Find out everything you need to know about research and development, including the skills it requires and what you should do if you’re ready to make the transition into R&D.
It can be easy to forget that one of the driving forces behind every life sciences company is research and development.
After all, it’s what allows both biotechs and pharma companies to discover new ways to treat illnesses. It also allows them to discover paths to health and wellness which have been previously overlooked.
Chances are, if you already work in life sciences, you’ve relied on research and development in one way or another. In fact, you may have considered moving into research and development full-time.
How do you know if it’s the right career for you?
Let’s take a look at research and development, the skills it requires and what you should do if you’re ready to make a move in your career.
What is Research and Development?
Professionals in research and development typically focus on the company’s overall mission when looking for potential new areas of development. Their work often coincides with the company’s marketing and public relations strategies.
You can see why, in the life sciences, R&D is critical. So if the main reason you work in life sciences is to find new ways to improve people’s health, then R&D might be the path for you.
But isn’t everything in life sciences considered “research and development?” Well, not quite.
Four key factors make R&D stand apart from other life science processes. If these factors sound good to you, then a career in research and development might be what you’re looking for.
Innovation
The project should involve doing something your company has never done before. It could be an undeveloped research path, pursuing an overlooked connection between two symptoms or simply a potential treatment for an illness that has yet to be examined. If you’re skilled at identifying uncharted paths to wellness, R&D might be the perfect fit for you.
Uncertainty
The project has no way of confirming what the exact outcome will be. For the life sciences, there may be no way to guarantee that the research will even confirm or deny any given hypothesis. So, having a mindset that allows for the pursuit of uncertainty is essential for anyone in R&D.
Creativity
Projects often involve some outside-the-lines thinking in order to find a solution to a given problem. For life sciences, this means using your right brain as much as you use your left one. It also means considering different ways to approach the issue, in order to uncover previously unnoticed information. If you have the soft skills to achieve this, then you can perform well in R&D.
Organization
Nevertheless, the project should follow an organized path in order to achieve accurate results. Observation and deduction, verifiable evidence and scientific data should all be used to guide the project to its completion. If you already work in life sciences, then you probably already do this every day. This means you’ll likely already have this transferrable skill when you look to move into R&D.
How to Get a Job in Research and Development
If all of this sounds perfect for you, then you’re ready to make the move into research and development. How do you take the first step? Let’s look at how to win the perfect job in R&D.
1. Speak to your supervisor about a lateral career move.
If you like your current company, then why not stay there? If you have a good relationship with your supervisor, let them know you’d like to discuss the possibility of moving into R&D. Ideally, they’ll have an honest discussion about your current skills and job openings, and begin asking around about the possibility of an internal move.
2. Check your hard skills and experience against current job openings.
This will give you an idea of the education, work background and years of experience most R&D jobs are looking for. This research scientist position at Gilead, for example, requires a PhD in Organic Chemistry or a BS degree with 11+ years of experience.
It also requires applicants to be well-versed in scientific literature searching software such as SciFinder. It’s true many companies offer some leeway, but you’ll want to make sure you can meet their basic requirements.
3. Speak to your network and start to apply.
You never know who might have intel on an upcoming R&D position. Companies are often more interested in a candidate who comes highly recommended by a trusted source. This is especially important if you’re entry-level and have no formal R&D experience.
You can also have your colleagues and connections review your resume before you begin sending it out. This is also a great way of reminding people that you’re looking to move into R&D.
Research and development, especially in life sciences, requires out-of-the-box thinking and a thirst for innovation. If this is what you’re looking for and you have the hard skills to match, then get ready to make a move., and remember to create an alert for BioSpace’s job page for all research and development job openings.
