WhiskyIsMyYoga t1_irp65yr wrote on October 9, 2022 at 11:39 PM

Take a peek at the openings at Idexx or Abbott. There are some smaller players in the biotech industry in the area, but their career progression options are limited compared to those two.

With a Bachelor’s degree, you should be able to start at $60-70k/year and build a very strong technical skill set based in immunological or nucleic acid in vitro diagnostics, with significant career progression and salary growth potential.

Get your foot in the door however possible, prove yourself, and then aim for a transfer into R&D, which is where you’ll pick up the most relevant and valuable technical skills. There’s also career potential in quality, regulatory, technical manufacturing, and support fields, but having bench research experience is the most valuable foundation.

Given that you’ve never worked in a lab but have a professional work history, you’d probably have an easy time convincing the HR screener and/or hiring manager you’re worth a shot if you write a decent cover letter explaining your interest in changing careers.

Source: me; bachelor’s + 20 of progressive biotech industry experience.

FirstTimeCaller101 t1_irplj5z wrote on October 10, 2022 at 1:44 AM

I’m assuming the ground floor would be a production position? What kind of trajectory could one take into R&D without a science degree and how viable is that really? Wouldn’t these companies pass over you for someone with a stronger background in science?

Not OP but also looking for a possible career change from transportation/supply chain management.

WhiskyIsMyYoga t1_irpselk wrote on October 10, 2022 at 2:39 AM

Ground floor can be entry-level R&D technicians, quality, or production.

Starting with a bachelors degree, career progression typically goes something like: technician, associate scientist/scientist I, senior associate scientist/scientist II, principal associate scientist/scientist III, senior scientist, principal scientist, and research fellow/scientist emeritus, or some variation of that based on the specifics of the company.

Also, supply chain/logistics is a valuable skill set in biotech. You might consider keeping an eye out at the same companies I mentioned, as your skill set would likely translate quite well.

WhiskyIsMyYoga t1_irptx4l wrote on October 10, 2022 at 2:52 AM

Take a look at the “Scientist Associate- Technical Manufacturing” job posting open at Idexx. That’s the sort of thing I’m talking about.