Exploring Science in the Pharma Industry

Breaking Down the Differences Between Academic and Industry Postdoctoral Programs

Mar 04, 2023

As more and more graduate students express their interest in pursuing careers in industry, different companies have started to create their own formal postdoctoral programs to train recent PhD graduates on the industry side of science. We at Beyond Academia have recently hosted a webinar to inform PhD students and graduates about the option of pursuing a postdoc in biotech and pharma companies. We summarized in this article the learnings from that event as well as a compilation of the most frequently asked questions.

What is an industry postdoc? Why choosing an industry postdoc over a full-time job in industry?

“While staff scientists normally are required a good match of skills to even be considered as a candidate, postdocs candidates are not required to have full expertise of the technical skills to be used during the project”.

Industry postdocs are very much like academic postdocs: they both aim to further train PhD graduates (both scientific and professional development) while offering them the opportunity to build their own projects, to publish and receive mentorship for a successful career. Companies hire industrial postdocs to work on research beyond the scope of the company plan. An industry postdoc is an excellent opportunity for those that have not decided whether to pursue an academic or industrial career, since it offers the opportunity to observe the environment and demands of industry and, of course, some industry experience.

While staff scientists normally require a good match of skills (sometimes even previous industry experience) to be considered as a candidate, postdocs positions are less strict. Postdocs candidates are not required to have full expertise of the technical skills to be used during the project, that is why these positions are a great opportunity for scientists that do not meet the requirements to enter industry, acquire new technical skills, and grow their network.

What are the differences between an industry and an academic postdoc?

Generally, the day-to-day of an industry postdoc looks very much like an academic one, that includes:

Meeting with your supervisors to discuss the progress of your project and the next steps to take into action.
Meeting the postdoc committee to report your progress every 6-12 months.
Attending and participating in scientific-driven seminars and team meetings.
Attend and present in local and international conferences.

Although the basic goals of industry and academic postdocs are very similar, there are a few differences, such as:

Budget and funding: there is a more permissive budget to buy reagents and/or outsource services, since the company is funding most of the postdoc projects. In addition, postdocs can apply for funding, although they may not qualify for it.
Healthy work environment: there is a wide collection of motivated and talented scientists around you. Internal collaborations are encouraged, and people are ready to give some piece of advice or even help you design and/or run your assays.
Work-life balance: there are now plenty of industries that value a delicate work-life balance, or offer the privilege of flexible work options and arrangements, moreover after the covid-19 pandemic.
Social health benefits: some companies offer relocation benefits, annual bonuses, and retirement matching for their postdocs.
Career development: many industry postdocs include formal training opportunities, including professional development programs and/or secondments. In addition, industry postdocs will acquire an increased exposure to the scientific industrial mindset and its business side.

Do industrial postdocs get to attend to and present their work at conferences?

Publishing and presenting your work is a critical aspect of your postdoctoral training, and therefore companies have postdocs work on projects that are able to be published publicly. Postdocs are encouraged to present their findings both at internal and external meetings or conferences, however the company is may be obliged to protect some of that work like those subjected to future patents to be submitted. To avoid disclosure problems, all external publications and presentations must go through a process of managerial approval to determine whether the research results are proprietary.

Are there any specific requirements to apply for an industry postdoc?

Every company differs slightly on their application process: some have several openings throughout the year and applicants apply to work on specific projects, while other companies have cohort-based programs and only accept applicants once or twice a year. Generally, most applications include a more academia-oriented CV, a motivation letter, and references. Take your time to chose wisely your references. Chose those people that believe in you, that know you well, and appreciate you, since usually companies hold long calls with them to figure out your fitness for that specific postdoc position.

Whether you are soon to be graduated or already holding a PhD title, you need to evaluate different postdoc training opportunities both in academia and industry. Make sure that the company you apply to has a formal postdoctoral training program that offers professional development training, mentorship, and career support. You can find a some companies below, but please note that this is not a comprehensive list and there are more companies out there.

Did you enjoy the article? Leave a like and a comment below!

If you are curious and interested on learning from different careers after your PhD, make sure you follow us!

Good luck in your search and see you in the next article!

/Beyond Academia

Beyond Academia | Connecting academics with the world

Discussion about this post