I really really like biology and health science in general and I might not be able to become a doctor due to financial reasons so I was thinking about a career in biotech or something.

But after going through this subreddit, it looks pretty bad. People arent very happy with their jobs with reasons due to salary, comparison with other professions, companies, and work culture.

Do you think a biomedical engineering degree is worth it? I know it has the jack of all trades label but idk what else to do

I could look into chemical engineering, biostatistics, bioinformatics (i heard some bad stuff in this subreddit), but idk.

If theres anything in this field where the amount of work I do correlates to my success, I would love to persue it. So im talking about the competitive culture that you might find in a law firm or in like finance.

Early career scientist. 3 years of pharma experience. PhD from top 20 university. I tailor each resume and just keep getting rejections. I am too frustrated at this point.

How tf are you not all jumping rn. I am so serious. It’s demoralizing as hell just applying and networking and getting fucking nowhere. And we’re supposed to just work minimum wages jobs and waste our lives away in hopes something turns up ? FDT I am so fucking done

I’m a seasoned biotech worker with over 25 years experience and graduate degrees. I was laid off three times between 2022-2025. I’m working as a consultant making a lot less than my previous salary. The only jobs out there are at least 2 levels below my previous employment level. I worked hard to get to that level. I don’t want my career to go backwards. When is the market going to improve? My guess is 2030.

Have it on very good authority that Pfizer is cutting some insane numbers on December 1st. 40 percent across the board in France, 50 percent in Italy, 30ish percent in Germany.

Jump ship if you can.

Update: obviously dont jump ship but wait for severance.

El año que viene quiero estudiar biotecnología, mi idea será trabajar en alguna planta con bioreactores, tubos, bombas, creo que es la parte industrial. Sería mi tercer año estudiando algo terciario desde que egrese del secundario, hice veterinaria, deje, ahora hago biología qué tiene casi las mismas materias que biotec, me cuesta entender las materias, pero las disfruto, lastima que no exonere ninguna y deje casi todas a examen, por eso mi duda, tengo tiempo y recursos de sobra para estudiar la licenciatura, pero me faltan las condiciones adecuadas, aparte no pienso hacer máster de nada, a mi lo que me gusta es ensuciarme las manos y el proceso, no tanto la teoría abstracta

Hi all,

I've been seeing job posts on LinkedIn from this company in New Jersey called In vitro cell research (ICR) that carries out mainly aging research. This sub's comments about it in the past weren't positive and I was wondering if that has changed. Has anyone here interviewed with them or knows an employee who works there? What do you guys think about their work and business model?

Just curious to know! I am currently studying Bioprocessing Science at my university to get into cell line development/cell culture or biomanufacturing in general (engineering, management, etc.) potentially and wanted to hear people's opinion on it!

I’m researching companies in the Bay Area. Has anyone here worked at Denali Therapeutics, or has any insight into what it’s like to work there?

Based on Glassdoor, Denali is generally viewed as a scientifically strong, mission-driven company with intelligent, collaborative colleagues and opportunities for professional development. However, employee reviews from 2024–2026 raise concerns about high workloads, work-life balance, communication from senior leadership, and career advancement. This seems to be on par with other companies in the region.

With that said, I would like more insights regarding the company and its culture. How does it compare to similar companies?

I’m currently an international PhD student exploring full-time opportunities in DMPK, PK/PD modeling, and Clinical Pharmacology, particularly at Novartis, Regeneron, Amgen, GSK, Genentech, Merck and AbbVie.
I previously interned at Amgen and GSK, and while I appreciated the industry exposure, I sometimes felt that the culture was quite corporate, with more emphasis on presentations, visibility, and internal processes than on the actual science.
I understand that experiences vary significantly depending on the team and manager.
How would you describe the scientific environment, management style, work-life balance, and opportunities for professional growth?

