain aware of the latest scientific developments.
You can find employment in major federal bodies that handle grant funding, such
as the NIH or NSF. Some other possible organizations employing POs are non-
profit organizations such as the New York Academy of Science, and the American
Heart Association, which have their own funding process.
Working as PO can be a very fulfilling profession as you are not only regularly
exposed to new research ideas, but you are also playing a significant role in
facilitating innovation that will go on to benefit society in the future.

Remember Your Value
As A PhD
Written By
Arunodoy Sur, Ph.D.
Consultant at Cheeky Scientist
Arunodoy is a PhD in Integrative Biology and has training in intel-
lectual property, entrepreneurship, and venture capitalism. He also
has executive experience with global biotechnology and biophar-
maceutical companies, including clinical trial consulting.
43 Industry
Copyright: Position Guide
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43

3. Market Research Analyst

5. Technology Assessment And Alliance Officer

6. R&D Project Manager

7. Technical Sales Specialist

8. Capital Equipment Specialist

9. Operation Research Analyst

10. Quality Assurance Or Quality Control Manager

11. Product Support Specialist

12. Strategic Relationship Director

43 Industry Position Guide

14. Equity Research Analyst

15. Health Economist

17. Patent Agent Or Scientific Consultant

18. Technology Transfer Officer

19. Patent Examiner

WRITING AND EDITING

21. Scientific Writer Or Technical Editor

22. Scientific Journalism

23. Medical Writer Or Medical Communication

43 Industry Position Guide

25. Business Intelligence Analyst

26. Data Scientist

27. Data/Machine Learning Engineer

28. User Experience Researcher

30. Clinical Trials Project Manager

31. FDA Regulatory Affairs Admin

32. Medical Affairs Leader/Manager

33. Medical Science Liaison

34. Clinical Research Associate

35. Clinical Data Manager

43 Industry Position Guide

37. Business Development Manager

38. Research Analyst In A Venture Capital Firm

39. Management Consulting

41. Science Ethics

42. Grants Facilitator

43. NIH/NSF Program Officer

43 Industry Position Guide

The application scientist position is a role that is often overlooked by job-searching

or no scientific technical knowledge, and lacks parallels to the skillsets common

application scientist job postings requiring PhD experience.

Application Scientist, Field Application Scientist, Technical Support Scientist, or

bench towards more business-oriented roles (for example, business development

academic experience in a transitional position. Application Science will provide

require diverse skills and knowledge on a daily basis.

43 Industry Position Guide

successful in this position. Another important component of this role involves

training sales support staff, so having presentation skills is desirable. The

teaching experience you gained in graduate school while supervising or teaching

undergraduates will also prove to be a key transferable skill in this case. As

troubleshooting problems for customers is a key task for application scientists,

problems within a limited time.

building a wide network. As mentioned, these tend to be transitional roles and

positions in other divisions such as business development or marketing. The

asset for career progression.

EXAMPLE OF ORGANIZATIONS OFFERING APPLICATION SCIENTIST

y Thermo Fisher Scientific

y ManTech International Corporation

43 Industry Position Guide

to successfully invent, produce, and commercialize. This is the role of a Product

Manager. To put it very concisely, a Product Manager (PM) is responsible for

managing the entire life cycle of a product.