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careers & recruitment
CAREER FEATURE
Translating academic careers into industry
healthcare professions
Though academic institutions have contributed enormously to the remarkable growth in the healthcare industry,
a key limiting resource for this continued growth is the creation of career opportunities for doctoral graduates.
T
he strong biotechnology industry
in the United States began with the Box 1 | Exploring career options
founding of Genentech in 1976 and
the subsequent creation of innovation The evolution of one’s career is often an fields, business, law and technology transfer.
hubs in the San Francisco Bay Area and individual experience filled with questions, Starting the dialog was the first important
Cambridge, Massachusetts. In Europe, yet, as our survey reveals, many of the step and helped her to take the next one:
growth has been slower due to a lack of challenges faced are shared. One common asking some hard questions that required
capital to finance promising startups. In theme of many successful careers is that a great deal of self-reflection and personal
the most prominent example, Biogen was being proactive helps create options, such assessments of strengths, weaknesses,
founded in Switzerland but moved early as asking experts about their journeys passions and interests — something that
on to the United States, where funding to find their first jobs. In one case, a an individual development plan11 can help
conditions were better. graduate student one and a half years into with. Nearly all of the core challenges
Innovation hubs with an abundance of her doctoral program started asking her experienced by her are evident in our
capital from venture investors, business friends on the junior professor track and survey of approximately 300 biomedical
angels and government incentives other colleagues whether she should stay graduates, who perceived many barriers
attract not only the most innovative in academia or go look outside for a job. keeping them from following their ideal
healthcare companies, but also talented While all academics said she should stay in career path (Fig. 1b). To break down such
individuals contributing brain power to academia, they also highlighted that if she barriers, we would highly recommend
innovation creation. The industry needs wanted to leave this was the right time to asking experts for their advice about job
two components to survive and grow start preparing. As also seen in our survey opportunities and for introductions. This
in the future: capital and talent. While (Fig. 1a), the advice given was heavily can be highly effective and was a key
funding and dealmaking continues to oriented toward staying in academia. This element of a recent Career Exploration
break records1–3, leading to unprecedented advice led her to search the graduate school Day organized by the CDI group in Berlin
new drug approvals by the FDA4 and fast workshop and seminar program, where she (Table 1). At this event, we recommended
product development in response to virus saw and applied for a research management follow-up discussions with the experts at
outbreaks like Ebola or SARS-CoV-2, talent training for early-career researchers the workshop, which in turn led to specific
is a chronically scarce resource5,6. Here, (for reference and similar programs, see introductions to local CEOs in the Berlin
we discuss the current state of graduate Table 1). In this week-long workshop, she medtech and biotech community and
and postgraduate students in healthcare learned about different avenues to exploit concrete jobs opportunities from employers
programs and the ways to translate an biomedical innovations, and also had the eager for these talented individuals. In
academic career into a healthcare industry chance to exchange thoughts with many the end, proactive networking is key to
profession. We summarize various programs people with backgrounds in different STEM launching one’s career.
in the United States and Europe and how
governments, universities, pharmaceutical
companies and venture capital investors
are working toward creating innovation degree and postdoctoral studies at academic understood the value of networking and
hotspots to attract and develop the best research institutions. While moving along specific expertise to qualify for their current
talent. Finally, we describe possible the academic career path, young scientists job, their understanding of how to translate
approaches for shifting one’s career realize rather late that principal investigator a research career to their next job, especially
from academia to industry and provide and faculty positions in academia are scarce outside academia, seemed to be less clear.
