Leaving the bench – What else can you do as a lab scientist ?

Sometimes you do get tired of the pipetting and the long nights in the lab.

Your mind wanders, and you ask yourself: ‘Could there be another life for me? Is there another destiny behind the concrete walls of this cold and dark space?’

(No I’m not being dramatic, what makes you think that?)

Well, fear not, my little lab rat, as I am here to give you all the prospects you could have if you decide to leave your lab bench one day.

Lab Manager

This one will depends on your place of work. However in some labs, you do not do bench work anymore. So do your research before applying !

What does a Lab Manager do ?

The role of a lab manager can vary depending on the specific field and context, but generally, a lab manager is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of a laboratory. Some key aspects are :

1. Administrative Duties: Lab managers are often responsible for administrative tasks such as budgeting, purchasing supplies and equipment, maintaining inventory, and managing lab schedules. They can also handle paperwork related to safety protocols, compliance, and regulatory requirements.
2. Personnel Management: Lab managers may supervise and coordinate the work of lab technicians, researchers, and other staff members. This involves hiring, training, assigning tasks, and evaluating performance.
3. Equipment and Facility Maintenance: Lab managers are typically responsible for ensuring that lab equipment is properly maintained, calibrated, and serviced as needed. They oversee the maintenance of lab facilities, including cleanliness, safety, and security.
4. Safety and Compliance: Ensuring a safe working environment is a critical responsibility for lab managers. They must enforce safety protocols, provide safety training to staff, and ensure compliance with relevant regulations and guidelines.
5. Research Support: Depending on the nature of the lab, lab managers may also provide support for research activities. This could involve assisting with experimental design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
6. Communication and Collaboration: Lab managers often serve as liaisons between the lab team and other departments or external collaborators. They may communicate research findings, coordinate collaborations, and represent the lab in meetings or conferences.
7. Problem Solving and Troubleshooting: Lab managers are typically adept at troubleshooting technical issues that arise in the lab, whether related to equipment malfunctions, experimental procedures, or data analysis. They will need to quickly identify and address problems to minimize disruptions to research activities.

Overall, the role of a lab manager is multifaceted, requiring a combination of organizational, managerial, technical, and interpersonal skills to effectively oversee the operations of a laboratory and support its research objectives.

You have to be ready to be the go-to person of the lab and you have to be prepared to manage difficult situations (and difficult lab members). However, you get a great experience in workplace/people management that you could use if you decide to go into Project Management later.

Medical / Technical writer

This is a great role if you’re looking for a remote position but want to stay involved in the scientific world.

What does a medical / technical writer do ?

A medical or technical writer is a professional who specializes in translating complex scientific and technical information into easily understandable content for various audiences. Some key responsibilities and tasks are:

1. Creating Scientific and Medical Documents: Medical and technical writers produce a wide range of documents, including research papers, journal articles, clinical trial reports, regulatory submissions, patient education materials, and technical manuals.
2. Translating Technical Jargon: One of the primary responsibilities of a medical or technical writer is to take highly technical and specialized information and distill it into clear, concise language that is accessible to the intended audience.
3. Researching and Gathering Information: Medical and technical writers conduct thorough research to gather relevant data, scientific literature, and technical specifications necessary to accurately convey information in their documents.
4. Adhering to Guidelines and Regulations: Depending on the type of document and its intended use, medical and technical writers must adhere to specific guidelines, standards, and regulatory requirements.
5. Collaborating with Subject Matter Experts: Medical and technical writers often work closely with scientists, researchers, healthcare professionals, and other subject matter experts to develop content.
6. Reviewing and Editing: Medical and technical writers review and edit their own work, as well as the work of colleagues, to ensure clarity, accuracy, and consistency.
7. Staying Current with Developments in the Field: Given the rapidly evolving nature of science and technology, medical and technical writers must stay up-to-date with the latest developments, research findings, and industry trends in their respective fields.

The different fields of medical writing :

There are 2 main types of medical writing :

• Regulatory writing: Regulatory medical writers operate within regulatory affairs and craft essential documents required for the advancement of pharmaceuticals or medical equipment (clinical study reports, safety updates, submission packages, and post-market materials)
• Medcomms: Medical communications is a broad term used for the dissemination of scientific information about pharmaceutical products and medical devices to different audiences (it could be for scientists, HCPs, patients, payers, and carers).

