Endocrine Abstracts

Many post-doctoral scientists still believe that the road to academic success follows the traditional university career trajectory. Although some lectureship and fellowship positions will inevitably be filled by those who have chosen this path, forward-thinking universities now seek principal investigators who have international collaborations and industry links, supported by unique expertise and knowledge on many divergent aspects of scientific research. But as the economic downturn bites, leading to a drop in research funding, how does the aspirational scientist differentiate their academic credentials in this highly-competitive career route?

One option sometimes misunderstood by post-doctoral researchers is the academic-related openings found within pharmaceutical industries. As ‘Big Pharma’ continues its withdrawal from the early stages of research and development, there has been a noticeable increase in the growth of contract research organisations (CROs) and academic spin-out companies. Taking these employment avenues can provide ample opportunities for driven scientific researchers to gain significant experience working at the academic-industry-commercial interface. This knowledge is of growing interest to universities. They increasingly expect the ‘bench-to-bedside’ approach to research projects, something traditionally associated with pharmaceutical companies, as this lends a strong translational aspect to the work, and this, in turn, attracts grant funding.

However, there are many pitfalls to avoid with such a career path. For example, how do budding academics continuously publish high-quality research articles that may compromise the commercial interests of the company? Without a previous track record, how do they demonstrate an ability to attract research funding?

This session will answer these questions and provide insights into how a career in industry, rather than being the death of your academic career, can be the springboard into those difficult to get lectureship or fellowship posts.