Working in the Biotech/Pharmaceutical Industry October 11, 2007 Irene Griff, Ph.D. Program Manager Johns Hopkins Medical School Baltimore, MD

Topics What’s important to you? Pharmaceutical Industry or Biotech –Job opportunities Skills needed. Do I have them? How can I get them? Do I need an “in” at the company to be seen by potential employers? Networking Transition from Academia to Industry – A small hop or crossing a large trough? Work/Life Balance How to prepare for an interview

Pharmaceutical/Biotech Jobs Chemistry to engineering to molecular biology to cell biology to public health/nursing, to virology/microbiology and small molecule fields Sales, marketing, business analyst Legal, paralegal, patent law Quality Control, Quality Assurance, Regulatory Clinical Trial Management Statistician Postdoctoral Research positions IT, Support Services, Building Operations, Purchasing, Shipping/Receiving, Finance, Human Resources Validation Engineering Project Management, Alliance Management Technology Transfer, Licensing Trainer

Recommended Skills Scientific Background, bench skills and knowledge Excellent communication skills, both written and spoken Ability to work as a team member Organizational skills Training or courses you should consider GLP/GMP – One day introduction class Familiarity with FDA Regulations for Biologics and/or Pharmaceuticals Data analysis/Statistics

Do I need an “in” at the Company? No. But it can help get your resume read. Entry level Ph.D. positions are typically in R&D and you will be expected to be a team member and a leader within your area of expertise. Target your resume and cover letter to the job. Research the company, hiring manager (if known). Spell check your resume and cover letter several times! First impressions are critical.

A Network – How can I get one? Attending meetings; many national and international organizations host meetings in both Baltimore and Washington DC; introduce yourself to the speakers Local organizations with seminar series: Society for Biomolecular Screening, Women in Bio, TEDCO, MDBio, LRIG regional meetings Join professional organizations; volunteer for committees e.g. PDA, AAPS, BIO, DIA, PhRMA, RAPS, USP Alumni Associations Volunteer organizations; community groups

Transition from Academia to Industry Initially, bench work. Academia – grant funding; focused within the project. Industry – team concept; project as a part of the larger scope; customer focused. In biotech, lots of basic science and research is well-supported. Time goals are not focused around grant writing, but time and money is stressed at the overall project plan level. Better financial compensation in comparison to similar positions in academia or government.

Work/Life Balance You can have this in any job, academic or industry or government. There are times that you need to put extra hours to make sure thing get done in time. Most companies encourage their employees to have a healthy balance between work and life, because they are smart enough to know that “all work and no play” can not be sustained. Be sure to treat your associates as your colleagues, and do not overwork them. Recognition of a job well done is critical.

How to Prepare for an Interview Be yourself. Various online and book references Invest time and efforts to prepare your seminar. Practice, practice, and more practice. Request an interview itinerary and spend sometime to study the background of the individuals who will interview you. Know what you are worth in dollars and do not sell yourself short.