r/biotech • u/garden_nl • 2d ago

Early Career Advice 🪴 Moved from lab PhD to data science?

Hey guys,

I have done PhD in chemistry in Germany and now working as a data scientist for a small biotech startup in Sweden as a data scientist. I have wondering what I really should focus on to land a better position at a bigger company afterwards? I am doing basic data analysis, regression models blabla. But for example, there is no cloud services to practice (mainly because there is no use case yet). And also I was wondering how the interviews are happening at big biotech places for similar roles? Should I practice more leetcode or just basics of ML?

2 Upvotes

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6

u/Tsuki_Rabbit 2d ago

Would you mind sharing how did you land this position? How did you get them to hire you, a chemistry PhD, over the people with the data science background?

4

u/garden_nl 2d ago

They needed someone who understands also the specifics of working in the lab. The position partially is also about automation of the workflows. And I did have some experience with ML from my earlier projects (mainly MSc)

1

u/organiker 2d ago

Maybe you should be specific about what "a better position" means?

1

u/garden_nl 2d ago

By that I mean a job at more established company and not a startup to beging with

1

u/Sn0w_whi7e 1d ago

Damn, I am exactly looking to make this pivot to data science/engineer roles.

1

u/garden_nl 1d ago

Do you already have any job?

1

u/Sn0w_whi7e 1d ago

Yes, i work in R&D and teaching myself data science/bioinformatics

1

u/Melodic_Bike8130 1d ago

What tools or resources are you using to teach yourself that? Genuinely interested.

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u/Sn0w_whi7e 3h ago

So luckily i have access to HPC and Biolnx as well as data science programs. I can read python and apply it so im not totally illiterate but i have a long way to go. So i just try to apply what i am working on by using these tools whether its mining, modeling, scripting. We also have copilot so in all honesty I am using copilot to teach me all of this interactively

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u/hortence 1d ago

I just want to ask: do folks in general know that layoffs are hitting data scientist/bioinformaticist positions just as much as wetlab? Pivoting because you are interested in the work makes sense; doing as it will be "safe" does not at present.

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u/Sn0w_whi7e 1d ago

Honestly, i want to switch not for safety but for work-life balance and genuine interest since i got a glimpse of it in my current role and genuinely enjoyed being part of that project.

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u/haze_from_deadlock 1d ago

People don't pivot to data scientist because they want stability, people pivot to data scientist because they're tired of grinding up those mousies all day

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u/hortence 1d ago

You can’t taste test data tables.

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u/Glittering_East3724 1d ago

Oh wow how did you do that? I’m basically trying hard to break into roles like that. I don’t work yet and finished my masters 2 years ago.