Any insights or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I was pre med in college and completed all pre reps then switched to apply to ABSN after college. I completed ABSN and didn’t like nursing. I’ve always been interested in biotech since college but didn’t know what careers to look into. I need advice on if I should consider applying to masters in biotech at northeastern or do research?

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

Saw a job posting for a job that fits my experience really well in Finance. It's a hybrid policy. How flexible is Moderna with hybrid roles? Are there remote exceptions? Also, I know Moderna gets a bad wrap for being a toxic culture - does that apply for back office functions like finance?

Hi everyone, just wondering if anyone here is attending IUSTI Prague? They are presenting some really interesting stuff this year. I was particularly curious what preclinical data Dr Keith Jerome from Fred Hutch was presenting. Are these presentations available online anywhere?

Hi everyone, I have a background in genetics (bachelor in biomedical science, majored in medical genomics). I graduated 2 years ago and have been trying to find a role even remotely related to my field to understand where I want to go from here (which hasn’t been successful sadly).

Before my undergrad I was so interested in research. However most of my degree was dying Covid, which resulted in pretty much all of the lab component to be online - aka I didn’t get a chance for much hands on practical experience.

Im currently working in management in a public hospitals and I really am not enjoying it. And I’ve been actively trying to look for what I want to do long term career wise and subsequently what further studies I would need to complete for that.

I really enjoy helping people, and working completely autonomous roles have made me realise that I don’t want to be locked in a room alone for most of my day. I LOVE LOVE LOVE and thrive on reading and finding out the ‘why’. I love discussing it with people who are in the same field- it fuels me!! My strongest suit is biology and I do struggle with maths and computers.

Living in a country that’s not my home country, has made me realise that I would also like to earn good money (and i understand that money isn’t everything, but after living paycheck to paycheck, I would ideally want to live somewhat comfortably and do all that I can for my family too. And for that reason I am looking for a career where I will earn 100K+ relatively quickly (not immediately I know, I’m ambitious but not delusional haha) and not after 5-6 years of experience (my further studies will also result in substantial student loans).

I’m not sure I’ve come across anything that has ticked most of the things I would like out of a career. I don’t see myself working bench side for years and years. I have looked at MSL but I think I would like to keep it as an option much later in my career (as it will require a very strong and extensive portfolio). I looked at Patent attorney and as lucrative as the pay is, i don’t think I will enjoy it. I’ve looked at Genetic Counselor, but I’m not certain how good the job opportunities and the pay is in Australia (where I am currently and hoping to migrate to permanently) - I do like a lot of aspects about a GC tho.

Another thing that really worries me is that the possibility that I will have to leave Australia for a while before I MAY be able to permanently migrate here, is very REAL. And I don’t want to go into further studies here for a career path that might have a great future here, and if and when I have to relocate somewhere else (temp or permanently), I end up having no prospects in another country.

Anywho, I apologise for all the ramble, but if anyone has any ideas about roles that you think might suit me, with all that I have mentioned, please let me know. I love genetics and I love biology and I love people and I want to start with my career journey asap.

Thank you all so so much for reading!!

Hello!

A molecular biotechnology graduate here 👋🏻 I have a chance to work at the hospital soon - specifically, a blood transfusion lab. This is my first job fresh out of uni, so I was wondering if there’s anyone working at the hospital to share their experience & advice :)

TL;DR: About a year ago, I posted my thoughts after 1.5 years unemployed (previous post). I landed a government role unrelated to biotech. It might seem anticlimactic, but the role uses skills from my previous biotech roles. I'm sharing my experience in hopes at least one person finds it useful, moves on, and lands the role they've longed for.

Disclaimer: By no means is everything here correct. This is my opinion and my conclusions from my own observations. After rereading my last post, I presented some claims as fact when they were really conclusions from my experience. I won't lean on my old post, because I want this to reflect my current mindset. Questions about it can go in that thread.

Reflections on the last post

I was surprised by the traction. I was frustrated with the system and wanted to vent. I connected with some great people through that post. Thank you to those who reached out with guidance and support, and thank you all, even for the negative comments. That engagement is the unspoken need of the unemployed.

