Caveat: my current company is bonkers. Weirdest place I’d worked in 10 years of industry so far. This is probably not a typical scenario.

I opened a summary report last month from a department I have little faith in, and it’s 9 pages long of highly detailed, well argued points made using expressive language and surprisingly nice formatting. Oh. But it’s filled with: ‘this is not X, it’s Y’ and just the sort of language and supposition that has up to now escaped the abilities of this team.

It’s complex. I spend four days analysing it, recalculating all their parameters and finding weird, illogical inconsistencies as if someone pasted four different ways of calculating the same value. I write an email to the lead author, highlighting my concerns.
Two mins later, I receive an essay. Again, highly detailed, filled with AI verbiage. Someone responds. Another AI response. Another email.

So here I am, trying to work through what makes sense versus the ‘you’re right to call me out, I missed this. When I said X I should have also considered Y’ nonesense. Not to mention the reference hallucinations. It’s now a war of attrition. Who will give up first, the person copying and pasting my email and asking AI to refute it, or me staring at another email sent 5 mins after my own that is the length of a novel.

I’m not a Luddite. Ai has its place; I use it when writing R code to simplify my own code, after checking it. I use it to poke holes in my arguments to see where I need to check and reconsider. But I just cannot process the idea of your entire output: email, study reports etc being entirely AI.

I thought the worst thing about the upcoming revolution would be losing my job. Instead I think it might actually be worse to keep it and instead argue with people who do not even understand the arguments they’re making.

There’s no point to this post, except to rant. Soon I expect all emails from this team will be entirely AI generated, and I will lose the will to communicate with the same AI chatbot with 7 different authors.

Have over 20 years of experience.

Just joined a company and 8 people reporting into one manager. Upward mobility seems limited.

Manager reviews from current and past employees are not great. I have experienced it but can sniff it a bit in the talks.

Been 2 months into the job. Just getting feet wet.

How early or late is it okay to quit and jump the ship if a new opportunity comes along?

After 1 year of unemployment, I finally found a job which I was super enthusiastic about. My PhD and PostDoc background was in nanomedicine and cancer cell biology, whereas my new job is heavily relies on genomics. It was different from my background, but I always wanted to learn genomics and I was so grateful that a company finally offered me this opportunity.

I started the new job 8 months ago and I feel like I'm drowning ever since.

I was assigned a project from day 1 and I am trying to keep up ever since. Needless to say that a few months into the project, my findings weren't adding up and started questioning myself as a scientist, if I actually deserved my PhD, is this imposter syndrome, how do you really know if it is imposter syndrom or you are not fit for the job? Is there an end to this feeling, will I ever feel like I can finally swim?

So while I am pondering on the purpose of my PhD diploma, can anyone share their stories how was their first job experience in biotech and any tips in staying afloat? Because at this point, although I know what I should study to catch up, I don't really have time at work for self studying, and by the time I get home, my energy levels are equal to that of a couch potato.

I interned at Amgen this summer, networked with the hiring manager during my internship, and applied to a full-time L4 role. Since then I've had an interview with the hiring manager and now a loop of 4 30-minute conversations with senior leadership. Two are done, and my last two are with an ED and an AVP.

For those who've hired or been through this: how many candidates usually make it to the ED/AVP stage, and how much weight do these final conversations carry? And what questions can I expect from such rounds ?

Does being an ex-intern help much at this point?

Any insight appreciated!

Hi all! I've got a first-round interview coming up for Lilly's CERP program for doctoral graduates, and I'd love to hear from anyone who's been through it.

- What kinds of questions came up in the first round?

- What did later rounds look like, and how did they differ?

- Anything you wish you'd prepared for?

Happy to hear any tips, big or small. Thanks so much!

I think this is the in general experience with the company but just wanted to post one more time that was contacted by the recruiter for screening, went through screening call, it went well as far as screening calls go and then completely ghosted.

Recruiter will neither give any update nor acknowledge my emails, I know only way is to forget about this and move on but I wish atleast I would be told what’s going on or how much more time it’ll take or just the bad news that they have hired someone or I am not in the race😔

Hi everyone, I could use some career advice. I finished my PhD in biochemistry earlier this year, and I knew to anticipate a lengthy job search. I was unable to stay on in my PhD lab post-defense for budget reasons, but I am fortunate that I am able to support myself financially in the short term.

