How careers in Life Sciences can extend beyond the lab

Explore the intersection of science and marketing, showcasing the diverse career opportunities available in the life sciences industry.

“Hey! That was a great shot.” Later, a fellow badminton player asked, “What do you do? What is your profession?” I took a moment to respond. “I help scientists solve some challenges in their research work.”

“Are you a scientist?” came next. My answer was: “I am a scientist by training but a marketer by profession.” People often ask how a scientist can be in marketing or sales. Many people in Science and Marketing start their careers with the thrill of experiencing textbook things in real life. Coupled with great opportunities and a higher purpose, this makes a career in Life Science even more attractive.

But a career in Science is still associated with the traditional professions of engineers or doctors and students in India are often left to make the big choice between Biology and Maths after Class 10. The inclination to pursue Science often depends on the environment and mentors who can inspire you and make you feel amazed by the new knowledge you acquire. Students who study in a well-equipped campus during graduation and Master’s get to experience scientific experiments more elaborately, piquing their interest early on.

To thrive in any environment, one must be adaptable and flexible. As we delve deeper into Science or any field of education, we zoom in on increasingly specific areas that require different skills, roles, and opportunities. Typically, a STEM graduate pursuing an advanced degree in the Sciences studies particular topics in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, or Maths in depth and undertakes an original research project. Many who pursue advanced studies often take up careers in research or teaching. However, their options extend beyond these fields, with various opportunities in marketing, sales, logistics, management, and even leadership or entrepreneurship, leveraging their strong STEM foundation to support the business aspect of Life Sciences.

Exploring Science requires patience. While the best part of research is running real-time experiments and seeing expected results, not all experiments yield conclusive results, and success is often emphasised over the challenges faced. Some researchers may even take more than six years to earn their Ph.Ds. Additionally, research careers are often less predictable than other professions, with short-term contracts and postdoctoral positions requiring frequent relocation, creating uncertainty. While Science offers rewarding opportunities for innovation and societal progress, it demands resilience, passion, and commitment to succeed. It’s also crucial to know that not all scientists do bench work. A foundation in research can open doors to explore non-bench jobs. Scientific careers in pharma and healthcare range from roles at large multinational companies to positions at small start-ups spun off from universities.

A scientific background is crucial to communicate scientific concepts to scientists and partner with them in their research. Effective communication skills are essential to truly understand the research, concept, product, or service and to better communicate the vision to people with non-scientific backgrounds and answer questions seamlessly.

You may have a significant discovery but, unless you share it and solve others’ problems, it might go unnoticed. Networking is vital to scale up, add value, and fund project. In Life Sciences, professionals connect with academicians, pharma QC analysts, chemists, and industry experts to support their journeys and foster success. A scientific background helps create platforms for collaboration and innovation.