information on various programs and events (less than 18% of PhD graduates will get Almost all students found their current
helpful to such a journey. one) and long-term postdoctoral funding position through either a job posting or
Companies in the healthcare sector, is limited7. through their network and qualified for
including pharma, biotech, medtech and To get an idea of the career awareness employment through specific knowledge
e-health companies, require highly trained of biomedical professionals, we conducted and experience. Half of the interviewed
and specialized talent and spend significant a poll of over 300 graduate students academic scholars were actively exploring
amounts of time and capital on human (master’s degree and PhD) and postdocs at career options, mostly in academia or
resources to find and recruit new team various universities in Berlin, Stockholm, industry, and many were uncertain which
members. Students in biomedical graduate Silicon Valley and Tel Aviv (see Box 1, career path they should choose. In more
programs more often than not pursue an Supplementary Methods and Supplementary than half of the cases, a career development
academic research career leading to a PhD Data). We found that while students office helped to some degree in making
758 Nature Biotechnology | VOL 38 | June 2020 | 758–764 | www.nature.com/naturebiotechnologycareers & recruitment
a Career advice b Career challenges
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%
Academia Unawareness of options /
lack of support
Industry Focus of studies on one particular
career direction (e.g., academia)
Medical sector
Conflicting interests between me and my
None of them supervisor / employer / lack of support
Uncertain Personal or family issues
Non-profit No action in terms of a career
planning on my own behalf
Government
Transition from education
to work in a foreign country
Startup
Other Uncertain
Fig. 1 | Survey results. To gain insight into how biomedical students think about their careers, we conducted a survey of 300 graduate and postgraduate
students in the United States and Europe (see Supplementary Methods). a, Students received the most career advice about academic careers. b, A large
proportion of students felt a lack of support and awareness of career options blunted their ability to reach their ideal careers.
contacts to alumni networks, while specific career development plan11 to encourage for proactive career planning9. Finally, there
offers in form of workshops, training, students to think about their talents are books that are great resources to help
mentoring or internship facilitation were and core interests, as well as to identify identify one’s strengths while matching them
lacking. Importantly, most students were cross-disciplinary mentors both inside and to exciting careers14,15.
given advice almost exclusively for academic outside academia.
research careers, and half felt they were Similarly, graduate students on the shared Career opportunities in the healthcare
unaware of various non-academic career campus of the Charité Medical School and sector
options and were lacking work experience Humboldt University in Berlin worked Companies in the healthcare sector range
or networking skills to be able to get their together to create the Career Development from large pharmas with tens of thousands
dream job. The survey shows that graduates Initiative (CDI)12. The students also of employees to university startups with
and postgraduates in the life sciences established their own individual career a handful of team members. Innovations
are aware of what is needed to translate development plans and were able to work and ideas out of universities are typically
academic careers, but seem to lack with their respective programs to design financed by government grants, business
the knowledge of where to find and new coursework and permit new training angels and investors such as venture capital
establish the skill sets, mentorship outside of their majors. In addition, they (VC) firms, and the translation from idea
and/or networks necessary to facilitate created a lecture series where scientists to company is in many cases facilitated by
career choice and translation. working in non-academic positions speak several stakeholders: the founding team,
about their journey and how they landed the university technology transfer office,
Life science career development their ideal job. The speakers agreed to intellectual property lawyers, entrepreneurs
challenges become mentors and advisors in this and VCs themselves.
Starting with university career programs, the program, making personal introductions to Recently, the classical VC investment
poll highlights students’ needs and desires companies in the larger Berlin community. model has shifted more and more
for additional training in areas outside their Outside speakers represent a valuable toward company creation and early-stage
core curriculum. While some universities mechanism for scholars to learn about investment in order to bridge the gap
are quite progressive and have developed skill sets that will be truly useful in the real between science and capital markets. One
innovative solutions (Table 1), there is much world. The CDI group also uses design of the main tasks of VCs is human resource
room for improvement8,9. Intriguingly, in thinking approaches13 in workshops to management. Most VCs spend a significant
a growing number of examples, changes explore career options and prepare for amount of their time attracting and
in how universities support career interviews. Moreover, by networking with retaining the best talent for newly financed
development are being driven by students several local not-for-profit organizations, startups. Since investors search actively
and postdoctoral fellows themselves. In one including Berlin Partners, the students for new ideas to invest in and talent to
such example at Stanford University10, pairs recruit representatives from local biotech recruit, many have started initiatives to
of student representatives from each of the and medtech companies to a Young Talent increase talent attraction. The idea behind
major life science graduate programs in Career Day12 where, via a matchmaking most programs is to develop the talent
developmental biology, neuroscience, cell algorithm, attendees can be paired with pool of tomorrow, allowing the exchange
biology and pharmacology, among others, prospective future employees. Many of these of many different ideas, bringing different
worked not only to restructure core course features are also seen in programs at top technologies together and thereby
requirements, but to increase the fraction innovation-oriented universities in Europe creating an innovation ecosystem. Some
of electives that could be taken anywhere and the United States (Table 1). Of note, examples of public and private efforts to
across campus, including the schools of efforts at the Scripps Research Institute expand job opportunities that capture
education, public policy, engineering and have led a graduate level course, Effective young talent in the biomedical areas
business. They also developed an individual Career Planning for PhDs, that advocates are highlighted below.
