Marketability Is Key To A Career Beyond The Bench

Recently, I ran into a colleague I hadn't seen in five years. We quickly caught up with each other's careers and then started to discuss employment opportunities in the sciences. I told her that in my opinion, there are opportunities outside of primary research for scientists. She replied rather sarcastically, "Oh, there are jobs for scientists?" This is a question asked by graduate students and postdocs every day around the departmental coffee pot. The good news is that there are indeed jobs out there. But to get them, you have to search for them and know how to sell yourself. Academic departments and principal investigators (P.I.'s) must realize and accept the fact that there aren't enough research jobs to satisfy the supply of Ph.D. candidates and postdocs. Ten years ago, when research positions in biotechnology companies were abundant, leaving academic research for industry positions was frowned upon. Today, the competition for industry and academic jobs has led many scientists to realize that they can use the same creativity that they use at the bench to find alternative jobs--which can be equally challenging and rewarding and do not leave the scientist feeling ashamed to have left the flock. As a first step to finding an alternative job in science, you must ask yourself what you like and dislike about your current position. If you are seeking alternatives to a bench job, you should think about other interests that you may have. These may include education, computers, economics/finance, law, and tinkering with equipment. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our research that we don't really consider what we know about other areas. Many people, after some reflection, realize that there are other areas that they are not only interested in, but also good at. It may be possible to combine your training with these interests in a career outside of primary research. However, because of a lack of exposure or experience in a particular field, you may not really know whether you would like it or will be challenged by it. At present, scientists are trained to do research, and many believe that this is all they can do. There is a term that nonscientists use when they are looking for a job that I have rarely if ever heard in a laboratory. That word is marketability. Marketability can be defined as all the qualities, skills, knowledge, and personality traits you possess, outside of hands-on lab techniques, that may be useful to a future employer. There are many nonscientific skills that we have developed as a result of doing research that enhance our marketability. These include managing a budget or personnel, forming partnerships or collaborations, mastering effective time- management techniques, and establishing long- and short-term goals. In speaking with my colleagues, I learned that there were many scientists interested in pursuing careers outside of research. Because of lack of exposure or experience in fields outside of research, an individual may have reservations about seeking an alternative career in science. There are many ways that an innovative researcher can explore alternative careers with little or no risk. For example, Loree Griffin Burns, a yeast geneticist who is a recent graduate of the Program in Molecular Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, expressed her interest in pursuing a career away from the lab bench prior to receiving her degree. She always enjoyed writing and was interested in teaching. To gain further experience, she began to write for the public affairs office at the university. In doing so, she learned about the editorial process as well as how to conduct interviews necessary to complete her articles. She also gained teaching experience at a local college, where she taught cell biology. She is now working in the technology transfer office at the University of Massachusetts and is continuing to teach. A current graduate student in the Program in Molecular Medicine, Kerri Pollard, worked several hours a week in the technology transfer office, gaining experience in business and law. In doing so, she learned about the relationship between science and business. She is considering pursuing a career with a law firm and attending law school at night after completing her doctorate. Although he enjoyed bench work, Mike Mortillaro, a molecular biologist studying gene regulation who has a B.A. in business, felt that the odds of getting a quality faculty position would be very low. He decided not to finish his postdoc and to go to work for MJ Research, a Watertown, Mass.-based company specializing in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines. Here he is combining his business background and his experience with PCR equipment in sales. Mortillaro felt that sales was a natural choice, since it incorporated a lot of what he had already learned into a novel application--getting someone to buy stuff. Leah Cataldo, a former postdoc in the department of biochemistry at Boston University School of Medicine, recently decided to accept a position as a science teacher at a private high school. As a graduate student, she gained experience as a teaching assistant and did volunteer work with high school students through a nonprofit organization. Combining education with science is a way she can use her enthusiasm for science to inspire future researchers. If she desires, she can spend her summer vacations in the lab and stay current in her research. It is important to note that gaining this experience before you are ready to move will demonstrate to a potential employer that you are interested in a particular alternative and that you are not making a move out of necessity. You should also note that seeking alternative careers can be a double-edged sword. Although you are considering alternatives, you must be true to your primary responsibility, your present research. Therefore, never lose focus on your current work. This could be difficult if you have become bored or disinterested, but it nevertheless is crucial. How do you get your P.I. to understand or support you in your choice of careers? Establish and maintain an open line of communication. Although it may seem possible only to communicate your research data, you should make every effort to let your P.I. know that you have other interests. Many P.I.'s hope that the members of their labs go on to successful research, education, or alternative careers. Some, however, are less concerned with your future except as to how it affects their publication record. Some mentors might even be upset if you left the lab for a few hours a week for reasons other than your research. I recently attended a meeting where a colleague, Bill Cliff, recalled how concerned he was about approaching his mentor to discuss the fact that he wanted to teach at a small undergraduate college instead of setting up a research lab at a high-powered institution. He was concerned that his mentor wouldn't support him, thus potentially hindering his ability to get a job. It turned out that his mentor supported him completely, and he was offered and accepted a position that suited his interests at Niagara University. At the same meeting, another postdoc with a similar ambition complained that he hadn't been offered a position at a small undergraduate college even though he has teaching experience. Although the postdoc's mentor is supportive of his goal, the mentor may not understand what to stress in a reference letter. One of the speakers at this session (a faculty member at a small teaching college) suggested the mentor would have to emphasize the scientist's skills as a teacher and communicator as opposed to a researcher. Unfortunately, there are also cases in which a mentor simply doesn't care what his or her student's future holds. Although disheartening, this shouldn't be the end of the world. However, you should assume your mentor can be very instrumental in your efforts to land the opportunity of your choice. It needs to be reiterated that you must be careful not to get sucked in and ignore your responsibilities to your research and to your lab. As important as it is to get a reference from your mentor, other references are also crucial--for example, references from people who have observed you in different environments, such as lecturing, tutoring, or working on a patent application originating from your research. These people are in a position to assess you in areas other than your research, and their recommendations will enhance your marketability. Planning for the next stage of your career shouldn't begin when it is time to graduate or when your postdoc is coming to completion. You should be open to new experiences throughout your professional development. A job search can be a long and exhausting process. In fact, finding a job can be a full-time job in itself. Careers beyond the bench must be built upon interests nurtured during your graduate education and postdoctoral experience. Although research at these levels is consuming, it's important to step away from the bench and focus a fraction of your efforts on your own personal development. When the time comes to move on, you will be prepared to apply for positions both in and out of research. Your initiative, along with your familiarity with a new field, will go a long way in impressing the prospective employer during an interview. The rewards will be worth it for those who seize the opportunity. Randy D. Krauss is an instructor in the department of biochemistry at Boston University School of Medicine and laboratory coordinator of CityLab, a biotechnology learning laboratory for students and teachers. E-mail: rkrauss@bu.edu.

Marketability Is Key To A Career Beyond The Bench

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of