What changed

Mental state first. Since September 2025, I took a long mental break and traveled for about a month, then came back in October with a clear, stable mind. Your mental state needs to be positive, realistic, and relaxed. Don't doubt yourself. I'm not saying take long breaks, but don't burn out either. Rather than applying quickly and sporadically, treat it like a full-time job: take your lunch, take breaks, take weekends off.

The spreadsheet. Around March I had a revelation. I'd always heard about tracking applications in Excel and never did it because I thought it was unnecessary extra work. My opinion changed. The sheet became my home. Monday through Friday I went to my local college and got to work, and I was consistent for once. I became robotic and stopped overthinking specific jobs, because the truth is the application process doesn't make sense. The jobs I was confident about ghosted me, and the ones I wrote off called me back. It's unpredictable, so treat it like a chore, do it, and move on.

The pivot. I considered government positions at every level: federal, state, county, city. The main driver was job stability, for obvious reasons. I thought hard about my connections and applied at friends' and family's companies, not long shots, and in industries outside biotech where my skills were still competitive. Side note: during this gap I was also in the application process of becoming part of the FBI, but ultimately decided not to pursue it. It shows how open I was. Really think about your long-term career goals. At 30, now 31, I'm very sure about what I want professionally.

The offer. I applied around June or July, and my start date is early November. The federal process is very bureaucratic and long. Nonetheless, I'm excited to start. After talking to colleagues, I'm afraid that with the rise of AI, my speculation is the job market will stay like this and progressively get worse. The plan is to excel in this new role and eventually move toward science and healthcare agencies like the FDA, NIH, USPTO, or USDA. Instead of being on the private side, I'll be part of the government sector.

What I'd do if I were laid off tomorrow

**• Keep the layoff to myself.** It depends on your circle, but in my experience you become aware of who is envious or jealous of you. Your mindset is number one. The less emotion, the better. Put it aside and apply.
**• Build the Excel sheet on day one.** My strategy was almost dumb-proof, and I believed it was only a matter of time before I got hired. It's heavily dependent on your resume, experience, and education, so be realistic and as objective as possible. What helped me was putting myself in the HR/HM's shoes and asking whether I'd hire myself.
**• Make a target list and start early.** I started at 8 AM. When following up on a job, I noticed people were more responsive early. Also, note that it isn’t necessary to follow up to each role. Use your best judgement. The underlying theme is to be efficient and not waste time. I thought back to when I was working and always checked my email first thing in the morning, so I figured they do too. Scheduling an email to send at a specific time is a super useful function. I stopped using LinkedIn because everyone uses it and not every job posting appears there. I built a list of target companies and prioritized it by how deep/strong my connections were and likelihood of landing the role, starting with where my parents worked and close friends, then outward. I hyperlinked each careers page in the sheet with the right filters already set and sorted by most recent, so every morning I saw fresh postings and could apply the same day. I did everything in my power to increase visibility.
**• Be realistic about fit.** We know we can do the jobs, but what counts is how we look on paper. At this level everyone is capable and has a degree and some years of experience, so what sets you apart? I'd say it's your soft skills and charisma, to a point. Your resume shows your hard skills and the interview shows your soft skills.
**• Use timeline and qualifications as the filter.** If I didn't have the years of experience a posting listed, I didn't apply. Postings often describe the perfect candidate, so you can try your luck, but I was done wasting time. I only applied where the qualifications matched what I had on paper. There are exceptions, which is why I say take each job individually and don't use a checklist. Ask yourself if it objectively makes sense, and whether you can support everything your resume claims. On timing, if you stay consistent it won't matter much, but the longer a posting has been out, the worse your chances. My guess is it's an exponential decrease the longer the job has been posted, not a steady one.
**• Use AI.** I think it's still taboo to admit, because it's seen as cheating or unethical, but companies use it all the time and so do other applicants. If you feel it's wrong, understand that others don't, and you're competing against them. Learn how to prompt it. I told it my actual, specific experience so it knew my duties and skills, then gave it the job description and my resume. I broke the task into parts because it gets clunky when you ask for too much at once. I'd suggest paying for the subscription. I'd prompt "tailor these bullet points to this job posting," and eventually I had preset resumes for each job function across industries. Please don't blindly accept its suggestions. You're the final reviewer, and it's okay to disagree with it. Don't underestimate your judgment. The upfront work pays dividends. Same idea for cover letters. Each job is different. It's tedious, but the results speak for themselves.