Nature Biotechnology | VOL 38 | June 2020 | 758–764 | www.nature.com/naturebiotechnology 759careers & recruitment
Table 1 | Some institutions with progressive career development programs for doctoral and postgraduate students
Institution Country Specific information Website
Universities
University of California, US Occupational outlook book, salary https://career.berkeley.edu/Sciences/Sciences
Berkeley recommendations
Boston University US Comprehensive, mature approach http://www.bu.edu/careers/
Harvard University US Approaches from tuition assistance to https://hr.hms.harvard.edu/working-hms/career-development
Medical School retirement
Karolinska Institute Sweden Focus on inside and outside career https://education.ki.se/career-service
Massachusetts Institute US Exploration of chances in industries, https://capd.mit.edu/
of Technology especially biotech
Max Delbrück Center for Germany Focus on researchers, also outside https://www.mdc-berlin.de/content/aspire
Molecular Medicine academia
Scripps Research US Career planning course for PhDs https://education.scripps.edu/graduate/doctoral-program/
Institute
Stanford University US Motivation by career story telling http://med.stanford.edu/bioscicareers.html
University of Cambridge UK Appealing video tutorials from industries https://www.opda.cam.ac.uk/career-development
University of Copenhagen Denmark Curriculum with speakers from outside https://www.synapse-connect.org/
+ Technical University of academia
Denmark
University of Heidelberg Germany Startup management https://www.graduateacademy.uni-heidelberg.de/karriere/
University of US Individual career development plan https://www.umassmed.edu/gsbs/career/
Massachusetts Medical
School
University of Oslo Norway Focus on networking outside academia https://www.uio.no/english/studies/career/
University of Oxford UK Skill training courses https://www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/study/skillstraining/career-development
Tel Aviv University Israel Company presentations https://english.tau.ac.il/career_center
Other academic organizations
California Life Science US Biotech primer for delivery of industry https://califesciencesinstitute.org/careers/professional-development/
Institute knowledge
Einstein Center, Charité Germany Innovative initiative run by medical and https://www.ecn-berlin.de/career/CDI.html
Medical University neuroscience students
Life Science Career Canada Student initiative to bridge academia and https://lscds.org/
development Society industry
STEMPeers World’s biggest STEM community http://www.stempeers.org/
network
VC internships and fellowships about new trends in academia, enlarge their then, the region has developed into one
Venture capital firms have raised academic networks and, in the best-case of Europe’s most successful biotech hubs,
increasingly large funds in recent years, scenario, attract talent for their portfolio birthing multi-billion-dollar companies such
allowing internal investment teams to grow. companies. Such programs provide an as Ablynx and Argenx. To ensure excellence
Today a number of VC funds are large easy way to learn the business aspect of in science, the VIB pays special attention
enough to provide in-house internship startup companies, become familiar with to the professional development of all
or fellowship programs on a rolling basis the drug or device development process co-workers. Human resource development
(Table 2). Internships usually last between and interact with different stakeholders at the VIB includes training, mentoring,
6 and 12 months and pay a small salary in healthcare. The most valuable lesson coaching and career guidance inside or
or are financed by a grant. Programs are from the experience is the understanding outside of academia. To do so in an efficient
directed toward graduate students still that investors work together with a wide manner, the VIB established its own career
enrolled in their PhD curriculum and range of specialists, giving the intern plenty center aimed at graduate students. At the
looking for early professional experience. of opportunities to establish personal VIB and other innovation hubs, graduate
Interns usually learn broadly about the relationships and learn as much as they can. students can access a diverse set of resources
healthcare ecosystem, learn how VCs to attend workshops, receive training in
evaluate prospective investments and, most Creating innovation centers and hubs various skill sets and increase their own
importantly, get exposed to many startup The foundation of the VIB in the Flanders awareness of different professional skills.
