Shifting from Academia to Industry: Lessons from a Biochemist’s Career Path

The Background

My fascination with “Chemistry of Life” led me to choose the subject “Biochemistry”, as the cornerstone of my academic journey.

Biochemistry is crucial for understanding the mechanisms and pathways underlying diseases, as well as for advancing drug design, diagnostics, and nutrition, all of which rely heavily on this field. Biochemistry is advancing rapidly, but that progress also brings new challenges. Today, modern Biochemistry investigates how molecules such as DNA, RNA, proteins, lipids, and metabolites interact in complex networks to drive health and disease.

During under graduation (BSc), I chose the subjects - Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Genetics. Currently, I hold a PhD and double Master degrees (MPhil, and MSc), all specialized in Biochemistry. I love research, and as a passionate researcher I spent many years in the laboratory, over 10+ years in academia.

The Dilemma

After completing my PhD in India, I moved to the United States. As much as I wanted to seek a Post-Doctoral (Post-Doc) position, I was more interested to enter the industry.

I knew my goal after PhD, but did not know how to get on the path to industry.

Nevertheless, I reached a point where I wanted to explore opportunities beyond academia, and pursuing a career in industry felt like a meaningful and rewarding transition.

The Path Forward – Academia vs. Industry

PhD is the highest academic degree, while Post-Doc research is not a degree but a title.

A Post-Doc is typically offered by an academic institution or an industry, with grants for further specialization or experience. It is mostly a temporary research position after earning a PhD, aimed at deepening expertise, publishing papers, and building an academic profile. Post-Doc positions are often short-term (2–4 years) and dependent on grants. The working hours maybe long, demanding and there is pressure to publish. Academic positions such as professorships are limited, highly competitive and typically pay less than industry roles. However, academia offers significantly greater research freedom compared to industry settings.

The industry on the other hand, focuses on applying scientific knowledge to develop products, technologies, or solutions that have real-world impact. Research directly contributes to developing drugs, diagnostics, technologies, or materials that reach the market. The industry is collaborative, goal-oriented work, and consists of multidisciplinary teams. The salaries are higher, competitive benefits and better work-life balance compared to most academic roles. There are many opportunities to grow in to regulatory, clinical or scientific affairs or even move towards project leadership/management. However, industry roles are fast-paced, and a transition to a highly results-oriented environment can require significant adjustment for those accustomed to the open-ended nature of academic research. Industry projects are driven by company goals, product pipelines, or customer needs. Research findings in industry are often proprietary, and as a result, there are typically fewer opportunities for publications.

The Transition

One of the first places I started working in the U.S, was at a clinical trial site. I was able to get the volunteer/intern role by networking on LinkedIn. The referrer previously performed the same job, who not only referred me to the position but also guided to do certifications on Good Clinical Practice (GCP). The trial site was such an eye-opener, it helped gain perspective about clinical trials and real-world evidence (RWE). After a few months in the company, I started my job as a Regulatory Affairs professional for clinical trials.

A few years later, I moved to a medical device industry, further expanding my experience and knowledge as a Medical Writer.   

Advice to PhD Researchers  

Stop Procrastination: Many PhD researchers struggle with academic procrastination, that can lead to an imposter syndrome. Overcome procrastination by adapting the S.M.A.R.T (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound), approach. This approach is a method for formulating goals so they are clear, actionable, and trackable.

Apply for Internships: During my post graduate days, I secured an internship position at a health equipment and service industry. The duration of the internship was for six months. I was exposed to state-of-the-art instrumentation and trained to use high-end automation equipments. Internships helps to not only get the hands-on training but adds value. Therefore, grab the opportunity while you can!

Start Networking: Today the professional world is more connected through platforms like LinkedIn. One of the easiest ways of building your network is to stay connected with your classmates or colleagues. And of course, connect with professionals within your field of interest at conferences or as and when you meet them. It’s simple network and network!!

Set-up Informational Interviews: Turn a simple conversation in to an informational interview. Reach out to your connection and schedule a brief call or an online meeting as feasible. Have a list of specific questions and gather the details in order to expand your knowledge about the company culture or nature of job. You’ll be surprised to know that, some of them are willing to go an extra mile by even offering you a referral. 

Demonstrate Transferable Skills: PhD candidates possess several transferable skills such as analytical, critical thinking, attention-to-detail, collaboration, presentation and communication skills. Moreover, we are highly adaptable beings! In order to sustain and thrive in an industry, one needs to be able to leverage all transferable skills at its best, to prioritize the right set of work, above all taking ownership and demonstrate good communication.

The industry always embraces people who can exhibit transferable skills, articulate thoughts and showcase reasoning abilities.

Conclusion

Enrolling in to a PhD program in Biochemistry was the best decision I ever made, because it set the foundation I needed to enter the industry with confidence.

Lastly, I would like to leave you with a simple note, “Leaving academia and shifting to an industry, does not mean you are leaving science or Biochemistry behind, but it mostly meant finding a new way to live it.”

Bio: Lynette Lincoln Steven, PhD, has a specialization in Biochemistry. She is deeply passionate about research and is currently expanding her expertise in scientific writing. Dedicated to bridging the gap between science and communication, she strives to empower healthcare professionals through clear, evidence-based knowledge.