The Career Field Resource pages describe the more common fields that employ scientists with advanced training, with a short list of websites which will help you understand the field. Each section has:
- at least one or two articles to provide an overview of the field or career paths;
- resources specific to Berkeley (access to opportunities you can pursue while a student or postdoc);
- more general sources of information including professional associations, sites with industry news and career advice, and fellowship/job listings.
Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, and Medical Devices
When academics talk about a career “in industry” often the reference is to working as a researcher in the private sector. A bench research career is one option in these industries, however, there are many more possibilities to explore: from business development, to science communications, to regulatory affairs, to technical sales and support.
Berkeley Resources
- PIEP – Postdoc Industry Exploration Program
- Departmental collaborations and events, such as MCB Industrial Affiliates Program and Chemistry’s ChemX Conference
- Berkeley Career Engagement events, such as “Biotech Connect”
- See also our section on Entrepreneurship and trends, impacts of AI and data science, and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in biotechnology.
- Interviews with Berkeley alumni
- Gary Lee, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, Senti Biosciences – Learn about Gary’s experience and insights on how graduate students can prepare for a career in industry here
- Mike Holmes, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, Ambys Medicine – Mike reveals his pioneering work in genome editing techniques in gene therapy, and his path from student to industry leader in this interview.
- Erin Dueber, PhD, Senior Principal Scientist, Department of Early Discovery Biochemistry, Genentech. This interview describes Erin’s job at Genentech, and the role of exploration and risk taking in career decisions .
- Rachel Haurwitz, PhD, President and CEO and a co-founder of Caribou Biosciences. “Choosing a career in industry: An interview with Rachel Haurwitz“
- Timothy Day, PhD, CSO and co-founder, DNALite Therapeutics (now called Particella) describes his career transitions – from Kansas to Berkeley to Mission Bay, and from Cal doctoral student to CSO in our exclusive interview.
- Bilge Ozaydin, PhD, Director of the Strain Discovery and Development group at Pivot Bio, shares her scientific and professional journey which crossed the globe.
- Annie Tsong, PhD, chief strategy and product officer at Amyris, a company founded out of UC Berkeley’s Jay Keasling’s lab, visited campus in 2024 – read this synopsis of the event – includes career advice and insights
General Resources
- BioSpace article, “Biotech vs. Big Pharma: Which is the Better Place to Work?”
- Nature article, “How to Sail Smoothly from Academia to Industry”
- Science Careers article, “A day in the life of a technical sales representative“
- Structure/types of departments in pharmaceutical manufacturing companies
- Structure/types of departments in medical device companies
- UCSF – OCPD overview of careers as an industry researcher
- International Center for Professional Development (ICPD) offers Scientist Mentoring & Diversity Program for Biotechnology programs and others – serves students, industry executives and entrepreneurs by utilizing facilitated mentoring, direct instruction and web-based learning
- Medtech Women – job postings and networking opportunities
- BIOCOM – promotes California’s life science sector though events and policy/advocacy work; good resource for learning about news/trends and local industry
- Fiercebiotech– also news and trends
- Innovate Bio has a list of industry trade associations by state
- California Life Sciences – trade association representing California’s life sciences industry. Look for the industry intelligence reports, which address topics such as “in-demand technical skills and job titles”
- Southern California Biomedical Council – resources to support biomed/biotech firms, service providers, public sector agencies, research hospitals, and colleges and universities.
- Life Sciences Job Network (From FierceBiotech/FiercePharma/FierceMedicalDevices)
- BioSpace – job postings and career advice, including salary surveys
- Biotech Companies in the Bay Area & Northern CA (from BioPharmGuy)
- Labiotech – European start-up/biotech landscape
- Podcasts: Top Biotech Podcasts
- Clinicaltrials.gov – a database of privately and publicly funded clinical studies conducted around the world.