companies. At the same time, VCs are able region of Belgium in 1996 marked the first The VIB created an innovation hub
to see different perspectives and ideas, learn innovation hub in Europe (Table 2). Since similar to the Kendall Square ecosystem in
760 Nature Biotechnology | VOL 38 | June 2020 | 758–764 | www.nature.com/naturebiotechnologycareers & recruitment
Table 2 | Innovation hubs and internships
Innovation hub Country Specific information Website
Academia
VIB Belgium Successful spinouts, networking, http://www.vib.be
career center
Babraham Research Campus UK Successful spinouts, networking, http://www.babraham.ac.uk
conferences
BioMedX Germany Networking http://bio.mx
University of Cambridge Enterprise UK Networking, education, mentoring http://www.enterprise.cam.ac.uk
program
Curie Tech Transfer (insC2) France Networking, initiative for innovation https://techtransfer.institut-curie.org/page/
education inc2-initiative
Enterprising Oxford UK Networking, education http://www.eship.ox.ac.uk
Innovate Carolina US Networking, workshops, courses on https://innovate.unc.edu/
entrepreneurship
Max Planck Innovation Germany Associated innovation programs; http://www.max-planck-innovation.com
life science incubators, lead
discovery center, conferences
Oncode The Netherlands Oncology-focused innovation hub http://www.oncode.nl
Independent
Ascenion Germany Networking, conferences, http://www.ascenion.de
workshops
BioInnovation Institute Denmark Networking, events https://bioinnovationinstitute.com/
AdMare Bioinnovations Canada AdMare Academy training http://www.admarebio.com
BaseLaunch Switzerland Networking http://www.baselaunch.ch
Biocat Catalonia Networking, education, job board http://www.biocat.cat
BioM Germany Events, workshops, job board http://www.bio-m.org
Euroasanté France Networking events http://www.lille.eurasante.com
Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Scotland Networking, job board http://www.ibioic.com
Centre
MassBio US Success stories, networking, http://www.massbio.org
education, mentorship
MTPConnect Australia Events, training opportunities http://www.mtpconnect.org.au/overview
Oslo Science Park Norway Networking, courses, lectures http://www.forskningsparken.no/
Oslo-Science-Park
Pharma companies
Bayer Life Hubs Worldwide Networking, lectures http://www.innovate.bayer.com/lifehub-overview
Johnson & Johnson Innovation JLABS Worldwide Networking, lectures, workshops https://jlabs.jnjinnovation.com
Pfizer Healthcare Hub Worldwide Focus on eHealth https://www.pfizer.com.au/collaboration/
pfizer-healthcare-hub; https://www.pfizer.
co.uk/pfizer-healthcare-hub-london; https://
healthcarehub.pfizer.de
VC internship and fellowship programs Duration
5am US 6 months https://www.5amventures.com
Apollo Health Ventures Germany 12 months https://www.apollo.vc/careers/
moonshot-venture-fellowship-program/
Flagship Pioneering US 3 months https://www.flagshippioneering.com/join/fellows
LSP The Netherlands, 6 months https://www.lspvc.com
Germany
M Ventures The Netherlands 6 months https://www.m-ventures.com/fellowship
Nextech Invest Switzerland 6 months https://www.nextechinvest.com/positions/
fellowship-program/
Vida Ventures US 3 months + https://www.bu.edu/best/files/2020/02/
Vida-Ventures-Fellowship-Program-2020.pdf
Nature Biotechnology | VOL 38 | June 2020 | 758–764 | www.nature.com/naturebiotechnology 761careers & recruitment
Cambridge, Massachusetts, where scientists, the life science industry, with topics ranging individual talents can inform the selection of
entrepreneurs, and investors from academia, from discussions on early science to drug professions. While understanding individual
startups, biotech and pharma meet regularly. approval, the regulatory path and scientific strengths and weaknesses is important,
Such interactions are the first steps to topics. Attendees obtain insights into diverse interacting with professionals working in
understanding the various opportunities topics from Johnson & Johnson employees, jobs of interest is essential to reality-check
and possibilities for life science graduates. entrepreneurs or academic scientists. expectations and further map out details of
Not every résumé is the same and, more Together, such initiatives are beginning jobs and personal interests. It also helps to
often than not, individuals working in the to bridge the gap between large pharmas, follow the journey in a personal notebook,
industry have a diverse skill set that they innovative companies and scientists, summarizing and detailing all information
acquired working in different jobs. fostering exchange between people from on people, jobs, companies, events and
Other innovation hubs have built on the diverse professions. workshops one has attended. This serves as a
success of the VIB and combine regional personal reference and makes it easier to go
excellence with talent development (Table 2). Empowering exciting careers back and reanalyze decisions and opinions.
