Working as a Scientific Researcher in Academia vs. Industry
I always knew that following my PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology and postdoctoral training in reproductive science, I wanted to become a scientific researcher in HealthTech, specifically FemTech. The main push for me out of academia was a desire to work in a fast-paced environment, where I could see how my findings benefit society. After three years at Flo, I couldn’t be happier with my decision to become an industry researcher exploring how digital health solutions advance women’s health.
But before I get into the differences between working in academia vs. industry, let’s go over what a scientific researcher does. In general, we design and conduct experiments and analyze data, in hopes of answering a new question or deepening knowledge in a particular area. If the results are new to the field, we share them in a publication. A key part of this is reading and understanding a large amount of existing literature in the field and presenting your findings at scientific conferences and symposiums.
The main differences between working in academia vs. industry
From the research itself to the working environment and daily schedule, there are some important differences between academia and industry.
— Topic and impact of study
In academia, you have the power to choose what you study. The aim of research is to explore a new area or improve knowledge on a subject. Once you have the results, you publish papers and visit conferences and congresses to share your findings. You may not necessarily know how your research is being used or how it benefits society as a whole; sometimes you mainly do research for the sake of learning.
On the other hand, industry scientists conduct research that supports a company’s goals. The topic of study is dictated by the business or industry priorities. Results are quickly applied, with an immediate measurable impact on society.
— Other responsibilities
An important part of the work in academia is to write grant proposals and apply for funding to conduct your research. Academic researchers also teach and mentor university students. Depending on the company, industry researchers may also have tasks related to marketing, user experience, legal regulations, and big data analysis.
— Working environment
Researchers in academia work more individually than in industry. You design and lead the project yourself, whereas industry work requires daily collaboration with colleagues from various departments.
— Schedule
Academic research can go on for several years, and there’s greater flexibility to plan out your working schedule. Industry work moves at a faster pace. You need to adjust to shifting product and business priorities, potentially work on several projects simultaneously, and produce results more quickly. You also need to stick to the company working hours and quarterly deadlines.
Skills required to work in industry
Some of the most important skills academic researchers need to learn for industry are communication and teamwork. It’s also important to keep an open mind and be willing to learn new things outside of your area of expertise. Writing is another key skill — industry scientists often need to adapt their style to explain research findings to a lay audience. Other skills can be transferred from academia, like structuring information, time planning, and analyzing large quantities of data.
Day-to-day as a scientific researcher working at Flo
Scientists at Flo make sure that our app is scientifically credible for our users — people from all over the world, medical professionals, and the scientific community. We are responsible for defining research hypotheses, writing up detailed research protocols, and executing validation research projects on accuracy of prediction algorithms and diagnostic efficacy of various health digital tools we develop within the app. I often work with different Flo departments, including the medical, engineering, data science, legal, and marketing teams, to ensure we are all aligned and create the best product in the field. We conduct feasibility and validation studies to make sure that Flo has health benefits for our users and to help implement evidence-based strategies across the whole company.
Another part of my work involves collaborating with leading universities, such as Johns Hopkins, University of Adelaide, and Northwestern, to conduct research that advances our knowledge about women’s health. We assemble hypotheses and study aims, analyze the data, and then publish the results in peer-reviewed medical journals in collaboration with our research partners. In total, in my nearly three years at Flo, I’ve established five research collaborations resulting in eight peer-reviewed publications.
Job opportunities and career advancement in academia vs. industry
There are mainly two directions for academia research careers: professorship and contract research staff. Because opportunities are so limited, it’s a very competitive job market, which means that you have to be flexible about where you’re willing to live. But if you succeed at getting tenure, you have long-term job security.
Industry researchers benefit from a wider job market with greater opportunities for career advancement. What your job entails will of course depend on the industry you choose. For example, in the pharmaceutical industry, researchers investigate how different compounds interact with disease-causing cells and organisms and the human body. If you work for a medical device company, you could combine your knowledge of medicine and engineering to design and develop products to enhance patient care. Once a medical device is ready, you could also research its effectiveness and safety.
It’s also possible to combine your background in biology and medicine with other areas, such as data science, business, economics, or regulation, to become a unique specialist in the field. For example, you can combine your knowledge in medicine and mathematics and become a biostatistician who will apply mathematics and statistics to help design studies and analyze and interpret the data. Other classic jobs in industry include: medical science liaison, epidemiologist, sales representative, and consulting specialist. Many companies across industries (Pharma, BioTech, HealthTech, etc.) produce content and need qualified people to write and review it, so you can become a scientific writer or medical communication specialist. There is always a chance to progress your career in industry. For example, you may start as a science advisor and then climb the ladder towards a leadership position like a director of science.
How to choose your career path
If you’re unsure which path is right for you, here are a few steps to help with the decision.
Step 1: Figure out your priorities
Now’s the time for some soul-searching. What matters most for you in your daily work? If you want to connect your research to company goals and see the impact of your findings quickly, industry may be for you. But if you prefer to have flexibility to decide your study topics and you enjoy teaching, academia is the right place.
Step 2: Know your personality and strengths
What’s your ideal work style? Remember that academic researchers do a lot of work independently and focus on one project over a longer time. In industry, you are part of a larger team and need to progress on various projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment. Additionally, working in industry requires strong writing, communication, and data analysis skills.
Step 3: Consider your field and background
Research different opportunities available in both academia and industry. Where can you apply your background and knowledge best? And there is always the option to learn a new discipline and get additional skills to obtain your dream job!
The most important thing to remember is to be true to yourself and choose what best fits you and your lifestyle. Consider all of the differences between working in academia and industry and go with whatever feels right for you.
We are actively recruiting more talented researchers to join our scientific team at Flo. If you’re interested in applying your skills to advance women’s health, take a look at our jobs board and get in touch with us.