Additionally, you could write for other services such as marketing, grant funding or medical translating companies… Click here if you want more information.

Project / Product Manager

A project manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of a project from initiation to completion. Alternatively, a product manager takes care of the product lifecycle in the same way.

Scientists can easily transition into this kind of roles , especially when the project/product is related to your field.

What does a project / product manager do ?

1. Project Planning: Project managers develop detailed project plans that outline the scope, objectives, deliverables, timeline, and budget of the project.
2. Stakeholder Communication: Project managers act as the primary point of contact for stakeholders involved in the project, including clients, team members, sponsors, and other relevant parties.
3. Resource Management: Project managers allocate resources effectively to ensure that tasks are completed on time and within budget.
4. Risk Management: Project managers identify potential risks and uncertainties that may impact the project’s success and develop strategies to mitigate or manage these risks.
5. Task Coordination: Project managers coordinate the efforts of team members and stakeholders to ensure that project tasks are completed according to the schedule and quality standards.
6. Quality Assurance: Project managers are responsible for ensuring that project deliverables meet the quality standards and requirements specified in the project plan.
7. Budget Management: Project managers monitor project expenditures and ensure that the project stays within budget constraints.
8. Documentation and Reporting: Project managers maintain accurate records and documentation related to the project, including meeting minutes, progress reports, change requests, and other relevant documents.
9. Closure and Evaluation: Once the project is completed, project managers oversee the closure process, including finalizing deliverables, obtaining approvals, and transitioning the project to the appropriate stakeholders.

Overall, the role of a project manager is to ensure the successful planning, execution, and completion of projects while managing resources, risks, and stakeholder expectations effectively. Click here for more information.

Field Application Scientist

If you’re seen as the “instrument specialist” in your lab, the FAS role could be a great fit for you!

What does a Field Application Scientist do ?

A Field Application Scientist (FAS) is a specialized role typically found in biotech, pharma, life sciences, or analytical instrumentation companies. The primary responsibility of a Field Application Scientist is to provide technical support and expertise to customers, in a sales or pre-sales context. Some key duties and responsibilities:

1. Customer Support and Training: Field Application Scientists serve as a primary point of contact for customers, offering technical assistance, troubleshooting, and training on the use of products or technologies.
2. Product Demonstrations and Presentations: FASs demonstrate the capabilities and features of products or technologies to potential customers, either in-person or through virtual presentations.
3. Technical Consultation: Field Application Scientists consult with customers to understand their unique requirements, challenges, and research goals.
4. Collaboration with Sales Team: FASs collaborate closely with the sales team to support sales efforts and drive revenue growth.
5. Product Development Feedback: Field Application Scientists gather feedback from customers regarding product performance, usability, and features.
6. Market Intelligence and Competitive Analysis: FASs stay informed about industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitor products.
7. Customer Relationship Management: Field Application Scientists build and maintain strong relationships with customers, key opinion leaders, and other stakeholders in the scientific community.
8. Training Materials Development: FASs may contribute to the development of educational materials, technical resources, application notes, and user guides to support customer training and self-service learning initiatives.

Overall, Field Application Scientists play a crucial role in bridging the gap between technical products and end-users, providing valuable support, expertise, and guidance to ensure successful utilization.

If you’re responsible for instruments in your lab, you can begin by contacting the company that produce them and ask around for a FAS role.

Data Scientist

If you love spending hours analyzing your data, this role is for you.

What does a Data Scientist do ?

A data scientist is a professional who analyzes and interprets complex data to uncover insights, patterns, and trends that can inform business decisions, solve problems, and drive innovation. Some key duties and responsibilities:

1. Data Collection and Preparation: Data scientists collect, clean, and preprocess large volumes of structured and unstructured data from various sources.
2. Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA): Data scientists perform exploratory data analysis to gain a deeper understanding of the data, identify patterns, correlations, and anomalies, and generate hypotheses for further investigation.
3. Statistical Modeling and Analysis: Data scientists apply statistical methods, machine learning algorithms, and predictive modeling techniques to analyze data, uncover relationships, and make predictions or recommendations.
4. Model Development and Evaluation: Data scientists design, develop, and evaluate predictive models and algorithms to solve specific business problems or address research questions.
5. Feature Engineering: Data scientists identify relevant features or variables from the data that can be used as inputs to predictive models.
6. Data Visualization and Communication: Data scientists communicate findings and insights effectively to stakeholders, decision-makers, and other non-technical audiences using data visualization techniques.
7. Collaboration and Cross-functional Integration: Data scientists collaborate with cross-functional teams, including business analysts, domain experts, software engineers, and executives, to understand business requirements, define project goals, and deliver solutions that address business needs.
8. Continuous Learning and Professional Development: Data scientists stay abreast of advancements in data science, machine learning, and related fields.

