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Opportunities in Industry post-PhD - In conversation with Dr. Ajit Dhadve
1. In brief, tell us about your work.
The Translation Research & Medicine group at BBRC mainly focuses human faced and mechanism of action studies. I drive immuno-assay development, and heme-oncology projects mainly focused on mechanisms of action and translation.
2. When did you decide to join the industry?
Joining the industry was the preferred choice from the beginning. Soon it became a clear decision and was the driving force to complete the doctoral research.
3. How to find industrial positions?
A combination of extensive search/follow-up on LinkedIn, recruitment portals, company websites, and good networking with peers is a way to find suitable/ideal industrial positions.
4. What are the minimum requirements/skills required to join an industry?
Always seek the job description profile before applying to jobs. Recruiters mainly look into what the candidate is bringing to the table with respect to the job description. It is not necessary to have best-fit but to have some relevant skills. It is absolutely necessary to know the basics and advancements of skill sets mentioned in the resume. Never put a skill set that you have just seen once/twice, it will leave a bad impression. Logical thinking, troubleshooting, spontaneity, mindfulness, and ethical behavior are measured during interviews. Communication skills are a plus any day. Good publications are also a plus but will not matter if core measuring criteria are not met.
5. How can one grow faster in an industrial setup?
Industry judges based on the deliverables. One outgrows others with good quality, consistent deliverables in terms of maximum possible output. It is very necessary to have collaborative proficiency in the industry to grow. It is quite competitive compared to academic positions, and shielding from the competition is less.
6. Is an industrial job monotonous?
Industrial jobs are not monotonous. They have their own diversification. One should be mindful of the department and portfolio of the company they are joining. A wrong choice would lead to a loss of interest. Join the right job, you will have access to the most cutting-edge advancements in science that are years away from public knowledge.
7. On average, what is the starting salary for a PhD fresher?
Talk with peers to get an idea about both job position/designation and pay scale. It is dynamic and hard to give a range. A PhD fresher can look for a seven-figure salary in an established/start-up company.
8. What is best – Joining the industry post PhD or after a Postdoc?
The choice to join the industry immediately after PhD or after a PostDoc is more of a personal choice. Both have their own ups and downs. However, the earlier it is done, the better it is if you are pursuing PostDoc and have no intention of making an academic career.
I am a cancer biologist by training and graduated from ACTREC, Tata Memorial Centre. I have explicit expertise in therapy resistance, immuno-phenotyping, cancer stem cells, tumor xenograft models of ovarian/breast/lymphoma, patient-derived primary culture, and developing non-invasive imaging tools for in-vitro/in-vivo applications.
PS.
Please reach out to me/Syngene career portal if looking for jobs. We have openings for both PhD and non-PhD positions across various groups in BBRC-Chemistry/Biology.
Ajit Dhadve
PhD Life Sciences
Research Investigator-Translation Research & Medicine, Biocon BMS R&D Center
http://www.linkedin.com/in/ajit-dhadve