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How Academia Differs From Industry

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Having made the decision to transition from academia to industry, a scientist must be prepared to demonstrate knowledge of the different environments. One of the most important elements a company looks for in a candidate is “cultural fit.” An academic who has no knowledge of what to expect from an industry lab compared to his or her lab, appears unprepared to adapt to the new environment.

Many see the relationship between academia and industry as a conflict between two worlds—one of knowledge and one of profit. However, the two compliment and benefit each other.

Impact of commercial goals

The industrial R&D environment, especially the biotech environment, has more similarities to the academic environment than differences. Both rely on well-defined goals and effective experimental design to succeed. However, in industry the focus is often much more stringent due to the commercial goals. Also, the advantage in industry of being able to pursue a question with alacrity and sufficient finances is very exciting. As the economic climate is ever changing so are the priorities of the company. A scientist must be flexible enough to adapt to the changing environment or she will soon find herself a product of downsizing.

Regulation

In industry, regulation is at the center of all activities. Without compliance, there is no product. Although in an academic environment there are standards for animal husbandry, EPA regulations for disposal of chemicals, and institutional requirements for use of radiologicals, there are many more standards that must be adhered to in industry. Everything from lab notebook record-keeping to reagent recipes is tightly controlled. In addition, the regulatory environment may impact hiring decisions. If the FDA increases its requirements for extensive pharmacogenomics data, this creates many new positions.

Research Expertise

As in academia, it is essential to be an expert in your field. It impacts creativity and is a critical success factor. The same is true in industry, but a scientist in a commercial environment is required to at least be able to speak the language of many different disciplines such as business development, bioinformatics, manufacturing and even marketing and sales. Though it is necessary to know the jargon of the different departments, an industrial scientist is expected to be a specialist; moreover, a specialist with current skills.

Flexibility and Growth

In the fluctuating environment of management priorities, a researcher may be called upon to defend the pursuit of his or her project. If the project no longer fits in the company’s grand scheme, it may be delayed or cut completely. In this situation, a researcher has to be able to adapt and pick up another project. A scientist in industry cannot spend significant time pursuing an interesting result that has no profit value. Though overall a career in industry is more stable than one in academia, which is dependent on five year grants, there are job security concerns in industry as well. It may even be advisable for an industrial researcher to have attained skills outside of the lab, such as through work with the legal department in the company. This affords room to grow and room to transfer in the most difficult times, such as during a restructuring. A scientist in industry cannot overvalue herself and must make sure that through certification or other programs she maintains an up-to-date skill set.

Teamwork

In the academic environment, though there is significant collaboration, the advantage of teamwork does not compare to the necessity for teamwork in an industrial life science company. A researcher must be willing and able to effectively convey results of experiments and their implications in terms of the “big picture.” Moreover, as many biotechs and pharmas operate in a matrix organizational structure, it is of paramount importance to be able to and to enjoy working with others. On the other hand, outside of strategic alliances, the collaboration between institutions is more common than the collaboration between biotechs. Many young researchers wrongly believe that in industry you “can’t” publish. In fact, publishing is encouraged and expected, but not at the expense of losing a profitable position.

Group Morale

In academic labs, events like getting scooped by a competitor negatively impact lab morale. In bioscience industry, especially in start-ups, risk is even more a part of the job. Scientists in industry have to be able to adjust to such high-risk environments if they are to succeed. Before considering a career in biotech, determine whether you have a risk-adverse personality. If so, then a career in biotech may not be for you. Contemplate how you respond to failure before taking on such a position.

Common Candidate Concerns

Candidates may still have lingering questions about making the move. Conduct your own research for each company so that you can answer these questions for yourself and so that you can judge whether a change is in store. Common concerns include: Are there enough positions for PhD’s and MD’s? What are the career prospects for a PhD or MD? Do you have to do an academic post-doc to get a position? What is the level of experimental freedom? Is it possible to switch research areas internally?

Opus Scientific, based in Long Island and New York City, is a specialized professional staffing firm supporting biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, cosmetic, chemical, food and other scientific intensive industries that require skilled talent. The core focus areas include research & development, drug discovery, pre-clinical development, clinical research, manufacturing, regulatory affairs, quality assurance, quality control and sales & marketing.