Overall, data scientists play a critical role in extracting actionable insights from data, driving data-driven decision-making, and unlocking value from data assets to achieve business objectives and drive innovation.

Technical Sales

If you’re charming and love people (but let’s be honest, that’s not a regular sight among lab rats), you can transition into technical sales.

What does a Technical Sales Scientist do ?

A Technical Sales Scientist combines technical expertise with sales skills to promote and sell complex technical products or solutions to customers. Some key duties and responsibilities:

1. Product Understanding: Technical Sales Scientists have a deep understanding of the technical features, capabilities, and applications of the products or solutions they are selling.
2. Customer Consultation: Technical Sales Scientists engage with customers to understand their specific needs, requirements, and challenges.
3. Solution Customization: Technical Sales Scientists work closely with customers to tailor solutions to their unique requirements.
4. Technical Presentations and Demonstrations: Technical Sales Scientists deliver compelling presentations and demonstrations to showcase the features, benefits, and capabilities of the products or solutions.
5. Proposal Development: Technical Sales Scientists prepare detailed proposals, quotes, and bids in response to customer inquiries or requests for proposals (RFPs).
6. Sales Support and Follow-up: Technical Sales Scientists provide ongoing support to customers throughout the sales process.
7. Market and Competitive Analysis: Technical Sales Scientists conduct market research and competitive analysis to understand industry trends, customer needs, and competitor offerings.
8. Relationship Building: Technical Sales Scientists build and maintain strong relationships with customers, key stakeholders, and decision-makers.
9. Sales Strategy Development: Technical Sales Scientists contribute to the development of sales strategies, pricing strategies, and go-to-market plans.

Overall, Technical Sales Scientists play a crucial role in driving revenue growth by effectively promoting and selling technical products or solutions to customers, leveraging their technical expertise to address customer needs and drive successful outcomes.

Medical Science Liaison

This one is mostly found in the pharma world, but could be an interesting role if you’re looking to flee the bench.

What does a Medical Science Liaison do ?

A Medical Science Liaison (MSL) is a specialized role within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or medical device industries. The primary responsibility of a Medical Science Liaison is to serve as a bridge between the company and healthcare professionals, including physicians, researchers, Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), and other stakeholders in the medical community. Some key duties and responsibilities:

1. Scientific Expertise: Medical Science Liaisons possess in-depth knowledge of the company’s products, therapeutic areas, and relevant scientific research.
2. KOL Engagement: Medical Science Liaisons establish and maintain relationships with Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) and other influential stakeholders in the medical community.
3. Medical Education and Training: Medical Science Liaisons provide medical education and training to healthcare professionals on the appropriate use of the company’s products, treatment guidelines, clinical data, and scientific evidence.
4. Clinical Support: Medical Science Liaisons offer clinical support to healthcare professionals by addressing medical inquiries, providing information on product efficacy and safety, and assisting with patient cases or clinical trial enrollment.
5. Clinical Research Collaboration: Medical Science Liaisons collaborate with healthcare professionals and academic researchers to support clinical research initiatives, investigator-initiated studies, and collaborative research projects.
6. Market Intelligence and Insights: Medical Science Liaisons gather market intelligence and insights by monitoring competitor activities, tracking clinical trial developments, and analyzing healthcare trends.
7. Regulatory Compliance: Medical Science Liaisons ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines, industry standards, and company policies in all interactions with healthcare professionals.
8. Cross-functional Collaboration: Medical Science Liaisons collaborate with cross-functional teams within the company, including sales, marketing, medical affairs, and research and development.

Overall, Medical Science Liaisons play a vital role in building and maintaining relationships with healthcare professionals, advancing scientific knowledge, and supporting the effective use of medical products to improve patient outcomes. They serve as trusted scientific advisors and ambassadors for the company within the medical community.

Conclusion

There you have it, so much possibilities ! Now that you saw all the things you could do, dry your tears on your lab coat sleeves (I’m joking, please don’t do that if you like to have eyes that work), get your chin up and science on my friend !