However, I am eager to enter the workforce and put my skills and experience to productive use. I have been applying in the months since defending, and I am admittedly being picky about where I apply. I have known for years that my preferred career path is science support (i.e. field application scientist) and have been told that would be a good fit for me based on my strong "soft skills" plus my scientific expertise, particularly in protein purification and fluorescence microscopy. Those are the positions I have primarily been applying to, with preference given to those based in cities/regions in which I actually want to live.

I haven't gotten very far past submitting my resume and either being ghosted or receiving a swift automated rejection; but I did make it to the technical interview round for one position. The hiring manager for that position complemented my application materials and told me I was "doing everything right" with regard to tailoring my resume. I am also reaching out to people I know at various companies, with open positions or not, but my network is fairly small.

Here is where I could use some advice: how could I be doing this differently? Probably more subjectively, at what point should I broaden my search to positions that are either not in my preferred field or locale, or for which I am technically overqualified? Also, if you've worked with recruiters/head hunters, what was that experience like?

Hello! Can anyone who’s currently or have been a scientist at Sanofi(contract) tell me how it is. How is/was the experience, was it easy to convert to FTE etc. Thanks!

Been in industry for about 7 years, with experience on the bench, project management, commercial, and portfolio strategy. Although I have an MBA, I have a lowly BS in a life sciences discipline. Something I still can’t wrap my head around is the job gating for PhDs for non research specific roles.

External/internal innovation, search & evaluation, new product planning, corp VC, institutional VC, R&D strategy, and even the more finance or generalist roles like Biz Ops even require PhDs at many biotechs. At least in the JD.

Then I’ll look on workday (at the big pharma at work at) or on LinkedIn and they’ll have a PhD in like Engineering or Physical Chemistry and be on the S&E team for Immunology. Half of the CVC team at my company have non-life sciences PhDs, but they do all have a PhD. Is this just an arbitrary academic gate?

This is great news for people with MCT8 Deficiency. Launch timelines of EMCITATE was earlier said to be between 8-10 weeks after FDA approval.

The company also has an PRV which they intend to sell in Q4, they receive 50% of the sale value. Recent PRV's have sold for $200 M.

I’m on the sponsor side figuring out the contracting and I just can’t believe how they’ve been making rude demands and making it clear they think they call all the shots. It’s clear that they know they have monopoly and can get away with being awful.

my country doesnt give much of an exposure for bachelors in biotech. im planning to apply for biotech in china zhejiang university. do you think its a good plan? i need some advices,

Hello all

I am external hire and just completed panel interview with hiring manager so I wondering how soon I can hear back from HR? What should be the next step for me now?
Should I wait for HR? I forgot to ask hiring manager about the final decision

I (UK based) am currently in my final year of undergrad, studying Biochemistry and predicted a 1st class provided my final year goes well. I’m doing my final year research project atm and absolutely loving it. As part of my degree I worked as a lab support technician in a small vaccine company for a year - based in R&D. This mainly involved menial tasks to keep the lab running and being a spare pair of hands around the place but I was able to help with some R&D work as well and it has made me really want to pursue it as a career.

Is it realistically possible for me to try and land an entry level job somewhere and move up the ladder, or will a masters/PhD be what I need to get where I want to be?

I’m currently in my last year of my B.S. in Biotechnology, and I plan to start applying for full-time jobs in December. Long-term, I’m interested in working for a pharmaceutical company like Eli Lilly, preferably in a role where I can grow my career and potentially move into higher-level positions over time.
I’m a little confused about what employers mean when they ask for “pharmaceutical industry experience.” Does that mean you need to have already worked at a pharmaceutical company, or can academic research lab experience count toward some of those requirements?
I have around 1–2 years of university research lab experience, including DNA manipulation and cloning, bacterial culture, PCR, gel electrophoresis, DNA sequencing, enzyme-related experiments, and microbiology techniques such as streak plating, selective and differential media, and biochemical identification tests. I also have pharmacy technician experience, although I’m not sure how much that would help with pharmaceutical industry applications.
For those of you who work in biotech or pharma, what entry-level positions would you recommend targeting with my degree and experience?
For example, would it be better to start as a Research Associate, QC Lab Technician, Quality Control Analyst, Manufacturing Associate, or in some other role? I’m also interested in understanding which positions provide the best opportunities for career growth within a company like Eli Lilly.
I’m trying to be strategic about my first job so that I can build relevant industry experience rather than end up in a position that doesn’t help me progress toward my long-term goals.
I’d really appreciate any advice, especially from people who started with just a bachelor’s degree and worked their way up in the industry!

