SEB Bulletin January 2006 - Research in Industry (large companies)
Chris Langmead (Senior Scientist), GlaxoSmithKline
Not having to do the washing up would possibly entice many a PhD graduate or post-doc to give up academic research in favour of a post in industry, where dedicated technical support also relieves you of other tasks such as making up growth media. However, as Chris Langmead explains, there are many other benefits to working in industry: “Team working is crucial to the efficient running of the drug discovery research programmes”, he says. “We cooperate within in our own team of departmental experts and, as individuals, we also link in with matrix teams where a particular expertise is required for a drug discovery programme”. Team models are normally techniques-orientated such that the Biology Department of the Psychiatry Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery, in which Chris is an in vitro pharmacologist, finds him working alongside molecular biologists, electrophysiologists, in vivo pharmacologists etc. He will lend his support to the matrix teams and will work on a number of projects which could be long-term or may only last for a few months depending on their success. Managers run the teams and ensure that the appropriate amount of resources and time are allocated to the various projects and programmes which are running simultaneously. They will also liaise more with other departments and personnel such as the chemists and clinicians and those associated with phases I and II if a candidate drug goes forward for further development.
“It is true to say that working in industry is more restrictive with regard to your choice of research and your flexibility”, Chris says, “however, if you take it upon yourself to read the relevant literature and take an interest in the research area as a whole, you may have more scope to develop your ideas and even to publish your work”. Chris has published 1 - 2 research papers per year since working with GSK which he reckons to be on par with most PhD students and post-docs. In fact, Chris, who entered GSK as a graduate, was fortunate to be able to undertake his PhD whilst working with GSK since he identified and proposed an area of study which was of interest to the company during his first year with them. He cautions, however, that this is not the norm and would not be possible in most organisations where you would need to leave to further your study.
It definitely pays to have a PhD if you are planning a career within industry, not so much to get in but, rather, to get on. “Graduates tend to work as 'technicians' since there is much routine work to be done in the lab”, Chris explains. “However, they are given a certain amount of 'challenging work' in order to keep their interest. Those with a PhD tend to be the ones who rise up to the higher positions, although in less specialised areas of the company, such as screening groups, progression is less limiting for those less academically qualified”. It may also be worth noting that an experienced post-doc and a recent PhD graduate entering a company as a researcher may not be significantly discriminated between, if at all, since the post-doc will have no more experience of industry and so will not necessarily qualify for a higher salary or position”.
Continuing professional develop-ment is an important and well-developed component of most companies' personnel remit and so you can expect to attend any number of a range of courses relevant to your own needs. These include technical training, communications and other interpersonal skills development as well as management and coaching. In addition, there is some scope (although limited and less available than in academia) to attend conferences when they are deemed relevant. “I only spend about 50% of my time in the lab”, says Chris, “since we have lots of support which frees up time for other things including team and matrix meetings, writing reports and opportunities for self-development”. And if you decide research is not for you there is also scope to move to other departments within the organisation if you have the potential and/or skills required, such as regulatory affairs, recruitment and project management.
If you think a career in industry would suit you and you have a research background and/or the relevant techniques to make you a suitable contender company websites and recruitment companies are the best place to look for jobs. “Even a temporary job could get you a foot in the door”, says Chris, “so be prepared to be flexible with your job hunt”.
Sarah Blackford
External Affairs