Stakeholders in such hubs vary from How can we empower the next generation
region to region depending on regional of young scientists to get the job of their Conclusions
strategy and the most active business dreams? Scientists in academia may be Exploring career options will come with
areas. Historically, the Netherlands has highly successful, dedicated and innovative, surprises. With luck, it should not only
a strong VC sector; in fact, the first VC but translating skills developed in an expose strengths and weaknesses but
investments were made in Holland, academic setting to an applied profession also create enthusiasm and passion for
financing expeditions by ship to explore continues to be a challenge. The process of specific topics. One absolutely essential
new continents to trade coffee, tea and other one’s own career translation can be seen as ingredient in translating one’s training
resources. Relying on a strong financial a road with predefined junctions. Like the in academia to a faculty job or industry
sector, a number of biotech companies planning for a road trip, career transitioning is strong communication skills, as well
were created in the Netherlands16. However, needs planning and an idea of where the as the courage to approach people across
the academic institutions fueling such journey should lead. networks, asking for introductions or even
innovation are distributed over the country The golden rule for all important cold calling others, especially those with
and not well interconnected. Therefore, decisions is to start planning early. For professional paths that look interesting.
the Oncode Institute was created to unite example, when considering a job change or Beyond academic services, we recommend
scientists under one organization with the transition from university to industry, the exploring career development programs
mission of translating scientific innovation process can usually take a year to a year and and innovation hubs around the world
into new therapies. The shared mission a half. Also, some entry-level jobs might that host a range of networking and career
forces researchers to think about their own only be available to those with prespecified opportunities. Attending a seminar or
research from a different angle and provides degrees and work experience. This means lecture series outside your normal scientific
new possibilities for creative scientists to that, in some cases, it will be easier to enter area is a good starting point for networking
invent products based on their research a large pharma after a master’s degree rather and communicating with others. For those
topics. Top-quality addition of value by than after a postdoctoral fellowship. Thus, with an academic career interests, these
translation of research results requires a an ideal time to start your career transition activities should increase your passion for
highly specialized talent pool. The close is to begin shortly after the first year into pure science and knowledge for knowledge’s
proximity of scientists, entrepreneurs, a master’s or PhD program. At that stage, sake while providing insights into how to
investors and tech transfer specialists, with graduate students usually have a first idea build a successful career in academia by
the shared goal of translating ongoing of their academic and lab environment and finding mentors. For those still exploring
research, forms the foundation for everyone whether they are passionately focused on their future, these experiences should help
involved to think beyond their academic an academic path or are already thinking increase one’s awareness of the wide range of
career path. outside the academic box. Take advantage of careers in the healthcare industry and lead
Importantly, large pharmas are individual career development plans11,12. It to an early preparation toward a professional
also interested in fostering innovation is also a good time to tap into local graduate goal. It is critical to take a proactive approach
ecosystems, recruiting the best talent and schools, universities and community to career building, adding new skill sets
promoting translation of breakthrough programs or activities that encourage and identifying opportunities to broaden
science (Table 2). For example, Johnson internships, workshops and other activities experiences. Finally, be curious and ready
& Johnson was one of the first pharmas outside of the degree curriculum (Table 1) to challenge your own expectations, as they
to create a separate investment arm in order to collect as much information as do not always match reality, and then take a
and innovation department to advance possible on a variety of different professions. chance and walk through opportunity’s door
healthcare innovation by collaboration with By the second year of graduate education, to the career of your dreams. ❐
academia and startups. It created innovation the collected information can then be used
centers for scouting and collaborating and to map the landscape of professions and Sinje Gehr 1, Craig C. Garner 1,2 ✉
JLABS to incubate early ideas and interact associated skills required. This allows one and Karin N. Kleinhans 3 ✉
with the eco-environment. JLABS are to adjust one’s curriculum or add another 1
Charité Medical University Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
innovation hotspots in various cities; they degree qualification in an interdisciplinary 2
German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases
engage with the different stakeholders. study program to meet the requirement of a (DZNE), Berlin, Germany. 3LSP, Munich, Germany.
The interaction encompasses a variety specific career or profession. To understand ✉e-mail: craig.garner@dzne.de;
of communication channels, from social one’s personal skill set better, one can look at kkleinhans@lspvc.com
media to personal presence at events. personal preferences and talents cultivated
JLABS offer a wide range of courses, inside and outside academia. In the end, Published online: 9 June 2020
workshops and talks on various aspects of the overlap between required skills and https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-020-0552-x
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