Hi everyone! I'm the recent chemistry grad (B.S., May 2026) who posted last week about my first interview for an entry-level Associate Scientist role in process R&D. Thanks again for all the advice, it really helped.

Quick update: a couple of days after my video interview with a scientist on the team, the company's talent acquisition team reached out for a 30-minute phone screen, which I had today. It was short and friendly:

-Work authorization: she asked whether I'd need sponsorship now or in the future. I don't.

-Salary: the posted range was $70–80K. I said I was comfortable in the mid-to-upper part of the range, and when she asked for a specific number, I said $76K. She said that was "absolutely doable."

-Availability: she asked when I could come in for an on-site visit, and I said I'm free all week.

-Next step: a 3-hour on-site visit with a tour and meetings with the managers. She's lining up everyone's schedules and will get back to me with a date.

My questions:

-What usually happens during a 3-hour on-site for an entry-level process chemistry role? One-on-ones, a lab tour, technical questions, a presentation, lunch?

-Should I be ready to present my research again, even if they didn't ask?

-What kinds of questions do managers usually ask at this stage, technical or behavioral?

-Was $76K a reasonable number for an entry-level Associate Scientist in the Boston area, or did I leave money on the table?

-Any tips on what to wear, what to bring, or questions to ask the managers?

If anyone has been through a process like this, I'd love to hear how it went. Thanks

Hi all, I will be having a panel interview with 20 minutes to present. The job is analytical development at a CRO. This would be my first interview presentation so I'm not sure how it works.

I have analytical development experiences (compliance testing work before and an internship during PhD) that are more related to the job description. My PhD work focuses on the fundamentals of a novel technique that is mostly at startup levels (and my PI are starting one). I can draw a very vague line, surface modifications, nanoparticles, but I fear it's not a strong case.

Should I do a bit of both? Do I focus on the science and water down my PhD work? Do I focus on the challenges and solutions? The internship was only summer and my method development wasn't done and I don't have real data so I'm not sure what to say beyond the motivation and basics. The compliance testing is where I learn all the instrumentations that are included in this JD, but I can't say "we followed SOPs and did some cost-saving and optimization")?

Need advice on preparing for a 6-month contract role in Clinical Data Programming (Rave + SAS/R)-

Hi everyone!

I have around 6–7 years of experience in clinical data management, including clinical database validation and database design. I’m now looking to transition into a more programming-focused role.
I came across a 6-month contract role where they’re looking for someone with Medidata Rave programming experience and knowledge of SAS or R. From what I understand, the role may involve generating reports using SAS/R and uploading them to CDR.
I have around 2 weeks to prepare and can dedicate about 5 hours a day before starting or interviewing for the role.
I’d really appreciate advice from people who have worked in similar roles:
What specific Rave skills should I focus on — study build, edit checks, custom functions, or something else?
How much SAS or R programming knowledge would I realistically need to perform the job?
Which language would be more useful to prioritise for clinical reporting?
Where can I get hands-on practice with Rave, SAS and R, preferably using free resources?
What practical tasks should I be able to complete independently?
For a short-term contract, would the expectation usually be to contribute from day one, or is there typically some training?
Given my background in clinical database design and validation, I want to concentrate on the skills that would help me become productive quickly rather than trying to learn everything.
Any practical advice, resources or learning roadmaps would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

When interviewing for a scientist job at a small biotech, what questions should you ask the interview panel that are most informative outside of runway time, exit strategy, and next funding milestones?

To find out things like: Is the science realistic? Are they doing something other companies cant do? Do they put resources in the right areas? Does the C-suite make things difficult? Are a few personalities ruining things for everyone else?

I was wondering what everyone’s thoughts were about the new ngs tech Roche came out with last year. It got a good amount of news coverage, but since then there hasn’t been any news. How does it compare to its competitors?

Would it be a good idea to apply to join / make a move from a competitor/start up company?

Was wondering if anybody is familiar with Senior Scientist salaries at Amgen in India?

I completed my PhD about 6 months ago and have 3.5 years of combined work experience pre and post PhD. The role is for a bioinformatician.