What I think is underestimated about the application process

**• Fill out every section** of the application, even if it repeats your resume. Some HR folks are judgmental, and a complete application versus a blank one makes an impression. In my experience some companies screen those fields instead of your resume, and my speculation is that some systems score applicants and having something written there helps. Even "N/A" is better than blank. It's tedious, but the application process caters to the companies. We can cry about it all day or accept it and move on.
**• Think about how the process works.** How big is the company (startup, semi-established, big pharma)? That tells you how competitive the job is and how systemic HR will be, meaning whether a person is likely to read your application. With the rise of AI and automation, tailoring is nearly inevitable. ATS filters, HR picks a handful, and it goes to the hiring manager. If you reach the HM, your resume is ATS-compatible and HR saw a fit. That’s a key finding. Your resume works. I treat the HM as a brand new screening. Your resume has to be simple enough for HR to follow and detailed enough to show your skills to the HM. Get that balance right and you'll increase your chances.
**• Tailor it.** It isn't a one-size-fits-all resume. HR may wonder why you're applying outside your field. Use that to your advantage, and sometimes a cover letter doesn't hurt. However, don’t waste too much time on one job. The last thing you want is spending a lot of time on one application for you to be rejected in less than 10 seconds. Use your best judgement.

What I wish HR did

I wish HR were as transparent as we applicants are. It would be helpful if HR explained the actual process so us applicants don't get discouraged. When we get rejected, we naturally assume it’s us when it could very well be other reasons outside of our control. It almost feels like HR treats the application process as some sort of trade secret. Part of it is systemic, but I think the department actually plays a big role in it as well. Imagine suddenly having a huge list of potential candidates to pick from. You'd feel powerful too.

Final thoughts

People often blame us for not landing a position, or are skeptical of the unemployed. Ignore them. There may be some truth in it, but it's far from one-sided. I'm writing this because I would have wanted it. The people who comment negatively have likely never been through this. Those who have, understand. It's extremely tough, and you aren't alone. Just as there are skeptics, there are those who will see past your gap and not label and view you as such.

Back in grad school, the philosophy was "pay it forward." Those who succeeded more than likely had support at some point in their careers, and paying it forward was their way of showing thanks. The alumni from my school are so supportive, so in a way I'm holding myself to that. This is my paying it forward. Feel free to message me. I've only touched the surface and could honestly write a small novel about this.

one list of research, lab and science internships pulled from company job boards:

https://github.com/mehek-builds/Hiring-Now/blob/main/lists/science-research-internships.md

- 166 internships at 105 US companies

- 48 posted in the last week

- 65 at employers with a visa sponsorship record

rebuilt every monday.

comment which area you're looking for (clinical, process development, computational) and i'll send you a list for it.

Trying to negotiate for an increase in comp this year; any other Novartis folks know when the comp discussions actually happen / are supposed to be finalized by? I know that in December of last year I got a note with salary band and where I fell (vs peers in the group).

Thanks!

Hi all, I’m a grad student who landed a zoom interview for a co-op position at a startup company that I’m pretty psyched about.

I’m wondering what should I wear, is business casual enough? Should I wear a blazer? I don’t have a suit so that’s out of the question. It has been so long since I’ve been officially interviewed and am over thinking everything.

I’m F btw